What are dermal fillers?

 

Dermal fillers are made of hyaluronic acids naturally found in many areas of the human body. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a small molecule found in nearly every cell in your body that has the remarkable ability to hold nearly 1,000 times its weight in water. HA binds to water and forms a thick gel that moisturizes and lubricates everything from your eyes to your joints to your skin, HA is an essential component of your body's systems.

 

HA softens and smooths lines, fills in deep folds and wrinkles, and provides volume to areas where it has been lost when injected into your skin as a filler. Dermal fillers are also used to cover acne scars, fill in wrinkles, and plump up the cheeks and lips. The vast majority of fillers dissolve over time depending on the product and the individual and can last anywhere from a few months to a few years.

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Types of fillers

There are several types of fillers available on the market, at the Ivy Drip Bar, we use the FDA-approved Juvéderm line by Allergan which uses Hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring chemical present in the skin. It keeps skin moisturized and plump. HA fillers are often soft and gel-like in texture. The effects are transient, lasting 6 to 12 months or longer before the body gradually and naturally absorbs the particles.

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Where is it used?

Dermal fillers are commonly used to treat wrinkles, hollow cheeks, receding chins, acne scars, and thinning lips, as well as nasolabial folds (the two sets of parentheses that extend down from the nose to the corners of the mouth) and marionette lines (the lines that extend from the corners of the mouth to the chin).

 

 

What to expect during the treatment?

Although most dermal fillers now include a numbing agent, we still use a topical numbing cream before beginning the procedure and then clean with an antiseptic solution. Most patients have some discomfort while the filler is administered, but this subsides as the process progresses. Typically, you will notice improvements right away, and they will improve as you recover from the procedure.

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Risks

Dermal fillers, like any other medical treatment, come with some risks. The majority of adverse events seen in clinical trials and post-market surveillance happen soon after injection and go away within a few weeks. Although rare, some side effects can manifest occur weeks, months, or even years later. The CDC and FDA report these common adverse effects include bruising, redness, swelling, discomfort, soreness, itching, and rash.