Facial Fillers/Injections
What are facial fillers?
Facial fillers are products such as collagen, hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxyl apatite that rejuvenate facial skin by reducing or eliminating wrinkles, lifting scar depressions, enhancing lips and replacing lost soft tissue volume through facial injections.
Indication :
As we age, our skin becomes more susceptible to wrinkles and sagging. Sun exposure and years of muscle movement (squinting, chewing, smiling) contribute to the breakdown of skin tissue.
Procedure :
* Facial fillers are temporary to long-term solutions that are applied through a few small facial injections into specific areas of the face.
* There are different types of facial fillers available; each is designed for one or more purposes, such as reducing wrinkles and plumping the lips.
* Hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm are then injected outside the mouth directly under these folds to replace lost volume, creating a younger appearance in the face.
* Dermal fillers can be used for high lip lines, asymmetrical lips around the mouth, lip augmentation, and to complement cosmetic dentistry by creating a beautiful, youthful-looking frame around the teeth.
* Types of fillers :
Juvéderm
* Designed to temporarily correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds.
* Juvederm is manufactured by Allergan, the same company that makes Botox.
Restylane
* A non-animal, biodegradable gel made from hyaluronic acid.
* Restylane is a soft tissue dermal filler that adds volume to the skin through tiny injections. Smoothing facial folds and wrinkles in the areas around the mouth and eyes.
In addition there are some lesser known dermal fillers:
Collagen (Zyplast/ Zyderm):
* A soft tissue dermal filler made from purified cow skin used to fill wrinkles, lines, and scars on the face.
* Collagen is a natural protein that supports various parts of the body, including the skin, tendons, and ligaments. It will eventually be absorbed into the body.
Sculptra :
* An injection made of synthetic polylactic acid in microspheres.
* Sculptra is the first FDA-approved injection to restore lost facial volume (correct lipoatrophy) in people with HIV.
Captic :
* Used to fill moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds around the nose and mouth.
* A soft tissue filler that adds volume to specific areas of the face; derived from non-animal hyaluronic acid.
Hylaform :
* Fills moderate to severe wrinkles around the nose and mouth.
Hylaform is a dermal filler that has been chemically modified from hyaluronic acid. Designed to temporarily smooth the skin surface.
Radèsse :
* A synthetic dermal filler made of calcium hydroxyapatite is used to correct moderate to severe wrinkles and folds.
* This injection is a long-lasting filler because the body forms collagen around the microspheres. Adds significant volume to the injected areas.
Filler Injection Duration and Side Effects :
* Average duration The average duration is about 10 to 20 minutes per session, depending on the individual and the amount of areas being treated.
* Some of the most common side effects include: allergic reaction, bruising at the injection site, numbness, temporary redness, swelling, pain/tenderness, or discoloration.
Post-Injection :
* Dermal filler injections require very little downtime, allowing patients to return to work and normal activities immediately after treatment.
* However, for the first 24 hours, individuals may be asked to refrain from strenuous activities and excessive exposure to sunlight or heat.
Some of the risks of facial injections are the formation of lumps (granulomas/nodules) which are potential risks associated with Radiesse, Sculptra, Juvederm, and ArteColl