How Dermal Fillers Help

Dermal Fillers are well-known—and well-loved—for their ability to smooth away wrinkles and reduce many common signs of aging. But these products, including Juvederm, can help clients achieve so much more. If you’ve been considering fillers, you probably have some questions–how do they work? Who can they help? What types of fillers are there?

Injectable dermal fillers consist of a gel-like substance that reduces visible signs of aging by plumping fine lines, softening creases, and adding volume and shape to contours. Typically, dermal fillers are used to:

  • Smooth out the lines often found between the nose and the mouth (sometimes called the marionette lines)
  • Restore cheek volume
  • Plump up lips
  • Enhance facial symmetry
  • Soften a chin crease

We also use them to add volume to the hollows beneath the eyes (tear troughs), rejuvenate hands’ appearance, enhance the look of earlobes, and provide a non-invasive rhinoplasty.

Good dermal filler candidates are people who:

  • Don’t smoke
  • Are in good health
  • Have realistic expectations
  • Are committed to maintaining good skin health

1 - Timeless Aesthetics - How Dermal Fillers Help

Juvéderm – Juvederm has a complete family of filler products. For example, Juvederm Ultra XC and Juvederm Ultra Plus XC both last for up to 12 months and tackle marionette lines, lip lines, tear troughs, chest lines, and some scars. Juvederm Voluma XC lasts up to 2 years and is used to add volume to the cheeks, whereas Juvederm Volbella XC minimizes the lines around the lips and lasts up to 18 months. Finally, Juvederm Vollure XC is used on deeper lines and also lasts up to 18 months. All of the Juvederm fillers contain lidocaine, a numbing agent, for comfort. Furthermore, because Juvederm is comprised of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body, it’s generally well-tolerated by most people.

What should you expect before, during, and after the procedure?

Be sure to be very hydrated before your treatment. Staying hydrated will not only help prevent bruising, but it will also help with pain management. If you are planning on getting your lips injected, be sure to contact your doctor for an antiviral prescription if you experience cold sores.

During the procedure we will go over the area of concern and the outcome that you are wishing to achieve. It’s important to be realistic in the outcome that you will be able to achieve. Filler is magical, however; it is not going to correct absolutely everything, immediately. Some areas may need more than one syringe or multiple types of treatments. The longest part of the appointment is numbing the area that we will be injecting! This lidocaine, tetracaine, and prilocaine mixture will help you be more comfortable during the procedure. Remember the syringe also has lidocaine in it, so you will keep getting more and more numb throughout the procedure! The actual injection part of the treatment is fairly quick and easy! Yes there will be minimal pain, but the keyword is minimal!

Once the treatment is done, I will always treat the skin with some hydrating and antioxidant products, to just help the skin stay moisturized! Also, I will apply Arnica cream to help prevent any potential bruising. These products also get sent home with you! Throughout the rest of the day and into the next day, some swelling will form and any bruises, if any! The first week you will have some swelling that will slowly dissipate by day 7. Throughout the week and possibly into the 2nd week any bruising will slowly fade away. Especially in lip augmentations, any lumps you feel from the filler will slowly soften into the skin and that can take up to 3 weeks. These lumps aren’t noticeable to the eye, but can be felt. This is normal and throughout the 3 weeks those will smooth out and settle. After 3 weeks, all the healing and settling should be completed and your results will be final at this point!

Its best to wait a month or longer to add more filler in the same area. I always recommend to stay conservative. Remember you can always add more. Yes, you can remove the Juvederm products, however; this is painful and more expensive. Slow and steady will win the race!

There is a lot of controversy on dermal fillers. I will say I absolutely love the filler that I have in my face and I truly think it adds some great anti-aging benefits, in a natural way. This being said be sure to always do your research on who you go to for the procedure. This is a procedure that needs to be performed by a certified injector, who has a Medical Director, is a nurse, dentist, doctor, or medical aesthetician with a medical director above them.