Dermal Fillers in Franklin & Nashville TN
Facial lines and folds are common signs of aging. Topical creams can provide a small measure of relief, but often lose effectiveness over time. If you want a more youthful appearance, then injectable fillers may be the solution for you.
There are many injectable wrinkle fillers on the market to consider. While they are all serving the same purpose – to reduce facial lines and restore volume in your face – some are specifically made for certain areas of the face, such as enlarging the lips or improving the volume in the cheeks. Others improve the look of your eyes by increasing the volume in the hollow underneath your eyes or reduce the appearance of unsightly scars.
How Dermal Fillers Work
As we grow older, our bodies become less able to produce the substances that give skin its youthful appearance. These substances are called collagen and hyaluronic acid, and they keep skin looking smooth and maintain the thickness of your skin. Factors like sun damage and smoking also reduce the skin’s ability to create these substances. Over time, this will result in skin that sags or lacks volume.
Dermal fillers address these inevitable signs of aging by treating the problem at its source. Fillers also encourage the absorption of water and increase skin volume, which immediately gives your face a more youthful appearance. The improvement continues in the weeks post-injection because, as the filler is metabolized by your body, the skin is stimulated to make more natural collagen.
Schedule A Dermal Filler Consultation TodayPossible Side Effects of Dermal Fillers
Although many patients tolerate injectable fillers well, you may experience several possible side effects. These are usually temporary, and typically resolve themselves in a week or longer. After the injection, you might notice pain, lumpiness or bruising at the injection site. You may also notice swelling or a feeling of firmness.
If you experience these side effects, applying ice and keeping your head elevated can reduce the symptoms. If the injection site appears obvious on the day of injection, you can apply concealer. Other possible side effects include discoloration, infection, itching, and allergic reactions.
Who Should Not Get Dermal Fillers
Although most people who get injectable fillers suffer only minor side effects, not everyone is a suitable candidate. If your skin is hypersensitive, or if you have had a reaction to another injectable wrinkle treatment, you may not be a good candidate for dermal fillers.
If you are pregnant, nursing your baby or have an infection at the treatment site, you should wait before getting a dermal filler treatment.
What Do Dermal Fillers Cost?
Just as with Botox, JUVÉDERM® and other injectables, the amount of intervention you need influences the cost of your procedure. More filler adds to the price. The national average cost for a dermal filler is about $700, although prices range between $470 and $2,000, depending on where you are in the nation. You can estimate your dermal filler to cost at or near the national average.
What’s the Difference Between Dermal Filler and Botox?
Although they are both injected into problem areas of the skin, especially in the face, dermal fillers and Botox are very different products. Botox reduces wrinkles by relaxing the muscles just under the skin. Dermal fillers actually add volume beneath the skin to plump it up, like adding stuffing to a pillow.
Both Botox and dermal fillers are not permanent, but dermal fillers can last up to eighteen months or even longer. Botox generally needs to be repeated after several months. The difference in the length of time these two treatments last can be attributed to their different substances.
Botox causes a reaction in the nerves and muscles where it is applied. When that reaction wears off, the wrinkles begin to reform. Dermal fillers do not rely on reactions with the nervous system for their results. They are just inert substances that sit under the skin where they are placed.
What Is the Difference Between Fat Injections and Dermal Fillers?
The biggest difference between fat and fillers is consistency. Fat is also a natural substance of the body so it has the potential of being permanent without the risk of an adverse reaction to a foreign substance. Fat is a softer material than dermal fillers, and they each have different applications. Fat tends to work better when filling a void beneath loose, saggy skin. A dermal filler has a stiffer consistency which exerts more pressure on the skin and may be better for small, tight areas.
Depending on the circumstances, dermal filler may be more readily accessible. Fat needs to be harvested from some other area of the body to be injected into the face. When doing liposuction in conjunction with wrinkle removal, fat injections maybe practical. In other scenarios, dermal fillers can be an easier solution.
What Happens to Dermal Filler Ingredients as They Wear Off?
The results of dermal fillers wear off because the ingredients are broken down and absorbed by your body. The same process that circulates and removes excess water or fat from your cells eventually gets rid of the dermal filler, too. It is broken down into a form that can be absorbed and carried away by your lymph system. Those filler ingredients are expelled from your body like dead cells or other waste products.
To learn more about how dermal fillers can change your look, and your outlook, schedule a consultation with Dr. Brought today.
What to Expect After Treatment
Dr. Brought may suggest specific facial massage techniques, which can be utilized within the first 48 hours after treatment with fillers. You may notice some results immediately, but in general, it takes about a week for your dermal filler to take full effect. It is normal to be swollen at first. You may also feel small lumps underneath the skin. These side effects will typically subside as your body metabolizes the filler.
During the first few days post-treatment, avoid exposing your face to direct sun exposure. Strenuous exercise, alcohol, ibuprofen and aspirin should be avoided. If you are not satisfied after the first month, you may be able to get more filler to a specific area.
Schedule a Consultation
Dr. Nathan Brought and SPRSI serve patients in the Nashville, TN region with board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgery, along with advanced skin care services. For more information about dermal fillers and Dr. Nathan Brought, schedule a consultation at the Franklin, TN office of SPRSI.
