Dermal fillers have grown in popularity in recent years, thanks to the ease with which they can be administered and the excellent results it is possible to achieve with the high quality products now widely available. Unlike treatments such as Botox, which are designed to paralyse facial muscles and thereby reduce the appearance of wrinkles, dermal fillers do not limit the movement of the muscles in your face in any way. They are designed to fill in lines and wrinkles from underneath the skin, by restoring volume to areas where muscle and other soft tissue loss has occurred. In this article, we are going to take a brief look at the different types of fillers in common use and what facial ageing signs they can be used to treat most effectively.
Different Types of Dermal Fillers
- Calcium Hydroxylapatite – Used to augment soft tissue under the skin, this type of filler is often used to treat laughter lines. It should be injected more deeply than other popular fillers because it can cause small lumps if injected just underneath the surface of the skin.
- Hyaluronic Acid Derivatives – There are a number of fillers that are manufactured from hyaluronic acid and these are the most popular type of dermal fillers in common use today. They are used to fill in fine lines on the face and to create fuller lips. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body and when our supplies become depleted, we can experience a loss of volume in our skin. By replacing this lost hyaluronic acid, it is possible to eradicate some of the natural signs of ageing and achieve a more youthful appearance.
- Collagen – There are two main types of collagen currently being used as dermal fillers: that which is derived from human sources and that which is derived from bovine sources. Human-derived collagen is primarily used to create fuller lips and to fill in facial wrinkles whereas bovine-derived collagen is most often used on lips and laughter lines.
- Autologous Fat – Taken from the patient’s own body, fat tissue is used to give more volume to the face. This type of treatment could possibly last a lifetime so it is important to have it performed by qualified experts (as is the case with all of the treatments mentioned in this article).
What Conditions Can Dermal Fillers Be Used to Treat?
As already mentioned, dermal fillers can be used to treat fine lines as well as deeper wrinkles, such as those to be found in the nasolabial folds (laughter lines). They can also be used to fill depressions under the eyes, reduce the visibility of scars from acne and chicken pox, restore volume to cheeks and add volume to temple areas if they should become hollow due to the shifting of fat tissue underneath facial skin.
If you would like to find out more about dermal fillers, please feel free to make an enquiry whenever you wish. Our experienced consultants offer dermal filler treatments at our Perth clinic in Dalkeith Rd.