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The
Effect
Cosmetic fillers are materials that are commonly used to
smoothen wrinkles that are too deep to be treated with
lasers. These agents are usually placed in deeper lines and
wrinkles. These are typically used for wrinkles between the
eyebrows, sagging cheekbones, smile lines, and to improve
the appearance of the upper and lower lips. Filler
injections can also be used to improve the appearance of
depressed scars, such as those seen in acne or chicken pox.
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The
Procedure
Time
required for this treatment is at least 15 minutes to one
hour each session. Anesthesia, most of the time, is not
utilized although a local anesthesia may be included with
the injection.
The
soft tissue fillers or the injectable HA (hyaluronic acid)
are used in order to aid in filling in the lines and creases
in the face as one ages. This temporarily brings back a
smoother and a younger-looking appearance. These filler
injections, once injected underneath the skin, plump up the
wrinkled and sunken areas of the face. These fillers may
also be injected in the lips, cheeks and even the hands, to
create a more “full” look.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a component of connective tissue
whose function is to cushion and lubricate. It is a
naturally occurring protein which gives support to various
parts of the body. This injectable collagen is obtained
from purified bovine collagen. Hyaluronic acid is used
mainly in filling in wrinkles, lines, and scars on the face
and in some cases, the chest, back and neck area. This
procedure is administered with the use of a fine needle
which is inserted at several points along the periphery of
the treatment area.
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Best
Candidates
Filler
injections work excellently on patients with thin, dry, and
light-colored skin. The best candidates for this procedure
are the following:
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Patients who have excellent physical health.
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Patients who are psychologically stable.
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Patients whose goals and expectations are realistic.
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Patients with wrinkles, scar formation, and sagging skin
of the face.
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Patients lacking youthful plumpness and high contours on
the face.
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Treatments
Bovine
collagen (Zyderm® and Zyplast®)
Human collagen (Cosmoderm® and Cosmoplast®)
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Side Effects
The
patient may feel some stinging, throbbing, a burning
sensation, slight redness (erythema), swelling and excessive
fullness. However, these are only temporary.
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Recovery Time
usually, patients who undergo filler injections are back to
work 10 to 14 days after treatment. Strenuous activity may
be resumed at least after two weeks. Bruising may disappear
after one to two weeks. Duration of the results may vary,
ranging from a few months to a year.
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Frequently Asked
Questions
Q: What
cosmetic fillers are available?
A:
There is a wide range of filler agents that have been
successfully utilized over the years. Each filler is made
of a different material and its duration of filling may vary
between the different substances.
Bovine collagen (Zyderm® and Zyplast®) is the first filler
agent that became accepted in the United States. This was
approved by the FDA about 20 years ago. It is usually
utilized for smile lines, wrinkles, scar correction and even
lip enhancement. Skin tests on the arm are necessary in
order to see any allergic reaction since bovine collagen is
taken from cow collagen. The results from this treatment
usually last up to 2 to 6 months.
Another filler is human collagen (Cosmoderm® and Cosmoplast®).
This filler is very similar to how bovine collagen is used.
It is also used for smile lines, wrinkles and scar
correction. This is a more popular choice for lip
enhancement and is the most commonly used alternative by
patients who are keen on collagen use but not bovine
collagen. Unlike the bovine collagen, human collagen
treatment does not necessitate any skin test. On the other
hand results usually last 2 to 6 months, just like the
bovine collagen.
The latest filler agents which have a sugar-like content
are those that have non‑animal stabilized hyaluronic acid
(HA). They are now very popular in Europe and Canada.
Restylane® and Hylaform®, two different hyaluronic acids,
are recently being studied by the FDA. Normally, skin tests
are not required. This filler contains a soft material and
is very ideal for the treatment of smile lines. Typically,
results last for up to 3 to 8 months.
Another filler agent called Radiance® is made up of a
calcium material known as calcium hydroxylapatite. This has
been approved by the FDA for the treatment of wrinkles, as
well as for vocal cord injections. Unlike the other fillers
mentioned above, the results of this can last for up to two
years. This is very common for those who have deep smile
lines and want to have long-lasting results.
Q: What
should be done in order to optimize cosmetic filler results?
A:
In order to achieve maximum efficiency of cosmetic fillers,
they are combined with BOTOX® injections. This can be used
for wrinkles that are caused by too much muscle tone.
However, frown lines, crow’s feet, marionette lines (deep
lines that form below the corners of the mouth and run down
onto the chin), and vertical lip lines are treated better
with BOTOX® instead of a filler agent. It is also ideal
that anti-aging skin treatments do not only have filler
agents and BOTOX® but also include skin collagen improvement
lunchtime procedures and skin tightening Thermage
Non-Surgical Facelift treatment.
Q: What
are the typical reactions that can happen after cosmetic
filler injections?
A:
Typically, reactions to filler agents are uncommon and
usually resolve with time. The most common reactions
related to this that might take place are redness or
erythema, discoloration, pain, itching, swelling and
tenderness at the area of the implant. They usually resolve
spontaneously within a few days after the procedure is
done. Some patients, who are hypersensitive in nature, may
experience localized reactions. usually, these reactions
include swelling of the implant site at times affecting the
surrounding tissues, redness, tenderness, and acne-like
formation in the area.
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