Skin, bone, muscle, and fat are the four primary structural components of the face that experience a reduction in volume as one grows old. Over time, people undergo bone loss across their bodies, including the face, which causes jawline retraction, high cheekbone mass loss, and descent of the nose. Additionally, the skin around the face loses elasticity causing wrinkle formation among other aging signs. A dermal filler injection restores your youthful appearance by replenishing the volume lost and smoothen aging lines.
Facial fillers are also referred to as injectable implants, soft-tissue fillers, injectable implants, dermal fillers, and wrinkle fillers. The fillers are injected into facial lines, tissues, and folds to correct acne scars and increase their cheeks’ fullness. Facial fillers differ in terms of the risks they pose to an individual, and the period they would serve someone. Furthermore, complications of a filler injection are potentiated by improper administration of the substance.
Dermal fillers are usually expensive, thereby making people resort to cheaper black market procedures with elevated risks of a complication happening.
Types of facial fillers
The medical market is currently flooded with many types of facial fillers such as hyaluronic acid (HA), calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA), poly-L-lactic acid, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and autologous fat injections. HA is a naturally occurring substance used to increase the volume of facial areas such as the cheeks and smoothes out wrinkles around the lips, forehead, and eyes. According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS), hyaluronic acid is expected to last less than 12 months because it reabsorbs it.
Calcium hydroxyapatite comprises a combination of microscopic calcium particles and a gel that is thicker than hyaluronic acid. According to the ABCs, deep wrinkles are better smoothened by Ca1 HA. Poly-L-lactic acid is a biodegradable substance that aids in stimulating the production of collagen underneath facial skin. The acid makes facial skin firm, which reduces the formation of wrinkles. Poly-L-lactic acid works gradually in boosting the volume of fat around the face.
Polymethylmethacrylate consists of collagen and microspheres that plump up facial skin. According to a paper published by the Plastic and Aesthetic Research, long-acting facial fillers such as PMMA record higher rates of complications like nodules and infection. Autologous fat injections or fat grafting are cosmetic techniques that involve the injection of fat into the facial areas taken from other parts of the body like the buttocks. Fat grafting requires sedation and takes approximately two weeks to recover.
Side effects of fillers.
The common side effects of fillers, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), include bruising, rash, itching, pain, swelling, and redness around the site of injection. These side effects occur within the first two weeks after the procedure. Other rare side effects one should watch include infection, leakage of filler, and nodule formation at the injection site. The filler can block blood flow around the face causing tissue death and injury to blood vessels.
Blindness can occur after a dermatologist injects the filler into an artery-blocking blood flow to the patient’s eyes. Granulomas might occur because of an inflammatory response to the facial filler. Nodules around the injection site might require surgical removal to avoid damaging the face.
Safety precautions.
Although dermal fillers are typically safe, one should ensure their safety by using a well-trained, experienced, and licensed plastic surgeon or dermatologist to administer the filler. One should ensure that the procedure is done within a medical setting, preferably a certified and recognized clinic or hospital. Patients should ask the plastic surgeon or dermatologist questions regarding the filler they choose and their experience relating to the product. Furthermore, one should avoid purchasing fillers online and only get a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – approved filler from a hospital.
Patients can ensure their safety by informing the doctor on the supplements they are currently to avoid any drug-drug interactions. Additionally, patients should know the potential adverse reactions and risks they might face from the filler. Patients should read the filler ingredients before its administration to identify components that might initiate an allergic reaction.
Risk factors.
One should not use a filler if they have skin inflammation for any reason, such as active acne, skin rash, or hives. Patients with an allergic reaction to any facial filler components should seek another type to avoid a ruined face. Pregnant, breastfeeding, and people with a bleeding disorder should avoid getting a dermal filler injection because of a high likelihood of adverse reactions. Individuals below 18 years old should not undergo dermal filler procedures because younger age sets have not been studied yet.
People with conditions that make the skin sensitive to scarrings, such as overgrown scar tissue or keloid, should avoid using facial fillers. After the procedure, the patient should not massage the injection site or expose it to temperature extremes. Patients can use anti-inflammatories and antihistamines to manage itchiness or redness they might experience after a dermal filling. Additionally, patients are recommended to report symptoms such as fever, pus, inflamed skin, breathing, and visual problems to their physician and seek medical attention.
Dr. Shervin Naderi is a certified plastic surgeon specializing in nose reshaping and advanced injection techniques such as dermal fillers. Additionally, Dr. Naderi is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon with years of experience in the field. The Naderi center offers top-notch plastic surgery procedures with a list of specialists in rhinoplasty, face-lifts, breast and body surgeries, and dermatology. The center combines ethics and expertise in providing exquisite patient care.
If you need a dermal filler injection done properly, call us now at 703-481-0002 Reston and 301-222-2020 Chevy Chase.
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