Everyone’s face will change naturally over time. As we get older, there are a number of changes that we see, and we may not be that happy with some of them. Our cheekbones generally start out high in our youth, but over time they can get lower. These are natural changes that generally happen to everyone. It’s common for the face to lose over time some of its subcutaneous fat that lends support to the skin of the face. The skin in the center of the face can also shift downward, and this causes sagging of the cheeks.
Many people aren’t happy with this change and want more fullness where the subcutaneous fat has disappeared so that the skin of the face is better supported and the face looks more youthful. If this is a problem that you are facing, dermal fillers may be the answer for returning the youthful look that your face once had. A dermal filler can lift up the skin that has started to droop and will add support to it.
There are different types of dermal fillers that are in different categories, but they are administered to patients the same way. Before you decide whether to get dermal fillers to change your face, you should know about what they are and what they can do for you. You need to understand what it’s like to get them and whether they may be a good fit for you.
What Are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers are often used alongside other products such as Botox, but they are not the same thing. Both are injectables that can help with wrinkles, so it’s common to get them confused. However, Botox is an injectable substance that calms muscles and keeps them from moving and creating wrinkles. Dermal fillers are a substance that is added to the face so that there is more support for the skin and more fullness where it’s needed.
Dermal fillers can be classified into four different categories. Each of these is made from a different material. There are dermal fillers that use hyaluronic acid, and this is the most common type. These fillers use a natural substance that is already found in your body to add volume to areas of the face that need them. This type of filler generally lasts between six months and a year. There are also fillers made from calcium hydroxylapatite. These are made with a mineral that is naturally present in the bones. These fillers last as long as 18 months.
Another type is made from Poly-L-lactic acid. This is a synthetic substance that is biodegradable and can last as long as two years. The fourth type is Polymethylmethacrylate beads. Your body can’t absorb this substance, so the effect is permanent results. This type is used around the patient’s mouth.
Which Type of Dermal Filler Should You Use?
Restylane and Juvederm fillers are each made of hyaluronic acid, and each are among the most popular types of dermal fillers. Both of these are available from DFW Oral Surgeons. The acid that they’re made from are a natural type of sugar that can be found in the skin. As people get older, the body will make less and less of this acid. When this happens, the skin loses elasticity and definition, and this causes lines and wrinkles as the skin droops.
Getting a hyaluronic acid dermal filler adds more of this substance to the skin so that you can restore definition to the skin and get rid of the wrinkles. Both of these fillers also promote the production of more collagen, and this benefits your hair and nails as well as your skin. Both Juvederm and Restylane have different varieties available for different purposes. The doctor will be able to tell you which of these you need based on your skin and the results that you want.
Some types of Restylane, for example, are made from larger particles than others, and each will work best for a different use. The types with larger particles can add to the volume of the cheekbones that have thinned out. The varieties that have a smaller particle size are often best for use in smoothing fine lines.
Benefits of Dermal Fillers
In addition to the way they can make the face look, there are other benefits to using them. One of these is that the benefits of the fillers can be seen right away. Many other injectables, such as Botox, take days or even weeks to show their results. With dermal fillers, patients will see a difference before they even leave the doctor’s office. They also come with the benefit of being very minimally invasive, unlike plastic surgery. There is also no long healing period as there often is with plastic surgery. With these dermal fillers, you can get great results without incisions or scars.
If you’re interested in getting dermal fillers to help you to be happier with your face, contact us at DFW Oral Surgeons to find out more about getting fillers and to make an appointment.