Dermal Filler

What are dermal fillers?

Fillers are a type of minimally invasive aesthetic medicine used to add volume, alter the contours of the face, and fill in wrinkles. Common areas to inject fillers are in the face, neck, and hands, resulting in a fuller, smoother and more youthful appearance. Dermal fillers are among the most popular aesthetic procedures because they carry immediate results, very few risks and little recovery time.

Dermal Fillers: Calcium Hydroxylapatite

Calcium hydroxylapatite is used to fill the moderate-to-severe creases such as nasolabial folds, marionette lines and frown lines. It's also used to enhance fullness of the cheeks and other facial contours. Calcium hydroxylapatite is the heaviest of facial dermal fillers. An example of calcium hydroxylapatite injections is Radiesse.

Calcium hydroxylapatite is found naturally in human bones and is a mineral-like compound. It's often used to fill:

• Moderate-to-severe creases such as nasolabial folds, marionette lines and frown lines
• Enhance fullness of the cheeks and other facial contours.

Dermal Fillers: Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid filler acts like an inflated cushion to support facial structures and tissues that may have lost volume or elasticity due to normal aging. It also brings water to the surface of skin to keep it looking fresh and supple.

If you want to reduce facial wrinkles and lines, hyaluronic acid may be a good choice as a dermal filler because of its compatibility with the human body. In fact, this substance is found in almost every single living thing. In humans, it acts as a network that transfers essential nutrients from the bloodstream to skin cells.

Hyaluronic acid injections can be used to improve the skin's contour and reduce depressions in the skin due to scars, injury or lines. You can see potentially dramatic improvements for:

• Acne scars
• Cheek depressions
• Crow's feet at the corner of your eyes
• Deep smile lines that run from the side of the nose to corners of the mouth (also known as nasolabial furrows)
• Frown lines between the eyebrows
• Marionette lines at the corners of the mouth
• Plump thin lips
• Redefining lip border
• Scars including burns, acne and those caused by wounds
• Smoker's lines; vertical lines on the mouth
• Some facial scars
• Worry lines that run across your forehead

Filler injections are quick and only require a topical anesthetic at most. Results are immediate and there is little to no downtime. Fillers provide a subtle look that can be adjusted to meet your aesthetic needs.