What are Dermal fillers?
These substances are injected just below the surface of the skin to lift and fill in lines, Wrinkles, folds and scars. Certain of these products are used to add volume such as lip augmentation and some other add bulk of tissue such as check augmentation.
Fillers can create happy, lifted and younger look
Aging and dropping of our face gives us a sad tired look. Fillers can regain your previous happy lifted look of your face . It can increases the fullness of the lips and lessen the downward slant of the corner of lips. With certain fillers such as Sculptra and Radiesse we are able to create ” liquid face lift” by adding volume to the cheeks and temples which leads to a lifted younger look.
What is right for me, Face lift or fillers?
Many candidates at any age can benefits from fillers by filling certain facial lines or reshaping of lips and checks . Age related facial changes due to skin volume lost can be restored by filler for a fuller natural youthful appearance. If the changes are due to too much loose skin you may benefit from combination of a mini face lift and fillers. Facelift without volume correction gives a stretched skin look what is not attractive. When you see Dr. Shafa for a consultation all your options will be discussed to achieve your goal.
What area can be injected?
- Smile line: between the nose and mouth , the most common area treated
- Smoker lines: fine lines around upper and lower lips
- Frown lines
- Acne scars
- Lip augmentation
- Check augmentation
- Merinet lines: slant of the corner of the lips
- Hands
- ear lobes
How Dermal fillers add volume?
Volumenizing products:
Are those that add volume to the skin. The leading products are hyluranic acid-based dermal fillers such as Restylane, perlane and Juvederm.
Skin Stimulating products:
Are those stimulating collagen formation in the skin, such as sculptra.
Volume adding and stimulating products:
Are those adding volume and stimulates collagen formation such as Radiesse and Artefill.
How long the corrective effect of fillers last?
It all depends of site of injection and amount and type of products used. Shortest lasting to longest lasting product are order is as followed:
Collagen:
last less than 3 month- out dated products
- Cosmoderm, Cosmoplast(Human collagen).
- Zyderm, Zyplast( Bovine-cow-collagen).
Hyluranic acids
Hyluranic acids ( HAs) family attract and hold water into skin. These product last 6 to 9 month.
- Restylane and Perlane: The first FDA approved HA.
- Juvederm and Juvederm ultra pluse.
- Captique: out dated old product– shorter lasting HA.
- Elevess: not a popular product in U.S.
- Hylaform:used more for medical purpose- joint injection.
Calcium Hydroxyl-apatite class
- Radiesse: lasts average one year or longer.
Poly-Lactic Acid class
- Sculptra: lasts at least two years, probably longer
Lipotransfer:
- Fat injection – unpredictable out come and risks.
PMMAs containing collagen:
- Artefill: longest- years- lasting FDA approved dermal filler in U.S.
Permanent fillers:
- Silicone: not FDA approved in U.S.