Are you a resident of the Worcester area who is looking for a way to address facial lines and wrinkles without surgery? There is certainly nothing wrong with cosmetic surgery, but some people prefer treatment methods that do not involve complicated surgery and protracted downtimes. Minimally invasive treatments like dermal fillers can offer you real results with no need for hospitalization or downtime.
What are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers are a treatment involving some type of a gel or liquid that is administered using an injection. After injection, the absorbed materials will increase facial skin volume as a way of minimizing fine lines and wrinkles.
One of the reasons fillers are a highly sought-after treatment is that they provide results that are very soft and natural in appearance. Rather than implanting something or injecting exotic substances, we are supplementing with natural substances that have been depleted due to the aging process or are encouraging your body to do so. Contrast this with some types of surgery that dramatically alter facial contours or lead to results that are implausible or unnatural.
Fillers offer real results without wholesale destruction to the surface layers of skin. Patients love the way that fillers offer immediate results without the need for any downtime. In most cases, you should be able to return to your normal activities or work right away.
How Do Fillers Work?
Many fillers work by replacing naturally occurring substances in your skin that are depleted by the aging process. For example, hyaluronic acid is a popular type of filler that helps to replace the amount that has been lost through aging. Hyaluronic acid is an important skin component that draws moisture into soft tissues. In your joints, hyaluronic acid acts like an internal shock absorber to cushion harsh impacts. In your skin, hyaluronic acid creates moist skin that is more youthful and resilient.
What Types of Fillers Are There?
There are quite a few types of ingredients found in dermal fillers, including polylactic acid, hyaluronic acid, and calcium hydroxylapatite. Popular brand names include Restylane®, Juvederm®, Radiesse®, and Sculptra®.
Sculptra®
Fully approved by the FDA in 2009, Sculptra® is a type of filler containing something called polylactic acid, which is created in a laboratory. Polylactic acid is a synthetic form of the lactic acid that is formed when your muscles undergo strenuous activity. After injection, Sculptra® will be gradually replaced in your body by newly formed collagen to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles that can give away your age.
Restylane®
Restylane® is a hyaluronic acid filler that works by drawing moisture into your skin to plump and hydrate it at the site of injections. This is a good treatment choice if you require both increased skin volume and moisturization.
Juvederm®
Juvederm® is another type of hyaluronic acid filler that also includes lidocaine to ensure patient comfort during the treatment process. Juvederm® is known for its extremely silky smooth consistency that flows easily under the surface of your skin. It is one of the most popular dermal fillers available today.
Radiesse®
Radiesse® contains something called calcium hydroxylapatite, a mineral compound often found in bones and teeth. Here, it comes in the form of microspheres to enhance product bioavailability. Like most fillers, once injected, Radiesse® goes to work to begin increasing facial skin volume and diminishing lines and wrinkles at the site of injections.
Dermal Fillers Results
Although dermal fillers offer excellent results that can sometimes rival cosmetic surgery, they do not last forever. At some point, the materials that you were injected with will be fully metabolized by your body. This is when you will require touch-ups to maintain your results. Fortunately, most fillers offer long-lasting results, but the length of time that they work will vary depending upon the type of product that you were treated with.
Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
Hyaluronic acid fillers work by keeping your skin hydrated and plump. Like all fillers, hyaluronic acid dermal fillers have an expiration date, although the precise date can vary, depending upon factors like patient lifestyle, genetics, and precise product formulation.
Hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm® and Restylane® typically last anywhere from six to 12 months before they are fully absorbed by your body.
Calcium Hydroxylapatite Fillers
This synthetic form of dermal filler found in Radiesse® utilizes a substance found primarily in bones and teeth. Its consistency is a bit thicker than hyaluronic acid fillers, normally lasting for about 12 months.
Polylactic Acid Fillers
Polylactic acid is a biodegradable substance that is synthetically created. In addition to its use in medical devices, it can help to boost your natural production of collagen. Polylactic acid fillers like Sculptra® offers long-lasting results of over two years.
Schedule Your Consultation to Find Out More
If you are ready to learn what dermal fillers may be able to do for you, we warmly invite you to reach out and make an appointment with Worcester Dermatology. At our convenient locations in Worcester and Chelmsford, our caring and devoted team of professionals will be pleased to explain your options in greater detail and answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you!