Dermal fillers for Dummies

I am fully aware that the title of this piece may be a bit moot however it is important that people understand dermal fillers and what they are about. Product names like Juvederm and Restylane are appearing everywhere on social media and working in a clinic I have a kind of insider knowledge into why different people use different fillers. Your filler requirement should be assessed by an Aesthetically trained doctor or nurse. In Ireland Nurses Doctors Dentists Vets (I know)  and Aestheticians are allowed to purchase and inject dermal fillers. When considering your options look online for reviews and recommendations. I personally find the reviews from real clients best as they give you an overall feel for the service and after service you get.  Any clinic or practice that offers a drill and fill service should be avoided. High volumes mean less attention to detail and more trouble afterwards for you with aftercare.

Dermal fillers help to diminish facial lines and restore volume and fullness in the face.

As we age, our faces naturally lose subcutaneous fat. The facial muscles are then working closer to the skin surface, so smile lines and crow’s feet become more apparent. The facial skin also stretches a bit, adding to this loss of facial volume. Other factors that affect the facial skin include sun exposure, heredity, and lifestyle. Dermal fillers can be used to:

·         Plump thin lips

·         Enhance shallow contours

·         Soften facial creases and wrinkles

·         Improve the appearance of recessed scars

Dermal fillers can be very helpful in those with early signs of aging, or as a value-added part of facial rejuvenation surgery.

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/dermal-fillers ( source)

 

Nothing that is FDA approved is a bad product, but dermal fillers are very different for several reasons. Imagine a dermal filler being a glass of diluted orange. Different brands and different strengths.  Essentially it all quenches your thirst. It does the job, some of the quenching lasts longer, sometimes your thirst needs to be quenched for a variety of reasons. Sometimes you need to rehydrate for medical reasons.  Dermal Filler is the same. They are usually made up of a HA in different intensities for different areas so don’t be confused by branding although it is well worth noting that some brands are favoured by celebrities and endorsed by them also. The most famous being Restylane and Sharon Stone. Kylie Jenner’s lips were sculpted using Juvederm. The viscosity of the product will always depend on the area being treated. A classic example of this would be the tear trough area, where the skin is thinner naturally would need a different type of volume to say he lip or nasal labial lines. So that is why a one filler can fix all approach is not really the best.

I hope this has cleared up some of the commonly asked questions in non-medical terminology for anyone that is considering dermal fillers and is wondering what the difference is in them. I also just want to point out that here is no shame is using anything to enhance your face. I am sick to the teeth of seeing women being shamed in the media for the choices they make in relation to facial rejuvenation. It isn’t so long ago that dying your hair was considered unnatural and look at how far we have come. Thinking that women are not allowed to do as they please with their bodies is an opinion favoured by people that aren’t happy in their own skin I feel. So go forth and love yourself fillers or not. If you are judging someone for doing it? Go exfoliate and maybe work on your own self esteem.