Aging brings lines, wrinkles, and loss of facial volume. Dermal fillers can restore your face’s youthful fullness and enhance your features. Dermal fillers come in various materials, all well-established as safe and effective for volume enhancement.
What are Dermal Fillers Used For?
Dermal fillers erase the appearance of lines and wrinkles by lifting them up to smooth the skin. They also restore or add facial volume to areas like the lips and cheeks. The Capital Laser & Skin Care Board-certified dermatologists will use dermal fillers to sculpt and smooth your face, giving you a younger, more vibrant appearance.
What are Dermal Fillers Made Of?
All dermal filler materials have been FDA approved as safe and effective. Some originated for use in medicine, and others come from synthetic versions of the body’s own materials. Below are the most common active filler ingredients.
Hyaluronic Acid
Dermal fillers made of hyaluronic acid include Juvederm®, Belotero®, and Restylane®. Hyaluronic acid occurs in the skin, where it acts to pull in moisture. Injected as a filler, it adds immediate volume that continues to improve over several days. These versatile fillers come in many formulas for use in areas like the lips, cheeks, around the mouth, and in the nasolabial creases.
Calcium Hydroxylapatite
The most common brand of calcium hydroxylapatite is Radiesse®. This material occurs naturally in bones and teeth. As a dermal filler, it comes in the form of microspheres suspended in a soft gel. It works well for applications like plumping the cheeks or lifting deep nasolabial folds.
Poly-L-lactic Acid
Under the brand name Sculptra®, poly-L-lactic acid works by stimulating collagen production. Instead of providing immediate volume, it builds up your body’s collagen to produce natural-looking, long-lasting results. Results take longer to appear than other fillers but last longer than most filler types.
Fat Transfer
A fat transfer removes fat from the body using liposuction, purifies it, and injects it into the areas needing a filler. The fat will provide immediate volume, but the body will carry some away. Some will remain and establish a blood supply, making them permanent.
How Long Do Dermal Fillers Last?
Most hyaluronic acid fillers last between six and eighteen months, depending on the area of the face. Calcium hydroxylapatite can last up to two years, and poly-L-lactic acid produces collagen that can last for several years.
Is There Any Downtime with Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers do not require any downtime. Fat transfer is the exception since the liposuction needed to remove fat will require recovery time. Other types of dermal fillers only take a few minutes to inject, and you can go back to your day.
Am I a Good Candidate for Dermal Fillers?
With so many choices, there is almost certainly a dermal filler appropriate for you. Discuss any health problems during your consultation. Most people make good candidates, whether they want their lips plumped, wrinkles diminished, or cheeks enhanced.
I was very happy with the service at capital laser and skin care for cool sculpting on my arms. All the staff is very professional and made my treatment comfortable. The results from the first treatment motivated me to lose more weight and lead a healthier lifestyle. It almost felt like a spa day, highly recommended.
Take the Next Step
Interested in learning more about dermal fillers? We would love to speak with you. Please fill out the form on this page to request a consultation or call our Chevy Chase, MD office today at (301) 798-9699 to schedule your private consultation at our laser and cosmetic dermatology center, located just blocks away from Washington, D.C
