Dermal Fillers

Why use Dermal Fillers?

The loss of volume and elasticity in the face is one of the first signs of aging. As the aging process takes place, lines & grooves are formed in the face, gravity pulls down facial muscles, skin becomes flaccid, while at the same time the subdermal (under the skin) fat starts to disappear. Losing the natural fullness in the cheeks, under the eyes, lips, and chin can leave the face looking not only aged, but sad. Dermal fillers provide a great treatment that addresses all these factors.

Dermal fillers work in 4 different ways:

1. Dermal fillers decrease creases, wrinkles, and lines by filling in and plumping these areas. In other words, dermal fillers are used to “fill in” creases and wrinkles in the face.
2. Dermal fillers can restore lost facial volume or create a “volumizing” effect which in turn causes lifting and tightening of shallow or sunken areas of the face. At the same time, this causes the disappearance of wrinkles, lines, and grooves in the face. These are products injected under the layers between the skin and the bone that can produce different effects in order to produce a youthful look.
3. Dermal fillers can plump different areas of the face, the most common being plumping of thin lips in order to achieve a different look.
4. They can also be used to create a “lifting” effect in those pulled down muscles and flaccid areas that are caused by the aging process.

 

Dermal fillers restore youthful volume without changing your appearance … it’s just you but 20 years younger!

Which Dermal Filler is right for me?

After a consult with Dr. Cabanellas, she will recommend the best combination of dermal fillers is for you. In general, thinner density fillers are used in the lips, under eyes, and ear folds/lobules, while thicker ones are used on the cheeks, laugh lines, marionette lines, chin, jowls, and jawline.

 

There are 3 types of fillers that are approved by the FDA in the USA:

1. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) — Collagen and HA are the main components of skin.  The HA used in fillers have an identical molecular structure to the HA in our bodies, so the body will break it down as a normal part of its biochemical metabolism. They differ in molecular weight or density. HA fillers immediately add volume under the skin and with time, it naturally stimulates the body’s collagen production. Results last 9-12 months in most patients. Examples of HA fillers are Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, Belotero, and Voluma.
2. Poly-L-Lactic Acid — The only example is Sculptra. This dermal filler works deep within the dermis layer, reinforcing the skin’s structure, stimulating collagen, and providing a great foundation to restore facial fullness. The compound is a biocompatible and biodegradable so the body will know to how use and metabolize it in a natural way. This correction effect is usually seen in 2-3 months after the procedure and continues to improve up to 6 months later. Full treatment can deliver results that last over 2 years. Dr. Cabanellas typically uses traditional HA or Calcium Hydroxylapatite fillers to correct a particular line or wrinkle and afterwards uses Sculptra to give an overall “voluminizing” effect to the entire face.
3. Calcium Hydroxylapatite — The only example is Radiesse. It is a thick and tough dermal filler that is intended to smooth moderate to severe facial lines. It is used mostly for laugh lines, marionette lines, jowl/jawline area, chin area, and tear trough/cheek reconstruction. Radiesse immediately adds volume under the skin and also naturally stimulates the body’s collagen production. Results last 1-1.5 years in most patients.

Common treatment areas include:

• Smile lines (Nasolabial Folds)
• Marionette lines
• Downturning Mouth Corners
• Jowls & Jawline
• Chin Reconstruction
• Lips/Smoker’s lines
• Cheek Volume Restoration
• Under Eyes & Tear Trough
• Temples
• Ear Folds & Lobes
• Hands

What to expect when getting dermal fillers?
The areas are numbed with an anesthetic cream and should be applied 30 minutes before the procedure. For most injections, the entire process takes approximately 60 minutes, depending on how many injections are administered. There is no downtime after injection of dermal fillers. There may be some mild redness or swelling in the area. If there is bruising, it is usually minimal and can be covered with makeup. These side effects are alleviated within a day or two.