Dermal Fillers: An Alternative to Plastic Surgery

24 March 2022

Dermal Fillers

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After dermal fillers entered the aesthetic medicine industry, discussions about whether injectables could be included in surgical procedures started between experts in this sphere. That’s not surprising because even though they are not invasive and have different working principles, the final goals for both surgery and fillers are the same – to improve one’s skin condition and appearance in general.

In today’s article, we would like to explain what’s the difference between dermal fillers and invasive surgeries, what are the main benefits of dermal injectables, and whether there are any aftercare rules for the filler treatments to see the results faster. EuroMex is always by your side to tell you more useful and interesting news from the aesthetic medicine sphere.

What Are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers are special injectable products meant for effective skin rejuvenation and aging signs reduction. There are plenty of injectable fillers types out there; the correct one should be chosen depending on one’s needs and final treatment goals. That’s why specialists pick brands based on the product’s density, the concentration of the active substance in the composition, durability, and other key factors decisive for the final result. Depending on the main ingredient, products can be divided into:

• Hyaluronic acid-based fillers. This naturally-occurring substance is vital for skin hydration and plumpness; that’s why people experience dryness and skin sagging when HA production becomes slower with age. Fillers with this substance in the composition are typically soft, and gel-like meant for wrinkles elimination even in the most delicate facial areas like lips or undereye zone. The effect stays from six months up to a year depending on an individual’s body peculiarities, and the product is absorbed naturally by the organism after some time;
• Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA) fillers. This one contains a substance naturally found in the body as well (this time, it is present in our bones). It is typically much thicker than hyaluronic acid fillers and keeps the result up to 18 months for some patients. This type of injectable is also well-known for its natural ability to stimulate collagen production in the body; in this way, the rejuvenation effect continues even when filler wears off entirely. Specialists typically pick it for deeper creases and folds;
• Polylactic acid-based fillers. This synthetic substance is 100% biocompatible, which means there will be no problems with severe adverse reactions or post-treatment traumas. They are mainly meant for a collagen stimulator medical procedure, so fine lines are smoothed out by increased collagen production after the injection. After the appointment, the filler should dissolve naturally in a week or two. This type of product lasts the longest among all other dermal fillers – up to two years for some lucky clients out there.

Note: Please, don’t confuse dermal fillers with Botox treatments; these two procedures use completely different products to reach rejuvenating goals. Botox injectables are meant for dynamic wrinkles prevention, while fillers fill in already existing facial lines and restore lost volume in this way.

You should also read about dermal fillers and the biggest danger zones. This is very important information that will help you understand and make a further choice.

Working principle

Before the procedure, a person should have a consultation with a medical professional. During the appointment, desirable results, possible products, number of sessions, and so on should be discussed. In this way, there will be fewer questions during the injection itself.

Before the filler administration, the target zone should be carefully cleaned; topical anesthetic is also a must. This type of treatment doesn’t last longer than 30 minutes, and a patient can go back to their usual routine right afterward, thanks to the unique composition and minimal side effects of most dermal fillers.

After the procedure, skin cells rejuvenate faster, such beneficial components as elastin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid are produced quicker, and appearance becomes more youthful in general.

Main Benefits of the Injectable Filler Treatment

• The result is visible right after the cosmetic procedure. You can restore volume and fill in deeper lines and wrinkles in no time with the help of injectable fillers; however, some time is needed for the product to settle fully, as well as for adverse reactions to fade away completely;
• You shouldn’t be worried about allergic reactions. Thanks to natural components used in fillers production, they become completely biodegradable and cause minimum to no adverse reactions. The only thing you should be ready for is injection site reactions that occur because of the needle that punctures the skin to administer gel;
• Fillers can be used simultaneously with other aesthetic procedures. Typically, specialists prefer the combination of Botox for facial muscles relaxation and dermal fillers for filling in wrinkles. By using it, signs of aging are eliminated more effectively, and people can enjoy natural-looking results for a more extended time;
• The results’ durability is impressive. As for non-surgical, minimaly-invasive aesthetic treatments, dermal filler procedures can postpone facial aging for a pretty significant amount of time. Some can last up to two years under the skin and can be easily prolonged with the help of maintenance appointment conducted once every 6-8 months;
• Not only wrinkles can be eliminated with the help of fillers. Such procedures as thin lips augmentation, post-acne marks and scars elimination, as well as facial volume perfection, can be conducted with their use as well;
• The procedure is able to boost various beneficial processes in the body. Elastin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid (HA) production work better after certain injectables, so the effect lasts even after it wears off.

