If wrinkles, sagging skin, fine lines, and hollows have been staring back at you every time you look into the mirror, then perhaps it’s time that you did something to deal with them. The problem starts when your skin is losing its proteins a lot more quickly than your body could replenish these reserves. That’s when you’re left with visible signs of aging like sagging skin, hollows on the cheeks, crow’s feet, wrinkles, and what not!
What’s the solution? Well, one way is to adopt a healthy lifestyle and help your body replenish its protein stores naturally. But this process is quite slow and results are often suboptimal.
What’s the alternative? If you’re looking for a quick fix, you may consider the use of dermal fillers. These fillers can make your imperfections go away in as little as 30 minutes and the results can last for up to 4 months.
So what are dermal fillers? How do they work? Let’s get into the details of dermal fillers!
What are dermal fillers?
As mentioned, the signs of aging are mostly the result of your skin losing its valuable proteins. Dermal fillers are natural or synthetic substances that can help fill up the gap left behind by the degraded skin proteins.
What are the types of dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers can be of following types:
Hyaluronic acid fillers
Hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally found in your body. It loves water and plumps up by absorbing a lot of it. So, when injected into the skin, it swells up by absorbing a lot of water and gives your skin a fuller look. Since it is natural filler, the chances of allergic side effects are minimal with its use. Also, its effects on your skin can last for months to years.
Synthetic fillers
These fillers are made up of lab-made synthetic substances. These can be used as an alternative to hyaluronic acid fillers. Since the substance of these fillers is synthetic, they are more likely to cause side effects. However, on a positive side, these effects of these fillers last longer than natural fillers.
Collagen fillers
Since all the signs of skin aging are the result of your skin losing its collagen, it is logical to use fillers made from collagen. Unfortunately, these fillers have a short life and researchers have seen the effects of these fillers wearing off in as early as under 1 month. Also, since these fillers are made up of collagen derived from animal sources, the chances of allergic reactions with these fillers are much higher than with other types.
Autologous dermal fillers
These fillers use fat derived from other parts of your body. The fat is derived from parts of your body like thighs, buttocks or stomach. Another form of autologous dermal fillers is the PRP injections. Platelet-rich plasma therapy is a new therapy that uses platelets derived from your own blood.
Platelets are small blood clotting cells found in your blood. When injected into your skin, these platelets release certain growth factors that help improve the growth of skin collagen naturally. The chances of allergic side effects with these fillers are minimal ad they produce superior and lasting results.
So which filler type is suitable for you?
Well, it depends on your scenario and your particular needs. The only way you can tell what filler type is good for you is if you talk to your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will discuss with you the options you have, the possible benefits, risks, and side effects. You should make a decision about your selected procedure only after talking to your healthcare provider.
