As winter comes to an end, many people are looking forward to a fresh new look for the warmer months. While getting new clothes or a new hairstyle can go a long way toward making you feel spring-ready, sometimes you may want to turn back the hands of time on your face to best enjoy the new season. For those who want last-minutes treatments that will produce instant rejuvenating results, dermal filler treatments are often the perfect choice. Want to know more about the youthful effects of a dermal filler? Here’s more information.
Dermal fillers are injectables made of certain types of acids that can restore volume to areas of the face that appear hollow or lax and can also increase the body’s ability to produce collagen. As the loss of collagen is one of the major factors in aging, dermal fillers can produce instant, temporary results as well as encourage more lasting results. Dermal fillers can improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, fill out cheek areas, enhance the contours of the face, and fill in deeper folds that occur around the mouth and nose. The dermal fillers used by Long Beach plastic surgeon Dr. Josh Waltzman are FDA approved and can last for months or even years after being injected.
Dr. Waltzman offers two different types of dermal fillers in his clinic: those made from hyaluronic acid and those made from a patient’s own fat. Here are the differences between the two types.
Hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally made by the body and has incredible moisture-binding properties that keep the skin hydrated and plump. When using it in a dermal filler, it provides a smoothing effect that fills in lines and wrinkles and can also create a lifted effect for certain areas of the face as well as restoring volume to those areas of the face that have become hollow. Hyaluronic fillers last from six to twelve months depending on the type used and where on the face it is used. At Dr. Waltzman’s clinic, he offers the hyaluronic-based fillers such as Juvederm Volbella, Juvederm Ultra Plus, Restylane and Restylane Lyft.
Autologous fillers use the patient’s fat to provide filler tissue for their face. Also called fat grafting or fat transfer, autologous fillers are harvested from parts of the body with excess fat through gentle liposuction, then injected into pre-selected areas of the face such as the lips, cheeks, or folds around the mouth and nose. Autologous fillers are considered permanent, so the process only needs to be performed once. However, some of the fat will naturally be absorbed by the body after transfer. Some patients find they need a follow-up appointment to inject more fat into the desired facial areas.
Dermal fillers provide an affordable, minimally invasive way to rejuvenate your face this spring. With hyaluronic fillers, many patients find they can get the treatment done over their lunch hour or on the weekend with little to no disruption to their normal schedules. While they may experience some swelling or redness, this usually fades within a couple of days and can easily be covered with makeup. Autologous fillers require more downtime due to the liposuction requirement, but many patients find that the permanence of the procedure is worth the extra recovery time.
Those who benefit most from dermal fillers are men and women in their 40s and 50s who are starting to experience advanced signs of aging on their faces such as fine lines and wrinkles and loss of volume or contour. Though dermal fillers cannot remove excess skin or fat or lift brows as facelifts or brow lifts can, they can often postpone the need for these surgeries for years. Many times, patients will combine a dermal filler with Botox, a chemical peel, or another procedure to achieve a full-face rejuvenation. When you meet with Dr. Waltzman, you can ask about combining your dermal filler treatment with other procedures to enhance your results.
As the seasons change, it makes sense that you want a new look to go with the new warmer weather! A dermal filler treatment will help you feel rejuvenated and confident this spring season. Schedule your consultation with Dr. Waltzman today to learn more!