Do Fillers Count as Plastic Surgery?

This question has been discussed among different specialists in the aesthetic medicine sphere for many years now, and the answer constantly changes. However, there is one thing we can tell you for sure – cosmetic surgery always means some kind of invasion included in the procedure. Dermal fillers, on the other hand, are partially invasive, which means the is no extended downtime or adverse reactions expected afterward. That’s why fillers don’t count as plastic surgery.

Target areas

Injectable treatments are typically prescribed for people who have just started experiencing the aging process. In this way, it becomes possible to get rid of wrinkles before they become too deep and turn into folds and creases. Depending on the gel’s density, the target area is defined in an individual. Fillers may be used to perfect the following areas:

• Hollowed zones around the eyes, cheekbones, etc.;
• Perioral area (smile lines, marionette lines, nasolabial folds);
• Temples, cheeks, facial contours;
• Thinning lips and lip lines;
• Post-acne marks, scars, etc.;
• And so on.

On the other hand, plastic surgeries are meant for aesthetic goals that cannot be reached with the help of a single injection. We are talking about extreme skin sagging, excess fat in various facial zones, facial remodeling, and various others. Not to mention that a significant amount of time is required after surgery for all adverse reactions to disappear, skin to heal, and results to become fully visible.

Do Fillers Change Your Face Permanently?

There are some filler-like products on the market that can keep the effect permanently; however, they are mostly known as “injectable implants” and are typically used for lip augmentation and contouring. As for dermal fillers, they can be active under the skin for a certain amount of time (depending on the active substance used in the composition).

Normally, the durability varies from six to eighteen months, but the effect can be extended with the help of a maintenance procedure performed every 6-7 months. The type of injectable, the number of treatment sessions, and the frequency of administration sessions can only be defined during the consultation in the beauty clinic. All other stages of the treatment (procedure protocol, side effects, and so on) should be discussed with a specialist as well.

Possible Adverse Reactions Every Patient Should Be Ready For

As with every partially surgical (or entirely surgical) procedure, dermal filler injections can cause certain side effects in patients. All seriousness of those depends primarily on one’s health condition and skin peculiarities, as well as the experience of the medical specialist who performs the treatment.

Mild side effects include such symptoms as redness, swelling, bruising, itching, and other injection site reactions. Increased skin sensitivity in the treated area (or near the site of administration) is also pretty common for patients out there. These are safe and cannot be life-threatening to anyone; the best treatment here is to be patient and wait for them to fade away on their own.

Rarely, people experience minimal filler migration, infections, filler leaking through the needle punctures, and so on. If those occur, it is better to get in touch with a doctor to get proper instructions about aftercare from a professional. This step is also needed if minimal adverse reactions are not gone in a week, as well as if extreme painful sensations in the injection area cause serious discomfort on regular basics.

Special aftercare tips

In order to make the recovery process a lot faster, it is recommended to follow these simple aftercare tips. They are universal and are suitable for practically every type of patient. However, we would still recommend talking to a specialist to make sure it will be safe for your individual case.

• Avoid exercising for up to two days to minimize the possibility of filler migration;
• Eliminate direct UV exposure and always apply sunscreen;
• Don’t visit overheated places like saunas, solarium, extremely hot showers, and so on;
• Don’t use heavy makeup; instead, talk to a doctor about more soothing and gentle alternatives;
• Sleep on your back rather than on your belly in order not to put unwanted pressure on the injection area;
• Avoid such aesthetic procedures as laser, microneedling, chemical peels, etc. for at least two weeks after the filler administration;
• Stop using blood-thinning medications a week before and a week after the appointment to eliminate the possibility of bruising.

If anything bothers you during the recovery period, don’t hesitate to contact a medical expert to have a proper consultation, advice, or treatment plan.

The Bottom Line

As a great alternative to plastic surgery, dermal fillers are wildly used for various aesthetic purposes nowadays. Thanks to the composition, the product is safe basically for anyone; it guarantees fast results and noticeable skin improvement for a significant amount of time. The best thing about fillers is that they can be used for practically any facial zone without any risks of future complications.

In order to be sure dermal injectables can fulfill one’s goals, it is better to discuss the treatment with a doctor before the injection. In this way, you’ll be able to avoid any unwanted problems or unexpected surprises.

We hope you found all details you needed in our article. Thank you for reading. Visit our blog again some time; you’ll find a lot of interesting information about the aesthetic medicine sphere here!