Dermal filler injections form a type of non-surgical cosmetic procedure wherein the wrinkles and smooth lines of your face are plumped up. These dermal fillers tend to restore volume in your face. Your healthcare provider injects these non-surgical substances just underneath your skin. People often choose to get dermal fillers in order to gain a more youthful appearance or enhance their already existing facial features. This is an elective treatment that usually takes less than half an hour to carry out, and the recovery time is minimal. Results are generally observed right away depending on the type of filler you’re getting and the location of the application.
There are several kinds of dermal fillers that you can opt for, which your healthcare provider will discuss with you. Just like any other cosmetic procedure, there are certain risks involved, such as infection, bruising, and bleeding. Your health insurance policy will generally not cover elective cosmetic procedures like filler injections.
In this article, we will understand what a dermal filler treatment is, its types, benefits, procedure, side effects, and the cost involved in opting for one.
What are the different types of dermal fillers?
There are many different types of dermal fillers. Besides the “off the shelf” fillers that make use of synthetic, man-made materials and substances that occur naturally in your body, healthcare professionals can also use fat from your own body. This procedure is known as “autologous fat grafting,” wherein dermatologists remove fat from one part of your body and inject it into your face. The different types of off-the-shelf dermal fillers include:
Hyaluronic Acid
HA is a naturally occurring acid in your skin. It seeks to provide volume to your skin and keeps it hydrated. However, with age, your body puts a halt in the production of HA, thereby leading to wrinkles and fine lines.
Results from HA injections usually last about six months to a year. Restylane is a commonly used type of HA dermal filler.
Calcium Hydroxylapatite
CaHA is a type of filler that consists of a substance you already have in your bones. Results obtained from this particular type of dermal filler injection generally last around a year or so.
Healthcare providers typically use CaHA fillers when patients have deeper wrinkles. Examples of CaHA fillers include Radiesse.
Poly-L-lactic Acid
PLLA is a substance that enables your body to create its own collagen. Healthcare professionals usually make use of this particular type of dermal filler injection to smoothen out the deep wrinkles on your face.
The results obtained from PLLA dermal filler injections can last about two years or more. Examples of PLLA fillers include Sculptra.
Polymethylmethacrylate
PMMA fillers constitute collagen and very small balls that stay under your skin after your healthcare professional injects them. These balls provide volume to your skin, thereby keeping it firm and sturdy. One example of PMMA dermal filler injections is Bellafill.
Your healthcare provider is responsible for reviewing every type of dermal filler injection available on the market and will discuss the right options you can go for. You should talk to them about setting realistic goals and the results you can expect after getting this non-surgical cosmetic treatment. The same applies when you’re opting for a dermal filler removal treatment.
Procedure Details
This section is divided into three parts:
- What happens before a dermal filler procedure?
- What happens during a dermal filler procedure?
- What happens after a dermal filler procedure?
Let’s take a closer look at each of these.
What happens before a dermal filler procedure?
Before you opt for getting a dermal filler treatment, you should have a consultation with your healthcare provider. You may also wish to seek a dermatologist or healthcare professional who specializes in skin and hair treatments. They’ll examine your face and ask which areas you’d like to enhance and what your goals are.
They might mark your face with a marker or a pen to show where the filler injections will be. They may also take pictures of your face. Based on their examinations, they’ll recommend a specific type of dermal filler or fillers and review every possible side effect and recovery time.
During this consultation, it is important to tell them about your medical history. You should make them aware of any medication you’ve been taking presently, as certain drugs can enhance the risk of infections and complications after getting dermal fillers. Tell your dermatologist if you have any allergies, skin conditions, neurological problems, or any history of bleeding or bruising after similar procedures.
What happens during a dermal filler procedure?
You can get your dermal filler treatment in your healthcare provider’s chamber itself. Some people also tend to get dermal fillers in a medical spa, sometimes also referred to as a medspa or a medispa. This is a medical clinic that provides cosmetic procedures in a spa-like environment.
Your healthcare provider will then clean your skin and may apply a cream or a lotion with an anaesthetic. The anaesthetic is applied to numb the area so that the treatment becomes more comfortable and convenient.
Using a thin needle, your dermatologist will inject small amounts of fillers under your skin. The needle might sting or pinch, but most people don’t experience much pain during this cosmetic treatment. Your dermatologist may inject the dermal fillers in several areas depending upon the requirement. The whole process may take a few minutes or even upto an hour.
What happens after a dermal filler procedure?
After you’ve received dermal filler injections, your dermatologist will cleanse your skin thoroughly. They may also offer you an ice pack to ease any pain or swelling you might be suffering from. You may experience a bit of pain, bruises, swelling, or even bleeding after getting the injections. However, these side effects tend to be mild and usually go away in a few days.
Most of the patients see results right away after getting these injections, but the outcomes do vary from one individual to another. The time taken to see optimum results and for how long they last depends on various factors, including the type of treatment you’ve received.
What is the process for a facial fat grafting treatment?
When it comes to facial fat grafting, the procedure is a bit different. First, your dermatologist will remove fat from your own body via the process of liposuction. After this extracted fat is purified, they’ll inject it into your face. This tends to be an outpatient procedure, allowing you to head home the same day.
Owing to the fact that a fat grafting treatment requires an extra step, that is, extracting fat from your own body via liposuction, the overall procedure is more complex than receiving off-the-shelf dermal filler injections. After liposuction and facial fat grafting, you may need to rest for up to two weeks. You should always consult with your healthcare provider regarding the expected recovery time and whether this procedure is the right fit for your requirements. Moreover, the dermal filler cost when it comes to facial fat grafting is also a bit higher compared to the off-the-shelf dermal filler procedures.
