What are Dermal Fillers?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Dermal Fillers?
Dermal filler are gel-like substances injected beneath the skin for the restoration of lost volume, smooth lines, and softening the creases, or enhancement of the facial contours.
Dental fillers are also known as soft tissue fillers or injectable implants. As the age of an individual advance, the skin sags or wrinkles may be caused due to the loss of proteins and fat in the skin layer. Dermal fillers cannot permanently replace the lost proteins and fat but can help in mimicking the original skin structure.
It is normal to have mild discomfort, swelling, and bruising for up to a week after the procedure.
In this article, we will be discussing in detail about dermal fillers.
- What are the types of Dermal Fillers?
- What is the purpose of Dermal Fillers?
- What are the benefits of Dermal Fillers?
- How to prepare for Dermal Fillers treatment?
- What is the procedure for Dermal Fillers treatment?
- How to care after Dermal Fillers treatment?
- What are the side effects of Dermal Fillers?
- What are the precautions taken to ensure the safety of Dermal Fillers?
- What is the cost of Dermal Fillers treatment in India?
What are the types of Dermal Fillers?
The different types of dermal fillers include:
- Hyaluronic acid:
- This acid is naturally produced by the skin. This ingredient is present in cosmetics that claim to plump the skin.
- Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers are gel-like in nature.
- The effect of these fillers can last for about 6 to 12 months.
- Some of the brand names of these fillers are belotero, hylaform, elevess, restylane, and juvederm.
- Calcium hydroxylapatite:
- This kind of calcium is found in the bones.
- These types of fillers are soft like a gel and do not require any animal products for their production.
- It is a long-lasting type of injectable, the effect of which lasts for about 9 to 15 months.
- Radiesse is the brand name of this type of dermal filler.
- Collagen stimulator:
- Polylactic acid is a type of dermal filler which normally dissolves in a day or two.
- Instead of staying under the skin, polylactic acid stimulates the natural production of collagen (a protein that plays an important role in protecting the human body) in the body.
- Polylactic acid is a synthetic, but biodegradable ingredient.
- The brand name of this type of filler is sculptra.
- Polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) microspheres:
- These are small, synthetic balls injected into the skin to make the thin lips look fuller or underneath the deep wrinkles.
- These types of dermal fillers have a long-lasting effect as compared to hyaluronic acid and polylactic acid.
- The doctor usually requires several appointments to fill the required area slowly by using multiple, small injections.
- The brand name for this type of filler is Bellafill.
- Autologous fat injections:
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- This type of dermal filler material comes from the person’s own body.
- These injections use the fat deposits from certain donor areas of the body, like the buttocks or stomach area.
- This fat is extracted using a liposuction procedure and then injected into another area of the body, that requires recovery of lost volume.
- The effect of these natural dermal fillers lasts forever.
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What is the purpose of Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers can be used in the following conditions:
- To smooth out the wrinkles
- To smooth out the lines around the mouth and the nose (known as smile lines, marionette lines, and parentheses)
- For the enhancement and restoration of the volume to the sunken cheeks or temples
- To enhance and plump the lips
- To diminish the vertical lip lines
- To smooth out a chin crease
- For improving the symmetry of the facial features
- To fill the loose skin on the hands, and decrease the appearance of veins
- To treat the wrinkles around the lower neck and chest area
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What are the benefits of Dermal Fillers?
The benefits of dermal fillers include:
- Improved cosmetic appearance
- Younger-looking skin
- Fewer fine lines and wrinkles
- More visible bone structure
- Decrease the signs of aging
- Softening of the scar tissue
- Add volume to the area injected, making the area look fuller
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How to prepare for Dermal Fillers treatment?
- It is important to choose a well-trained, and a qualified dermatologist or plastic surgeon to perform the procedure.
- The procedure is non-surgical and normally completed during an office visit.
- You should have a consultation with your doctor before the treatment and discuss your goals and concerns.
- During the consultation the doctor will evaluate the area of concern and also ask you about your medical history.
- You should inform your doctor about any pre-existing medical conditions, allergies, skin disorders, or neurological (brain-related) conditions that you may be having.
- You should inform your doctor about any medications, supplements, or herbs you may be taking.
- Tell your doctor about any past treatment with Botox, injectable fillers, or other facial rejuvenation procedures that you may have had.
- The doctor may take before and after photographs to evaluate the changes after the treatment.
