Does Dermal Filler Treatment Have Downtime?

Plump lips, chiseled cheeks and smooth skin: Some people are genetically blessed and have them naturally, while others get by with a little help from their aestheticians or cosmetic surgeons. If you’re not sure which category someone you know or your favorite celebrity falls into, that’s the point.

Injectable treatments are easy to find, long lasting and designed to be subtle. They’re also safe, provided that you do a little research beforehand and consult with a reputable physician. If you’re ready to take the plunge, but not sure about filler specifics, below are a few things to know before perfecting your pout.

Image Source

When to Consider Fillers

As we age, it’s normal to see fine lines, wrinkles and loss of volume. External factors, such as overexposure to the sun, smoking and other free radicals can also take a toll on our skin. Unfortunately, even with the best intentions, you may have trouble turning back the hands of time with creams and anti-aging serums.

Healthy individuals over 21 years old are the perfect candidates for dermal fillers. In fact, when it comes to prevention, it’s never too early to start taking better care of your skin. The younger you are, the less product needed, which means you have a better result without looking overfilled.

 

Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Dermal fillers aren’t the same as Botox, Dysport or other neurotoxins. While the latter “freeze” your muscles to reduce wrinkles, dermal fillers smooth and plump your skin by filling wrinkles. Collagen used to be the go-to choice for filler, but these days, most fillers, such as Juvéderm and Restylane, are hyaluronic acid and deliver natural results without the risk of an allergic reaction.

Because of its ability to store moisture, hyaluronic acid gives your skin a plump, well-rested and hydrated looked. And although it’s found in most moisturizers, creams and serums aren’t able to restore lost volume like injections do. Once injected, it plumps hollow areas, fills in wrinkles and gives your own body’s natural product a boost.

 

Dermal Filler Options

Beauty comes in all shapes and ages but as we get older, even the most confident of people may start to see signs of aging. That’s not to say that getting older is a bad thing, but now that we can smooth, plump and fill those pesky lines safely, why wouldn’t you want to look as youthful as possible?

Keep in mind is that all dermal fillers are not the same. Although the idea behind them is to restore lost volume and diminish the appearance of wrinkles, each one was created to treat specific concerns. There are two main types of dermal fillers: collagen-based biostimulators and hyaluronic acid.

 

Restylane

Restylane was one of the very first dermal fillers to be approved in the USA. It comes in five variations, which include:

• Restylane
• Restylane Silk
• Restylane L
• Restylane Lyft
• Perlane

All five types of Restylane can be used to treat nasolabial folds and lip plumping. Due to its smaller particle size, Restylane Silk can only be used to treatment vertical line lines while Lyft gives you fullness and lifting effect in the midface. Perlane is preferred when treating patients with more pronounced wrinkles.

 

Juvederm Products

Juvederm is now considered one of the top-selling dermal fillers on the market today. Each product in the Juvederm family adds volume, smooths out in fine lines and fills in marionette lines. Currently, Juvederm offers several different hyaluronic acid fillers, which include:

• Juvederm XC
• Juvederm Ultra XC
• Voluma
• Vollure
• Vobella

Recovery Time

Recovery time is as individual as the patient and type of filler injected. It’s fine to resume most activities right away, but it’s recommended that you avoid intense exercise sessions for the first 24 to 48 hours to help minimize swelling and bruising. Be sure to discuss your recovery plan with your physician before undergoing injections.

As with any type of dermal filler, following treatment you may experience the following:

• Mild to moderate swelling
• Slight bruising at the injection site
• Temporary numbness and redness
• Palpable lumps at the injection sites

Typically, any side effects resolve within a few hours or only a few days. Application or ice and gentle massage can decrease downtime, but be sure to discuss your specific treatment plan with your physician. Over-manipulation of dermal filler may cause it to shift, which requires reinjection. Any residual bruising or redness can be easily covered with concealer.

To learn more about dermal filler treatments as well as other cosmetic non-surgical procedures, you can get a consultation with Anurag Agarwal, M.D., F.A.C.S. by calling (239)-594-9100 at our Naples, FL location or fill out our online contact form.