You wake up one morning and look in the mirror. Suddenly, you start noticing the development of facial lines and wrinkles. Some of the lines are dynamic wrinkles and are caused by contractions of the delicate underlying facial muscles every time you smile, laugh or frown. These lines can give a person an angry, tired or sad appearance - even when they are not experiencing that emotion.
What causes wrinkles?
Facial wrinkle creases begin to appear as the underlying collagen and elastin fibers begin to break down and wear out. While this breakdown is part of the natural aging process, it can also result from sun exposure and excessive squinting, frowning, smoking and smiling.
Smoothing out the wrinkles with fillers
Patients and doctors have been searching for the perfect wrinkle filler for ages. For over 50 years, injectable fillers have been widely used to fill wrinkles and replace the collagen your skin loses over time.
Since then, many new filler products have been developed. These injections are placed within or beneath your skin where your body accepts it as its own. By supplementing your skin's own collagen with injectable fillers, wrinkles and most scars are improved. Wrinkle filler injections are performed by our doctor for patients in our region to improve the appearance of deeper frown lines, folds around the nose and lips, as well as refill the hollows under the eyes, temples, and brows.
What is the difference between Botox® and wrinkle fillers?
Botox actually prevents dynamic wrinkles from appearing by relaxing the underlying muscles so they don't contract. Fillers are used to treat the appearance of existing folds and wrinkles by adding volume. However, used together, the results of both can be prolonged and enhanced. Wrinkle treatments with Botox and/or fillers are among the top five cosmetic procedures in the world. Injectable fillers are effective, time-tested, non-surgical wrinkle treatments that provide immediate results.
The growing list of injectable wrinkle fillers contains: fat grafts (from your own body), bovine and human collagen-based fillers, hyaluronic acids, hydroxylapatite, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and poly-l-lactic-acid. Microdroplet, silicone oil is another FDA approved injectable used to fill wrinkles. Please consult our physician as to which of these products are most appropriate for you.
How are wrinkle filler procedures done?
Filler injections usually take less than 20 minutes of your time. Filler injections are usually associated with some mild discomfort which is lessened with the use of a topical or a local anesthetic. These products are injected into or under your skin, beneath the wrinkle or fold, using several injections with a small needle. The number of injections depends on the depth and length of the wrinkle.
What can I expect after my wrinkle filler treatment?
After our doctor performs filler injections, most normal activities can be resumed immediately. The treatment site may have swelling, which may last a few hours. There also may be bruising, which can usually be covered with make-up, over the course of a few days. Depending on the filler material used and the area treated, correction usually lasts from 3 months to a year or more. Allergic reactions are rare, but may consist of prolonged redness, itching, and/or firmness at the injection site.
If you have been wondering how to get rid of your wrinkles but aren't ready for surgery, filler injections may be the answer.
Are fillers effective for making your lips bigger too?
As people age, there is a tendency for lips to lose volume. Another common use of filler products is to help restore lip volume. This can be subtle with lower volumes used or more pronounced if you desire.