Have you started noticing signs of aging on your skin these days? Is there a line here or a spot there that wasn’t there a few months ago? Has moisturizing your skin been quite a big task in recent times? The chances are that you are nearing or have crossed the thirty-year mark and skin aging has set on. While the time when skin aging starts may not be the same for everyone, it is true that sooner or later everybody will need to think how he or she can take better care of his or her skin.
Signs of aging have been painful thorns stuck on one’s side for generations. Thankfully, many breakthroughs in medical science have made it possible to slow down the aging process and keep the skin healthier. In recent years, non-invasive treatments for derma care have gained much popularity. More and more individuals are opting for these types of treatments nowadays to maintain the glow and plump which is natural to youthful skin.
However, there are still many individuals who opt for plastic surgery from the very get go, to secure the youthful look of their skin. What is interesting is that it is not always necessary to go under the knife to get a healthy skin. Why not opt for fillers instead?
What are fillers?
Fillers are best described as non-invasive derma care procedures that result in visible improvements on the surface of the skin. These are often preferred over cosmetic surgery as the latter is usually more expensive and risky and the recovery period is also lengthier for cosmetic surgeries.
Many types of fillers cost considerably less than a traditional face lift but provide the same results in next to no time. Would it not be wise to opt for a more cost-effective treatment option that delivers gratifying results and has the guarantee of less downtime attached to it?
Before you decide, it is important to know what fillers are actually and how they work. Fillers can often be referred to as soft tissues or dermal fillers as well as injectable implants. They are effective for temporarily reducing wrinkles, creases, fine lines and even scars. Thus, it essentially keeps your skin from looking prematurely aged. Substances like collagen are expertly injected into the skin of the face of an individual as well as the backs of their hands. Now, the longevity of the filler treatment depends upon many factors, two of them being how closely the individual is following the post-treatment care guideline and what types of fillers were used for the treatment. The effects can last up to a year or at least close to a year in some cases. In others, the effects may last a couple of months. It is to be noted that the type of fillers used determines the durability of the effects. Most fillers require repeat injections after a certain period. Also, one may experience some signs like swelling, bruising and inflammation right after the injections but these are minor effects and usually disappear after some time. In sporadic cases, there may be more serious side effects, and that depends largely on the type of product used for the treatment.
How do fillers work?
Fillers are mostly done with the aesthetic aspect in mind. Skin aging, no matter at which age it sets in, is not something that is welcomed by individuals. A youthful, glowing appearance is what everyone desires, and since fillers are cost efficient and relatively less painful, more people prefer this treatment over plastic surgeries.
Still, many do not have a clear idea about how fillers work. Human skin comprises of three vital elements – collagen, hyaluronic acid, and elastin. Collagen forms almost eighty per cent of the deeper layer of skin – the dermis. All these three elements come together to form a tight yet smooth texture as well as a firm and spongy meshwork beneath the surface, that we associate with youthful skin.
With increasing age, the meshwork becomes loose, and the layers of skin start thinning after losing integrity. As a result both the tightness and the smoothness of the surface of the skin get compromised. The filler that is injected helps to revive the meshwork that was thinning. It contributes to plump up the tissues beneath the skin’s surface and returns the smoothness thereby. It fills up the wrinkles, folds, lines ridges and soon the skin starts to look tighter, and firmer. The rejuvenated skin restores the youthful look that was lost, and much improvement is noticed in the aesthetic aspect.
While fillers are often prescribed as a corrective treatment for lipoatrophy or facial fat loss, it cannot be used for breast or buttock augmentation. They cannot be used as implants and should not be injected into bones, ligaments, tendons, etc.
What are the various types of fillers?
As stated earlier, much depends on what kind of material is used for the filler treatment. Although your doctor would be best qualified to the right wrinkle filler for your needs, you must also know a bit about the filler types. The most commonly used types are:
- Bovine Collagen
- Human Collagen
- Porcine Collagen
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Fat Injection (Autologous)
- Poly-L lactic Acid (Sculptra)
- Calcium Hydroxylapatite (Radiesse)
- Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)
Do note that there are certain criteria that you must meet to be eligible for a filler treatment. There is a high possibility that your doctor would recommend not undergoing this treatment if your skin is inflamed or you have a long history of suffering from dermatological conditions like acne, cysts and/or rashes. Any skin-related allergies, infection or a bleeding disorder would also be impediments. If you have a joint, tendon or vascular condition in your hands, it would be wise not to inject fillers in your hands. You must be particular about consulting experienced dermatologists and surgeons, get tested and follow your doctor’s advice both before and after getting the treatment so that you can minimize the risks of developing skin conditions at any point of time.
