Injectable fillers

The injectable fillers are substances that can be used to both lift lines and sculpt the face.

They can fill wrinkles, scars, under-eye depressions, build up cheeks and chins, lift brows, and define and enlarge the lips. Injectable fillers are a popular treatment and are administered by way of a simple injection treatment, for which no anaesthetic is required.

The support structure of your skin is formed by natural proteins. Wrinkles begin to appear when these proteins thin. This loss is usually connected to aging, but smoking, exposure to the sun, pollution, health, heredity, and lifestyle may also be the cause.

There are many “fillers” available and in some cases it may be recommended that a combination of injectable fillers are used to treat or improve a particular condition. Some injectible fillers require a skin test prior to treatment to ensure that you have no allergy to the product but in the last few years various products have become available which avoid the necessity for such an allergy test.

After treatment with injectable fillers, there are usually no visible effects and patients could therefore go straight back to work or to a social engagement, The areas best treated with these products are:

• forehead lines – horizontal frown lines
• glabeller lines – vertical frown lines between the eyebrows
• crow`s feet or laughter lines – radiating away from the eyes
• naso-labial lines – furrows running between mouth and nose
• marionette lines – lines running down from the corners of the mouth
• lips – by creating a fuller, more defined shape
• facial scars – either from old injuries or acne scarring

Many doctors recommend that their patients try a temporary filler for their first few treatments, just to make sure it is providing them the results they want. If they are satisfied, they may want to opt for a permanent filler, so they don`t have to keep coming back.

Collagen injections replenishes the skin`s natural collagen. The natural beauty of your skin is enhanced as the contour of the support structure is restored.

Zyderm and Zyplast are bovine derived collagen products that replace the collagen your skin loses over time. Zyderm and Zyplast collagen are placed just beneath the skin, in the dermis where the body readily accepts it as its own.

CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast are bioengineered human collagen products that are used for similar indications as Zyderm and Zyplast but have the advantage of not requiring a skin test prior to the first treatment.

Collagen should be injected into your skin only by a trained health care professional. By supplementing your skin`s own collagen, collagen replacement therapy helps smooth facial lines as well as most types of scars.

Other Injectable fillers include Artecoll, which is a synthetic filler material. Because it`s synthetic, you are at higher risk of having an allergic reaction to it than if you got an injection of collagen or fat, but it lasts much longer than those options.

Autologen is an injection of your own collagen, extracted from another place on your body. There`s no risk of allergic reaction, however, the results are only temporary. This may be good for people who aren`t ready to commit to a permanent result.

Dermalogen is collagen extracted from deceased human donors. It`s also called injectable Human Tissue Matrix. This is also a temporary fix, but your body should not reject it.

Fascia injections use a specific type of connective tissue harvested either from your own body or from a deceased human donor. It can be implanted surgically or injected. The main drawback is that within a year of injection, your body will reabsorb the fascia.

Fat from your own thighs or abdomen can be also be injected. There`s no risk of allergic reaction and you may achieve permanent results. This can also be implanted surgically.

HylaForm is a material created from natural body substances. There`s no risk of infection, but you will need repeated treatments to maintain the result as it`s only a temporary fix.

Restylane is a clear gel. It contains hyaluronic acid, which naturally occurs in humans, so there`s little chance for an allergic reaction. It`s biodegradable, so your body will absorb it within about six months of the injection.

Restylane and Perlane are based on a non-animal hyaluronic acid. No pre-test in necessary is needed as one of it`s main components, hyaluronic acid, occurs naturally in the body. Perlane is a thicker gel than Restylane and good for deeper folds or for more pronounced lip sculpting.

Another injectable filler lasting even longer (about 2 years) is Radiesse.

It consists of tiny micro spheres of a synthetic material called calcium hydroxyl apatite (30%) that is combined with a common hydro gel (70%) used in a vast array of products. While calcium hydroxyl apatite has similar chemical and structural characteristics as bone and teeth and therefore is naturally compatible with the body, the Radiesse material is synthetic and man-made similar to a calcium phosphate. Radiesse is used most for the deep folds that run from the nose down towards the corners of the mouth and for depressions under the mouth.

Sculptra is an injectable filler material that adds volume to facial areas such as the cheeks, temples, the depressions under the eyes, and around the chin. Instead of plumping up the skin itself, Sculptra initiates an expansion of the body`s own collagen, resulting in long lasting, natural appearing results. It usually requires at least 2 treatments and the results are not immediately apparent but the effects can last several years.

Candidates for injectable filler procedures should be physically healthy and realistic in their expectations.

Patients should be aware that most injectable fillers can improve or reduce the appearance of wrinkles and creases rather than eliminate them altogether. The specific injectable filler that is right for you will depend upon several factors and is best determined with the help of a qualified plastic surgeon.

Injectable fillers are often administered in a surgeon’s office and usually take no more than forty-five minutes to complete. Some injectables will require multiple treatments spaced several weeks apart. A local or topical anesthetic or numbing agent may be administered before the filler is injected with a small needle beneath the skin of the treatment area.

