What You Need to Know About Dermal Fillers

What You Need to Know About Dermal FillersHere at Wimmer Dental in Centennial, our expertise goes beyond dentistry. Today, let’s talk about what you need to know about dermal fillers. If you are interested in refreshing your appearance or smoothing out wrinkles, dermal fillers may be the right option for you.

Why Consider Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers are used to alleviate a number of concerns related to the appearance of aging. Here are some of the issues dermal fillers can potentially improve:

  • Dermal fillers can add volume and smooth out your nasolabial folds, those deep creases that run from your nose to your mouth (also known as laugh lines).
  • They can add volume to your lips and smooth the lines that tend to appear around the edges of aging lips.
  • Dermal fillers can enhance the shape of your cheeks which can assist in making you look younger.
  • If you have hollow areas under your eyes, they can fill them out to help make you look more alert.
  • They can make indented scars (from chicken pox or acne) less prominent and even out your skin’s surface.
  • If areas of your face seem a little gaunt from fat pads shifting, such as in your lower cheeks or temples, dermal fillers can increase the volume.

What are Dermal Fillers and How are They Different than Botox?

Dermal fillers are FDA approved materials, either synthetic or naturally derived, that are injected into the skin. The purpose of using dermal fillers is to plump up the injection area to smooth wrinkles, depressions, or folds. The effects of dermal fillers can last as long as six months and up to two years, though this varies depending on the type of dermal filler used. There are also fillers that are considered semi-permanent or permanent. Those fillers can last as long as five years, with some reports of even longer periods of time.

What you need to know about dermal fillers is that they are not the same as Botox which is frequently used around the forehead and eyes to relax muscle movements and prevent muscle movement that results in wrinkles. Botox is also used to alleviate TMJ issues. Botox does not produce the plumping effect of dermal fillers. Often, patients of Wimmer Dental will opt to have both dermal fillers and Botox injected in different locations to help their face look remarkably younger.

Natural Dermal Fillers

Naturally derived dermal fillers, such as hyaluronic acid, are considered lower risk because these fillers breakdown in the body over time and are absorbed. Naturally derived dermal fillers also have a better track record when it comes to allergic reactions, but what you need to know about dermal fillers is that allergic reactions still do still occur.

Naturally derived dermal fillers do not last as long as synthetic fillers. Some can last as little as three months, while others can last as long as 18 months. Naturally derived dermal fillers will require follow-up injections to maintain the results, sometimes more than once a year. They also come with the risk of migration and lumping, in addition to allergic reactions, though these reactions are generally fairly rare. Plus, if you experience any reactions, they typically dissipate as the substance is absorbed into the body. So any issues are not really permanent, generally lasting only as long as the filler is expected to last.

Synthetic Dermal Fillers

The main benefit of synthetic dermal fillers is that they last longer. They are considered semi-permanent. Some people refer to them as permanent though, because the substances don’t really dissipate. The wrinkles return only because your face continues to age and suffer damage by sun exposure. Synthetic dermal fillers have the same risks of migration, lumping, and allergic reaction. The only problem is that because synthetic dermal fillers are permanent additions to your body, the potential risks can be permanent as well. It is possible to correct unwanted results, but it can be difficult.

Dermal Filler Risks

As mentioned above, the risks of fillers are lumping and migration. Dermal fillers can also cause light bruising. The downside to getting fillers can be how long they last (or don’t). Different fillers interact with the skin differently and there are a number of different injection techniques, some which work better with specific fillers. Some fillers work best in specific injection areas as well. Be sure that any questions or concerns you have are addressed prior to your treatment, and we will provide what you need to know about dermal fillers.

Is There a Dermal Filler that is Considered the Best?

There really isn’t one dermal filler that is considered to be better than others, despite what you may have heard. They all share similar risks (though thankfully, those risks are pretty rare). If you are interested in getting dermal fillers, you can contact us at Wimmer Dental in Centennial for a consultation. We can talk through your questions about different dermal fillers and botox to determine what may be the best option to achieve the results you want.

When to Consider Dermal Fillers

There is not really a best time to get dermal fillers. If you want to have a dermal filler procedure prior to a special occasion, we recommend getting it done a few weeks prior, just in case you experience mild bruising. Dermal fillers can solve some annoying skins issues beyond what even a great skincare product is capable of accomplishing. It is important to recognize that even with great skincare products and a solid skincare regimen, gravity, sun exposure, muscle movement, age, and fat loss will all change how your face ages. Dermal fillers can help you reverse some of the changes that time brings.

Now that we’ve covered what you need to know about dermal fillers, contact us at Wimmer Dental in Centennial if you are interested in a procedure. We can help you determine the best course of action to achieve the appearance improvements you desire. We can help you with any wrinkles or age effects that you’re not excited to see in the mirror.