What Are The Different Types? - Dermal Fillers
The type of dermal filler chosen will ultimately depend on the results you wish to achieve. To make sure the right filler is chosen for your treatment, it is recommended that you inform your clinician about factors such as the areas of your body you wish to improve and for how long you want the results to last. This will enable them to choose a type of dermal filler which would achieve the most suitable results. It is also important to ensure the clinician is only using FDA-approved products and properly trained to apply them. This will not only give you peace of mind but minimise any potential risks of side-effects.
The majority of dermal fillers employed in the UK are temporary, or resorbable, and last around six to nine months. These are considered a very safe form of filler as the produce will be absorbed by the body during a gradual process in which any potential side-effects are not last longing. They are suitable to treat fine lines, volume loss and wrinkles, and they are also a popular choice of treatment for improving the lips. Temporary fillers are composed of various man-made, synthetic materials which include hyaluronic acid, collagen and calcium hydroxylapatite.
Hyaluronic acid fillers are widely used in the United Kingdom due to their high levels of safety and reliability. It is a natural substance which can be found in every living organism. As a result it is biocompatible and side-effects are very rare. Around thirty million individuals have benefited from treatment with hyaluronic acid fillers. Products which use hyaluronic acid include Perlane, Restylane, Belotero, Teosyal and Juvéderm. Hyaluronic acid fillers come in varying levels of thickness and so they are a flexible option to improve different sections of the face. Thinner fillers are more suitable for wrinkles and fine lines, or enrichment of the lips, while thicker fillers are able to address very deep wrinkles and volume loss, lasting between six and twelve months.
Calcium hydroxylapatite has maintained a safe standard of treatment in the cosmetic industry for many years and is the main element of Radiesse. This is a temporary but longer-lasting type of dermal filler which works wonders for facial sculpting. It is used mainly in deep nose to mouth lines, though it also works for reshaping of the nose. It is not applied to the lips.
Collagen stimulators are injectable and encourage the body's own collagen to form and provide beneficial effects. The product is composed from poly-l-lactic acid and can address lines and wrinkles, add volume and improve skin texture. Such products include Sculptra and can improve skin thickness and last for around two years, with the results gradually improving over several months for a subtle improvement. This is an excellent choice of filler if you do not want to show obvious signs that you have had treatment.
Permanent, or non-resorbable, types of filler are not used as much as temporary ones due to the fact that they can last for more than ten years. However, if you would rather have longer-lasting effects then they are the way to go. Patients are advised to choose an experienced clinician to ensure the correct application of such long-lasting fillers, as complications usually result from sub-standard treatment and are less likely to occur in the hands of an experienced professional. It might also be best to try a temporary product before taking the step and choosing one that is permanent. This is so you can get an idea of what kind of results fillers can provide, and then choose whether you want longer-lasting results. With permanent fillers they will last much longer and you will have to live with the results for some time, while temporary fillers will wear off in due time and you can decide whether or not to renew your injections in the future.