What are the advantages of dermal filler treatments?
Most people observe the results of dermal filler procedures right away. The injections usually take less than an hour to start showing results, and you can get them right in your dermatologist’s chamber. Being a non-surgical cosmetic treatment, the recovery time associated with these dermal fillers is also quite minimal in most cases.
Depending upon the type of filler you’re opting for, results can last for months or even years in some cases. There are certain dermal fillers that work for more than two years! These dermal filler injections are also generally less expensive than other elective surgical procedures.
What are the risks and side effects of dermal filler injections?
Serious complications are usually rare, and some of these side effects are only temporary. However, as with any cosmetic treatment procedure, there are risks. These side effects and risks include:
- Bleeding
- Bruising
- Pain
- Redness
- Swelling
- Damage to your skin causing scars
- An asymmetrical appearance
- Numbness
- Pimples that tend to replicate normal acne
- Rashes
- Itching
- Lumps or bumps under your skin
- Infections can lead to necrosis, which is the death of the infected skin, only in severe cases.
Seldom people have vision problems following dermal filler injections. In case you’re suffering from problems related to your vision, along with weakness, pain, or discomfort on one side of your body, you need to get immediate medical assistance.
If you’re in and around Hyderabad and looking for the best cosmetic clinic to carry out your dermal filling treatment, then we at Dermiq should be your one-stop destination. Our goal is to be the number one skin and hair clinic in Hyderabad, offering an entire multitude of treatments. Founded in 2018 by a team of three renowned MD trichologists and dermatologists, our vision is to provide expert skin and hair care services at affordable prices.
What is the recovery time after you get a dermal filler injection?
The recovery time after getting dermal filler injections usually varies from one person to the other. However, the recovery time mainly depends on:
- The type of dermal filler you’ve received.
- How many areas of your face have your dermatologist treated?
- Your overall health.
In most cases, people get back to their daily activities right after getting dermal filler injections. Your healthcare provider may also recommend you take a break from rigorous exercises or physical activities for a day or two.
When should you see your healthcare provider about dermal fillers?
After you have received a dermal filler treatment, you should call your dermatologist right away if you observe the following:
- Any bleeding, bruising, pain, or swelling that persists for days after the procedure.
- Signs of infection, including redness and swelling at the site of injection.
- Moderator to high fever.
- Symptoms of an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis, such as shortness of breath (dyspnea) or difficulty breathing.
What can dermal fillers do?
These are the following reasons you should opt for a dermal filler treatment today:
- Plump, thin lips.
- Soften wrinkles and facial creases.
- Enhance shallow contours.
- Improve the appearance of recessed scars.
- Decrease or remove the shadow of your lower lids.
- Reconstruct contour deformities in your face.
Dermal filler injections can prove to be very helpful for those with early signs of aging or as a value-added part of facial rejuvenation surgery.
What dermal fillers can’t do?
For some patients, opting for a surgery such as brow lift, eye lift, or facelift, may be the best approach. Minimally invasive rejuvenation procedures, such as soft tissue fillers, cannot achieve similar results but may help delay the time when a facelift surgery becomes appropriate. It is always important to remember that dermal filler injections are temporary treatments when it comes to facial aging, and frequent treatments are going to be needed in order to ensure long-term results.
What are the five main advantages of dermal filler injections?
The five main advantages of dermal filler injections are as follows:
- Adding definition to your chin and jawline.
- Achieving a fuller, sexier pout.
- Decreasing common signs of aging.
- Ensuring immediate results with little or no downtime.
- Restring the youthful plumpness of your skin.
These can also help with non-surgical nose jobs, lip augmentation, facial contouring, and scar correction.
What is the price of dermal fillers?
The price of dermal filler injections depends on a number of different factors such as the type of filler to be used, the amount of filler that needs to be injected, experience, skills, and expertise of the practitioner, the location and reputation of the clinic, follow-up appointments and any promotional offers, and additional treatments required.
The dermal filler cost usually ranges from INR 15,000-30,000 per syringe in India.
Pre and Post Care instructions for dermal filler treatment
There are a few pre- and post-care things that every patient opting for a dermal filler procedure needs to keep in mind and follow in order to gain the best possible results from this treatment. These are:
Pre care instructions
- Sharing your medical history with your healthcare provider well in advance.
- Stop taking aspirin or any other types of blood thinners for at least a week before your scheduled appointment unless extremely necessary.
- Avoiding even the smallest dental procedure two weeks before and two weeks after the filler treatment.
- Arriving with your natural, raw face for the appointment without any makeup or moisturizer. Just a washed and clean face.
- Eating a light meal before you arrive at the clinic.
- Take medicines such as Tylenol an hour before your scheduled appointment to avoid any unforeseen discomfort.
Post care instructions
- Use a cold compress or Tylenol to reduce any swelling, discomfort, or soreness.
- Avoid taking aspirin or any other similar blood-thinning drug for at least 5-7 days post-treatment.
- Avoiding any dental procedure for the following two weeks.
- Avoid touching or massaging the treated areas continuously or exposure to direct sunlight in the first 24 hours following the filler treatment.
Final Words
Dermal fillers are known to be extremely effective at smoothing out wrinkles and restoring volume to your skin. Most people tend to get these injections as the results are noticeable right away, and the recovery time is minimal. However, with any other elective cosmetic procedure, there’s a risk of side effects. You should always talk to your healthcare professional about the risks and benefits of this treatment, as well as the type of dermal filler procedure that will suit your requirements the best.