Side effects tend to be minimal with most injectable fillers. Bruising, swelling and redness may occur but typically fade within one to two days. Normal activities, including work, can usually be resumed right away. Results are temporary for most injectable fillers and will require periodic repeat treatment in order to maintain the effect.

Collagen

Collagen – What Is It?

Cosmetic collagen treatment is aimed at removing wrinkles and scars in the face and for overall skin rejuvenation. Collagen is basically a fibrous protein. The cosmetic collagen procedure is done with collagen derived from cows or humans. Collagen is dermal filler. Over time, collagen breaks down and is absorbed by our body. The effect of collagen face procedure generally lasts up to a maximum of 6 months, depending on the individual and the area of implant. When the effect of collagen had ended, the face procedure should be repeated again. This collagen face procedure should be done only by a qualified plastic surgeon, well versed in plastic surgery and Botox cosmetic treatments.

Collagen – How Is It Done?

For collagen face procedure, the plastic surgeon would wash your face and clean it at the outset. After drying the face, the plastic surgeon would apply a local antiseptic to the site of collagen injection. Then the surgeon would inject a mixture of collagen, saline water, and local anesthetic in small quantities under the skin. The surgeon would massage the injected area so that the collagen is evenly distributed under the skin.

Collagen – After the Surgery

After a collagen face procedure, you might feel some tenderness in the skin or some swelling for the first few days but these would automatically subside. Heavy exercising and drinking alcohol should be avoided for a week or two after the face procedure. You should not expose your face to sunlight as far as possible. It would be advisable to use a good sunscreen for protecting the skin of your face from the sun for the first few weeks. Certain persons might be allergic to local anesthesia and they would be advised by the plastic surgeon against any collagen injection face procedures. A few people might be allergic to bovine collagen also. Hence, the collagen face procedure should be undertaken only after consulting a qualified plastic surgeon, with adequate knowledge about plastic surgery and Botox treatments.

Hylaform

An effective wrinkle solution – Hylaform

Description

There are a lot of options available to remove your wrinkles. While some options are costly and instantly effective, there are others that are just as effective but take a little longer to work. Hylaform is one such product which works as an effective wrinkle filler and can give you good results in a reasonably short period of time.

Before the procedure

Wrinkles are problems that affect all individuals at different points in time. If you are unhappy with the results that traditional creams give you, then hylaform is the answer for you. Being a form of injectable filler, it is effective for all skin types. You can consult a dermatologist if you are unsure whether the product is for you.

The reality

Unlike other kinds of cosmetic treatments, hylaform is easy to use and apply. You can use the product immediately and it works gradually on your skin by removing one wrinkle at a time. You can consider it a beauty product, but it is effective for all skin types. Hyaluronic acid, a prime ingredient in the product, is known to be a powerful and natural solution.

After the procedure

Since you are not going to be involved in any surgery, you can instantly resume regular activities once you have used the product. There are no specific instructions that you need to follow after the treatment. Regular skin care can be continued post this skin procedure, and the user is recommended to follow some good skin practices to ensure that they don’t have to worry about wrinkles in the future.

Juvederm

Description

If getting plastic surgery to improve your appearance is not an option for you, then perhaps juvederm might be the answer you’ve been looking for. It is a derma filler cream that can be used to remove wrinkles, acne scars, lip lines as well as correct nasolabial folds.

Before the procedure

This is an injectable filler and should only be used if you do not have sensitive skin and do not get bruised while using such products. It is wise to perform a skin test on a small area of your face before you go ahead and apply it on problem areas. If you get a positive result, then it is a good thing and the product should work without any significant issues.

The reality

Since it is a cosmetic treatment, you are bound to have intermediate phases before the cream kicks in. You might want to remove the wrinkles in steps so that it is not immediately noticeable. Also, the product uses hyaluronic acid gel which is directly injected into the skin. This is a known product that can handle your skin problems.

After the procedure

Post Juvederm usage, you might have to use makeup to cover the applied areas because many users have complained of bruising after using the product. For people who get very high level of bruising while using the product, it is advisable to see the dermatologist at once. You may need to do something else in order to compensate these effects.

Restylane

Description

If you are concerned about wrinkles and fine lines that are cropping up on your face, then Restylane is a product that you have been waiting for. It is a very good product that uses hyaluronic acid as an injectable fluid to help reduce the appearance of the aforementioned skin problems.

Before the procedure

Like other kinds of cosmetic injection, restylane is not for everyone. Many people have had the problem of bruising with this product and in some cases, it is very extreme. These can further be symptoms of other problems. Perform pre application tests and consult a professional before going in for the procedure. Choose a reputable doctor to get the skin procedure done.

The reality

The entire process is actually very short, and determined by how much correction you would like to be done on your face. The injections are directly given to areas where you would like to see improvements. Eventually, you should see improvement of your wrinkles or any other correction that you might be using restylane for.

After the procedure

The most common condition after the treatment is swelling and bruising. Both of these symptoms should reduce gradually over time and you should see improvements as the days go by. If you feel that the restylane injections are not recovering in the manner that they are supposed to, then you might need to do something to fix that problem as well.