Once upon a time, cosmetic surgery was regarded as something that was reserved for the rich and famous of the world, but in 2022 that couldn’t be further from the case. Thanks to so many great technological and medicinal developments and advancements in the world of cosmetic surgery, various methods and treatments are now readily available at relatively modest price points all over the globe.
For something that is minimally invasive, pretty much any person can have the achievable dream of saving up some cash to spend on improving their appearance or altering something that has always been a bother to them when they look in the mirror.
Of all the treatments that are comparatively low cost and widely available, dermal fillers are the most popular. You might recognize the entire concept of fillers as ‘Botox’, but the truth is that that is just one name in an entire ocean of injector-style brands that provide plastic surgeons with the simple but effective formulas to offer to their patients.
Lip injections and facial injections are a fantastic option if you want to add degrees of plumpness to your cheeks and lips in particular. Brands including Juvederm Voluma, Restylane, Volbella, Sculptra, Radiesse, RHA, and Belotero can remove those wrinkles and fine lines that appear as a natural sign of aging.
When your collagen and elastin production naturally begins to slow down, the right cosmetic treatments can provide the rejuvenation that you’re looking for. Here is Injectables 101 – a guide for everything you need to know about lip fillers and filler injections of all kinds.
What concerns does an injectable treatment address?
There are several key concerns that most patients consult with their dermatologist to which the solution may be FDA-Approved hyaluronic acid fillers. These include, but are not limited to:
- General signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles around the face and neck. Some of this aging can be helped with a good skincare regime, but ultimately you cannot reverse things like laughter lines in a completely natural way, and that is when a minimally invasive (without anesthetic) form of ‘plastic surgery is needed.
- Fillers can be used to physically change the shape of a person’s face, for example, if they are not satisfied with the natural appearance of their jawline. No amount of high-quality dermatology can change bone structure, so strategic injection site fillers can do the job to almost give you an entirely different profile if you desire it.
- Large, luscious lips have been the trend on social media for the last few years, and it is fair to say that fillers are the perfect answer for anyone who doesn’t have naturally full volume in that area.
How do fillers work?
Dermal fillers work by boosting the supply of hyaluronic acid to the injection site. Underneath the epidermis, this acid will add volume and almost instantly diminish the appearance of things like wrinkles and fine lines by plumping up the skin. In the vast majority of cases, these fillers are made into a soft injectable gel that contains a stabilized, non-animal form of hyaluronic acid.
Do fillers hurt?
At most, all you will feel when getting fillers is something akin to a sharp pinch. To minimize this pinch, most cosmetic surgeons will offer you a topical numbing cream that is placed directly onto the injection sites. Newer fillers also contain lidocaine, a numbing agent, within the syringe.
There is very little real downtime associated with fillers, and negative side effects are very rare at this stage in the development of the treatment.
Depending on the surgeon who administers your fillers, other aids such as ice, vibrating distraction devices, and a dose of lidocaine mixed into the filler itself can all be used to really good effect.
Some people may suffer an allergic reaction and this can be dealt with by medication. Allergic reactions to fillers are quite rare
Ultimately, the amount of discomfort that you may or may not experience during your treatment will depend on the skill and talent of your chosen physician or surgeon.
Are fillers a good choice for me?
If you identify with any of the highlighted concerns in the section above, then you might consider yourself a prime candidate for dermal fillers.
Whether you are losing facial volume, accumulating lots of fine lines, experiencing deeper laugh lines that you would like, or dreaming of having larger, fuller lips, or more contoured cheeks, then fillers are potentially the right type of cosmetic treatment for you.
What kind of results should you expect?
In general, a patient who chooses to have an injectable filler treatment will see small changes in the topical areas almost immediately. There is inevitable swelling and redness with a procedure like this, and as that starts to go down over the following two weeks, the true effects and results of the injections will start to be revealed.
In terms of longevity, it must be noted that fillers are not a permanent fix for any of the concerns we have listed above. They are temporary and can last anywhere from six months to two years depending on the type of filler and the number of injections that you have at a single time.
Which filler is right for me?
Though most fillers with the hyaluronic acid base share similar results and serve similar purposes, there are slight differences in brands that might make one more suitable than another depending on your specific circumstances.
Your aesthetic physician may have some preferred brands and only offer those.
A thorough consultation with an aesthetic physician or cosmetic surgeon is where the options will be explained to you. It is also the opportunity for you to find out everything you need to know and want to ask.
Each option should be fully explained in terms of which part of the body the filler works best for and why. Pros and cons should be laid out. It is common practice for prospective patients to be shown before and after photographs to see the procedures in real life.
Final Thoughts
If you want dermal fillers, do your homework when choosing a clinic. Although the fillers have to be FDA-approved, there are no specific licenses required to be able to administer them. It is always best to find a certified and qualified physician to undertake your procedure. It should be considered a medical procedure, not a beauty treatment. Visit us at Z Cosmetic Health in Sherman Oaks, California to schedule your consultation.
Current regulations are that anyone over the age of 18 can opt for a dermal fillers treatment.