- The doctor may tell you to stop taking any blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin and warfarin, that you may be taking a few days before the procedure. These medications may increase the chances of bruising.
- Stop smoking at least two weeks before the procedure. This is done because smoking may cause delayed healing.
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What is the procedure for Dermal Fillers treatment?
- The area to be treated is first cleaned using an antibacterial agent.
- The doctor may give a topical (applied directly to the skin) anesthesia to numb the area before injection and make the patient comfortable.
- A few dermal fillers may itself contain an anesthetic agent known as lidocaine. This helps in minimizing the discomfort during and after the procedure.
- The doctor will then inject a precise amount of the dermal filler strategically beneath the skin.
- The type of dermal filler chosen depends on the area being treated and the purpose of treatment.
- Depending on the areas treated and the products used, the results are usually seen immediately after the procedure.
- In the case of facial fat grafting, the protocol of treatment procedure is different:
- It is a surgical procedure that is normally performed on an outpatient basis (the patient can go home on the same day of treatment).
- The patient is given local anesthesia with sedation (to numb the area of treatment) or general anesthesia (patient is put to sleep during the procedure).
- The surgeon removes the fat from the donor area, such as the buttocks or stomach area, by liposuction.
- The fat removed is then injected into the area that requires recovery of the lost volume.
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How to care after Dermal Fillers treatment?
- The results can be noticed almost immediately after receiving the dermal filler injections.
- The effect of dermal fillers may last from several months to several years depending on the type of dermal filler used, and the overall health and maintenance of the patient.
- It is normal to have mild bruising and swelling after the procedure.
- The initial appearance following dermal fillers treatment may include:
- Swelling and bruising
- The overfilled appearance of the treatment area
- Temporary redness or numbness
- Hard areas or lumps at the injection sites
- Allergic reactions
The doctor recommends the application of ice packs to improve the above symptoms. These symptoms usually disappear in a couple of hours or a few days.
- One can resume his/her daily activities immediately after treatment.
- The doctor may advise you to avoid any strenuous activities for one day after the procedure.
- The healing process following an autologous fat injection is longer and may take a couple of weeks.
What are the side effects of Dermal Fillers?
The side effects of dermal fillers include:
- Bruising
- Itching
- Swelling
- Pain
- Redness
- Rash
Other rare side effects include:
- Clumping of the filler material
- Filler migration (dermal filler material goes into an area of the face where it was not injected)
- Headache
- Allergic reaction
- Blurred vision
- Blindness in severe cases
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- Infection
- Discoloration or change in skin color
- Injury to the blood vessels
- Leakage of filler through the injection site
- Granulomas (inflammatory reaction to the dermal filler)
- Nodule formation near the injection site, which may require a surgical removal
- Tissue damage due to blocked blood flow
If you notice any of the above symptoms after dermal fillers treatment, contact your doctor.
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What are the precautions taken to ensure the safety of Dermal Fillers?
- Choose a well-trained and qualified dermatologist or plastic surgeon to carry out the procedure for you.
- Ask the doctor you have chosen about his/her experience in using the type of dermal filler that you have chosen.
- Carry out the procedure in a medical setting, not at home or a mall kiosk.
- Do not purchase dermal fillers online. Instead, get them from a certified medical provider.
- Dermal fillers should be closed with properly labeled syringes.
- The filler used should be approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).
- Talk to your doctor about the potential risks and side effects.
- Check for the ingredients in the dermal fillers and avoid them if you are allergic to any of the ingredients.
- Inform your doctor about any medications or supplements that you are taking, as some of them can react with the ingredients in the dermal fillers and can affect the ability of the blood to clot and stop bleeding.
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What is the cost of Dermal Fillers treatment in India?
The total cost of dermal fillers treatment in India can range from around INR 20,000 to INR 1,00,000, depending on the type of dermal filler used, and the area being treated. However, the cost of the procedure may vary across different hospitals. There are many big hospitals and specialized doctors in India for dermal filler treatment. The cost varies across different hospitals.
If you are coming from abroad, in addition to the expenses of dermal filler treatment, there will be a cost of staying in a hotel, cost of living, and cost of local travel. So, the total cost of dermal fillers treatment in India will be around INR 26,000 to INR 1,30,000 per session.
We hope that we were able to answer all your questions regarding dermal fillers through this article.
If you want more information and treatment for dermal fillers, you can contact a Dermatologist.
We only aim to give you information through the article and do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
