Dermal fillers are injections that plump up wrinkles and smooth lines on your face. There are several types of dermal fillers. Healthcare providers usually inject dermal fillers in the areas around your eyes, mouth and nose. This common cosmetic procedure typically produces results right away, and can last months or years.

What are Dermal Fillers ?

Dermal filler injections are a type of nonsurgical cosmetic procedure. Dermal fillers plump up wrinkles, smooth lines and restore volume in your face. Your healthcare provider injects these substances just under your skin.

People choose to get dermal fillers to enhance their facial features or gain a more youthful appearance. This elective treatment usually takes less than half an hour, and recovery time is minimal. Results are seen right away and last months to years depending on the type of filler and the location.

There are several kinds of dermal fillers. Your healthcare provider will discuss your options with you. As with any cosmetic procedure, there are risks, including infection, bleeding and bruising. Health insurance plans generally don’t cover elective cosmetic procedures such as filler injections.

Why are dermal fillers used?

As you age, your body starts to lose collagen. Collagen is an important substance that exists all over your body, including in your skin, muscles, bones and connective tissues. Decreased amounts of collagen in your skin causes skin laxity (loose) and loss of volume. Skin becomes thinner, loses its elasticity and starts to sag.

You may choose to get dermal fillers to:

  • Add volume to sagging skin.
  • Make your facial features more symmetrical.
  • Plump up lips and cheeks.
  • Smooth wrinkles and creases in your face.

What are the risks or complications of dermal fillers?

Serious complications are rare, and some of these side effects are only temporary. But as with any cosmetic surgery procedure, there are risks. They include:

  • Asymmetrical appearance.
  • Bleeding, bruising, redness, pain and swelling.
  • Damage to your skin, which can cause scars.
  • Infection, which can lead to necrosis (death of the infected skin) in severe cases
  • Lumps or bumps under your skin
  • Numbness
  • Pimples that look like acne.
  • Rash and itching.

Management of dermal filler complications:

On occasions when ‘over treatment’ has taken place with Hyaluronic based Dermal Fillers, this can be reversed by injecting Hyalase, an enzyme that breaks down the hyaluronic acid. This treatment can take place at any stage after treatment but requires expertise to be done correctly. Sometimes further support is needed in the form of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), and this can be established post consultation when corrective treatment is in process.