What to Expect During Your Dermal Filler Procedure & Recovery
Looking and feeling your best plays an important role in your quality of life. Looks aren’t just superficial — they help shape your self-esteem and the way you present yourself to the world. As you age, looking your best becomes more challenging and requires more effort than it used to.
When wrinkles, crow’s feet, and frown lines begin to appear, you may be interested in dermal fillers — a quick, virtually painless procedure that provides plumping moisture to the areas on your face that need it most.
Here’s what you can expect from your dermal filler procedure and recovery.
Dermal Fillers 101
There are many different types of dermal fillers available on the market today. These include but are not limited to hyaluronic acid, polylactic acid, and calcium hydroxylapatite fillers.
What It Is: Hyaluronic Acid
Brand Names: Restylane L®, Restylane Silk®, Restylane Lyft®, Restylane Refyne®, Restylane Defyne®, Juvederm®, Volbella®, Voluma®, Vollure®, Revanesse Versa®, Belotero®
What It Does: Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance produced by the human body, although to a lesser degree as one ages. These fillers replace the hyaluronic acid you’ve lost over time and provide an immediate look of fullness in areas of fine lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid is also an extremely effective moisturizer, and many patients notice their facial skin is smoother, softer, and silkier after hyaluronic acid dermal fillers.
What It Is: Poly-L-lactic Acid
Brand Name: Sculptra® Aesthetic
What It Does: Poly-L-lactic acid is a synthetic dermal filler that stimulates the body’s production of its own collagen. Poly-L-latic acid is similar to suture material, which also stimulates your collagen to heal. This filler is best done as a series of injections over several sessions. Results typically take more time to see with this filler because your body needs time to make the new collagen. Sculptra Aesthetics is a fantastic filler for buttocks enhancement and now a very popular area to treat. Once results are achieved over several sessions, it can last 3 to 5 years.
What It Is: Calcium Hydroxylapatite
Brand Name: Radiesse®
What It Does: Calcium hydroxylapatite is a biocompatible dermal filler that also helps the body produce more of its own collagen to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Radiesse is proven to stimulate elastin as well as collagen in your skin. It is my “go to” filler for jawline and chin enhancement. When mixed into a hyper-dilute state, it is a great filler for crepey skin in the neck and decolletage.Radiesse is also FDA approved for injection into the hands to improve their appearance as well.
The Dermal Filler Procedure
Before your dermal filler procedure, I will perform a complete evaluation of your facial structure and skin quality to determine the best placement for augmentation. Thirty minutes prior to injection, application of a topical numbing cream will be applied for your comfort. I will then cleanse the area to be treated to provide a sterile and safe procedure.
During the procedure, I will inject discussed amounts of the desired filler using either a needle or a cannula depending upon the area being treated, massage the area, and evaluate the results several times. The length of your procedure is largely determined by how many areas will be treated during your session.
Recovering from Dermal Filler Injections
Since dermal fillers are relatively safe in the hands of an experienced professional, recovery from a dermal filler procedure is typically easy. Many of my patients even choose to go back to work immediately after their procedures. There may be some swelling or mild bruising that can be alleviated with Arnica Montana, gentle message and the application of ice. Any discomfort usually lasts a day or two.
Get the Younger, Smoother Looking Skin You Want Today with Elizabeth Roche MD Medspa
At the Elizabeth Roche MD Medspa, I provide my patients with a wide variety of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures to choose from. I will review your whole health history and discuss your aesthetic goals. Together, we’ll select the right treatments for you. We take pride in offering a relaxing, healing atmosphere for our patients, and we’re confident you’ll start feeling better as soon as you walk through the door.
Contact our office today to schedule your dermal filler consultation or to learn more about our other cosmetic procedures at 1-201-505-1020.