Derma fillers get more and more popular every year, and they’re showing no sign of stopping. To us, that’s not surprising at all! Face fillers are one of our best tools for transforming the face in a very impactful way, with absolutely no downtime for our patients.
If you’ve been curious about this remarkable aesthetic procedure, we’ll fill you in on all of its basics, including what dermal fillers are, their benefits, what they’re made of, and how long you can expect your dermal filler to last.
What Are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers are an injectable treatment that adds volume to the face, which can help enhance your appearance in a few different ways. Depending on the filler and the injector’s technique, fillers can do everything from correction of wrinkles to enhancing the contours of the face.
There are a few different kinds of face fillers made from different materials. Nowadays, we almost exclusively use fillers made from hyaluronic acid – a safe, naturally-occurring ingredient that can create incredible results.
In Canada, dermal fillers and other injectables are regulated by Health Canada, and can only be carried out by a trained medical professional. Injecting a filler is as much an art as it is a medical procedure, so it’s so important to choose a provider that will take the time to consult with you and explain their approach.
What Are Fillers Made Of?
Most dermal fillers, and especially the ones we use Discovery Laser, are made of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a material that occurs naturally in the human body. It’s responsible for keeping our joints moving smoothly and for making sure our skin stays hydrated.
In dermal fillers, the cross-linked hyaluronic acid has a gel texture that perfectly plumps up the skin from below while keeping it feeling pliant and looking totally natural. Most dermal fillers also contain lidocaine, a numbing agent that ensures a pain-free treatment.
How Long Do Dermal Fillers Last?
Once injected, you can expect your dermal filler to last between six months and up to two years, depending on the area you have injected and the type of filler chosen. Because fillers are made of hyaluronic acid, they eventually get metabolized by your body.
In general, though, firm fillers designed for improving facial contours tend to have better longevity, while pliant fillers that provide subtle results tend to fade faster. If you’re curious about the lifespan of your specific filler, ask your provider during your consultation.
Dermal Filler Benefits & Effects
You might be surprised to discover just how broad-ranging dermal filler benefits can be. It’s much more than an anti-wrinkle injection!
Wrinkles and Fine Lines
One of the most common uses of filler is to plump up fine lines and wrinkles. Today’s filler varieties can fill in deeper wrinkles, like nasolabial folds, or smooth out finer lines around the lips or eyes. They’re especially useful in the lower half of the face, where cosmetic Botox isn’t necessarily appropriate.
Loss of Volume
With age, fat and bone loss can lead to loss of volume in the face. This can cause the cheeks to look sunken in, leading to a tired or gaunt look. Fillers help to restore that volume, giving the face a plumper, healthier look. This can also help to pull the skin up slightly, to correct loss of tone.
Lip Enhancement
One of the most popular reasons to use dermal fillers is to plump up the lips. While we’re all familiar with the plump, pillowy look that many celebrities adore, face filler is actually far more versatile!
An expert injector can use the ideal type and quantity of filler to enhance the lips naturally and precisely. For some, filler is a miracle worker that helps to correct imbalances or asymmetry in the lips. Some fillers have a very pliant texture that adds very little volume yet helps smooth out the lips and erase “smokers’ lines.”
Hyaluronic acid doesn’t just add volume to the lips, but it can also give them a healthier look since it’s a molecule that absorbs water and hydrates.
Undereye Glow Up
The skin under the eyes is thinner than the skin on other parts of the face, which is why it’s a common area of concern. The thin skin can seem sunken in as we age, and it can show the blood vessels beneath it, which is why “dark circles” are often a little purple in colour. Fine lines are also quite common under and around the eyes.
Filler adds a layer of heft and moisture under the eyes that helps smooth out the area and reduce the look of dark circles, for a more youthful and awake look.
Facial Sculpting
Nowadays, we also love using fillers as an alternative to reconstructive surgeries. Fillers with a slightly thicker texture do a remarkable job of refining features. They can add a bit of height to the cheekbones, adjust the shape of the nose, or extend the chin. By adding that volume, we can also give the face an overall lift, which can help reduce loss of tone or sagging in the lower half of the face. For many, it’s a minimally invasive alternative that’s far better than having to go under the knife.
Conclusion
Do you think dermal fillers might be for you? If you’ve always dreamed of fuller lips or brighter eyes, our team at Discovery Laser would love to help you achieve that.
We understand that getting dermal fillers is a serious consideration and that each patient has their own aesthetic concerns. We have the experience and medical credentials to guarantee you achieve the precise results you want, so book your consultation to learn more!
