Dermal Fillers – Myths vs. Facts
Whenever we want to search for a term or clear our doubts, Google seems to have all the answers. But when we actually “Google it”, what we get in return? Doubts!! More doubts! It leaves us with even more questions when we open thousands of links, read available content and conclude it with our understanding.
At Dr.Kandhari’s Skin & Dental Clinic, a lot of patients come to us with queries which they may have generated after reading incomplete or incompetent content online, especially when it comes to anti-aging treatments. Most of these patients are genuinely surprised when they hear the actual facts. So, by now you must have understood why we chose this topic. The purpose is to impart essential knowledge and information about dermal fillers, one of the topics with numerous myths attached to it.
Dermal Fillers is actually a misnomer, these agents are better known as soft tissue fillers as they may be administered in not only the dermis (the deep layer of the skin) but even below the fat or just above the bone. Fillers are known by different names such as Soft Tissue Fillers, Injectable Cosmetic Fillers, and Facial Fillers etc. The most commonly used fillers are the Hyaluronic Acid Fillers. Hyaluronic acid is a substance (sugar complex) produced naturally in human body responsible to provide volume to the skin. Soft tissue fillers aid in maintaining volume, re-inflate the deflated facial fat compartments, lift the face, restore the lost volume, correct tissue hydration by gauging water to give you a more supple, and smoother appearance.
Are fillers and anti-wrinkle injections the same thing?
Soft tissue fillers and Anti-wrinkle injections are completely different treatments and have different outcomes. Anti-wrinkle injections act upon underlying muscles to prevent the communication between the nerves and muscles which causes wrinkles. In contrast, dermal fillers restore the lost volume and add structure, contour and shape to the face. Both are effective treatments but the incredible versatility of fillers is increasing its popularity among people.
What concerns patients the most about injectables is –
“Doctor, I don’t want a Frozen appearance, will it freeze my face and prevent my natural facial expressions?”
The truth is, this frozen appearance will be the result of using too much quantity of anti-wrinkle injections and fillers than actually required to treat the target areas. That’s why it’s important to choose a skilled injector in order to avoid such risks. The end results will be a refreshed and naturally smooth skin.
The frozen look is actually more pronounced with over usage of anti-wrinkle injections rather than fillers alone. The media has created a lot of myths regarding the use of fillers for different parts of the face particularly the lip. If done in a proper manner, by a doctor who is clear about anatomy and skilled in his technique the results can be graceful and natural.
Many patients feel afraid of injectable treatments as they believe it to be extremely painful.
People have a particular fear of needles, but trust us there is nothing to be afraid of when it comes to fillers or anti-wrinkle injections for that matter. Many fillers are mixed with numbing agents to reduce your discomfort due to the pain caused by the fine needle. You can opt to utilize a local anaesthesia or a nerve block if you want to before the procedure. Moreover, with the use of cannulas the procedure is comfortable for most patients.
Doc, how long will the results last?
This completely depends upon the type of filler used, the area injected and the patients’ habits and metabolism rate. Some more robust and heavy fillers persist for long periods of time whereas other lighter molecules persist for shorter time periods. The time period typically ranges from 6months to 18 months.
Will my face be swollen after the treatment? For how long?
One of the major advantages of fillers treatment is that it is a quick procedure and requires only about half an hour and has minimum downtime. In some cases there may be mild swelling and / or bruising which typically settles within a few days. Moreover, makeup can be used to conceal it.
Where all can I use these fillers?
Fillers are typically used for facial beautification
a) Upper face – forehead contouring, eyebrow reshaping
b) mid face – this is the main area where fillers may be used to combat the signs of the aging face which are most prevalent in the mid face – working on the area around the eye which gives the most rewarding results if done in a proper and graded manner, cheek contouring, nose reshaping, laugh lines or nasolabial folds.
c) Lower face – Fillers in the lower face involves correction of the lip volume or shaping the lip, chin reshaping and uplifting the mouth corners. Further, a chiselledjawline is also achieved by soft tissue fillers in theright patient.
Depending on your specific requirements, goals and motivations and individualized treatment plan is charted out before commencing treatment.
Further fillers are also used for
a) Rejuvenation of the hands – Beautiful, supple and soft hands may be achieved with use of soft tissue fillers
b) Neck rejuvenation – combined with micro toxin injection techniques and other devices this serves as a good tool for rejuvenating the neck
c) Hydration of the face
d) Other rare areas where fillers may be used include reshaping the earlobe, breast augmentation etc.
What if I don’t like the results of dermal filler?
What makes fillers so popular worldwide is not only the fact that it is a fast, office based procedure which offers great results but also the fact that if you don’t like the result you may consider to reverse it. Yes, it is true soft tissue hyaluronic acid fillers are dissolvable with the help of an enzyme called hyaluronidase. The hyaluronidase acts within minutes, so, there’s nothing to worry about!
Skin specialist at Dr. Kandhari’s Skin & Dental Clinic believe in using the best products, bespoke treatment plans and delivering natural results after giving due respect to our patients goals and motivations.
