Dermal Fillers, Injectables

What are Dermal Fillers and why are they used?

Dermal fillers are injectable products made out of a variety of substances used to fill out or plump up the skin. These products have advanced as our knowledge of aging has advanced as well. We used to think of aging in almost a 2 dimensional way, thinking that the reason we may look older is simply because our skin, which used to be held up at a youthful point “A”, has now relaxed and fallen to a lower and older looking point “B”. We now know that aging happens in a 3 dimensional way and that skin not only droops but loses volume as well…This is the same reason why some people, when they lose weight, actually look older through the face…Weight loss means volume loss.

Dermal fillers are designed for a two-fold effect. They can be used to plump up areas of our skin that are losing volume, and they can be used to fill in wrinkles that we may not particularly care for.

Are Dermal Fillers different than Botox, Dysport and Xeomin?

Yes they are. Botox, Dysport and Xeomin are not used to plump up the tissue like fillers do. They are used to treat wrinkles but in a different way. Botox, Dysport and Xeomin do not act on the wrinkle in our skin, but rather on the underlying muscle that makes the wrinkle happen in the first place. These products relax the muscle for a time (usually 3-4 months) helping to soften your muscles ability to make the wrinkle happen at all! Dermal Fillers do nothing to the muscle’s activity, but are directed instead at the muscle by-product.

Are they permanent?

Dermal Fillers can be divided up into 2 categories: Temporary and Semi-permanent.

TEMPORARY

Fat is one substance that can be injected and it usually comes from you! There is no rejection but there is a natural absorption and so at times, its effects may fade away.

Collagen is very natural and is abundantly found in the human body. It can come from humans or animals and can be found under the names of CosmoDerm and Cosmoplast  or Zyderm and Zyplast.

Hyaluronic Acid is a liquid nutrient also found abundantly in the body and can even be injected into painful joints, almost as a lubricant. This does not come from animals and these go by the names of Captique, Esthelis, Elevess, Hylaform, Juvederm, Perlane, Puragen, and Restylane.

Calcium Hydroxyapatite compounds are a bit heavier on the spectrum of Dermal Fillers and are a mineral like substance. These are usually reserved for deeper creases and these products brand names include Radiesse and Radiance.

Polylactic Acid is a synthetic that stimulates your body to produce its own “dermal filler” in the form of collagen. As you can imagine, this stimulation does not happen overnight and it does take time to see the results using these products. These go by the names of Sculptra and New-Fill.

SEMI-PERMANENT

PMMA is a substance that is a little more permanent and a little more solid, with other forms of it at times being used in Reconstructive Surgery as permanent implants. This can even be removed after injection. It goes by the names of Articol, Artefill and Metacrill.

Which is the right Dermal Filler for me?

It depends on many factors and what your goals are. This is why it takes a good understanding of the products out there and a trained and experienced injector to guide you and treat you.

What is my next step?

This is where you should talk to our Injector. She has over 20 years of experience and can help you along through the maze of products, finding the right one that works for you.

Contact us at 480-767-7700 for a consultation…You’ll be glad you did!  We gladly serve the areas of Scottsdale, Phoenix, Gilbert, Tempe, Mesa and Chandler, Arizona.