Are dermal fillers safe?

Dermal fillers sound great, right? Yes, but only if they are safe, which - surprise - they are! What do we mean by "safe"? Don't side effects occur? Yes, they occur, but are very rare. If you ever find yourself wanting to get dermal fillers injections, your Dr. will surely explain to you all the risks - it is his job, it is part of ethics to do so. But if want to know what the risks are beforehand, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons lists them as:

• Acne-like skin eruptions
• Asymmetry
• Bruising, bleeding from the injection site, swelling
• Damage to the skin that results in a wound and possible scarring
• Infection at the injection site
• Lumps
• Palpability of the filler under the surface of the skin
• Skin rash with itching
• Skin redness
• Under- or over-correction of wrinkles
• Blindness
• Skin necrosis (ulceration or loss of skin from disruption of blood flow)

Remember that your Dr. has the obligation to discuss the risks with you, so you will always know what you are dealing with. Also keep in mind that those are general risks, and each dermal filler has only the potential for some side effects, not all of the ones listed above. And, again, now quoting the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, "severe complications from dermal fillers are uncommon".

Dermal fillers throughout the years

Have you considered if dermal fillers changed in the last few years?

Injectable dermal fillers started showing up in the market around 40 years ago, and the first ones used bovine collagen. Yes, bovine collagen from cows. The issue with those is that since bovine collagen is foreign to the human body, some people could be allergic to it. Of course there needed to be testing before, but the results were not very long-lasting. If you are interested in reading more about these old fillers, look up for Zyderm and Zyplast.

Bovine collagen was used until around the beginning of 21th century, then came hyaluronic acid, which is a natural substance found in our bodies. taking incompatibility off the table. Not only they are not allergic, they also last longer. After that, over the years lidocaine has been introduced to the formula. Lidocaine has the property of numbing the area of application, making the application of dermal fillers less uncomfortable (applying them used to be painful, ugh). Newer applications of fillers not only benefit from lidocaine to make the patient feel more comfortable, but can also rely on microcannulas, an alternative to the traditional needle. As you can see, dermal fillers have come a long way and became safer and more comfortable for application.

Some dermal fillers being used in 2020

Juvederm

This one is a whole range of different fillers designed for different purposes .Juvederm Ultra 3 is mainly used for deep to medium wrinkle removal. JuvedermVoluma XC is applied in order to restore youthful contours to the cheeks, as they naturally flatten with aging. Juvederm Ultra XC plumps up the lips, lust like JuvedermVolbella XC, this one also being applied to soften vertical lip lines. Juvederm's effect can last from 6 to 18 months. According to data from the ASPS collected in 2017, the average cost of a syringe is $682.

Restylane

As Juvederm, Restylane also has a variety of products intended for different effects. The basic one smoothens away wrinkles and folds and is also applied to add volume to thin lips. The Lyft variation is used to make up for severe wrinkles and folds like the nasolabial folds, as well as volume loss in the cheeks; Results with basic Restylane last up to 18 months, while with the variations last up to 6 months. According to data from the ASPS collected in 2017, the average cost of a syringe is $682.

Sculptra Aesthetic

It's used to fill cheeks or hollows and sunken areas of the face. It also can increase skin thickness, decreasing the appearance of folds and lines. The treatment with Sculptra takes three injections, in average, and its results can last up to 2 years. According to data from the ASPS collected in 2017, the average cost of a syringe is $903.

Radiesse

This one is usually applied to treat moderate-to-severe facial creases, such as the nasolabial folds. But it also can be applied to plump up cheeks and other facial contours. The results will last for at least a year, but some touch-ups may be necessary due to the calcium hydroxyapatite in the composition. According to data from the ASPS collected in 2017, the average cost of a syringe is $662.