Sometimes those minor imperfections can get under our skin. Dermal filler injections can help to smooth skin, create fuller, more symmetrical lips, and improve other cosmetic concerns to restore your confidence and self-esteem.
What are Dermal Fillers?
As we age, our skin loses some of its natural fullness because of the gradual depletion of important proteins like elastin and collagen. These proteins are the primary fibers that give skin its structure and flexibility. This is why we develop things like crow’s feet, frown lines, and other lines and wrinkles or loose skin issues.
 Dermal fillers are a non-invasive, low risk solution for these signs of aging and other cosmetic concerns. As an injectable treatment, fillers help to replace these reduced stores of collagen and elastin to make your skin look and feel younger and healthier.
Are Fillers Safe?
When looking into getting dermal fillers, it’s important to make sure you choose the right provider and the products they use are safe and FDA-approved for cosmetic use. While low prices can be alluring, sometimes these cheaper deals come with increased risks of complications like allergic reactions, improper injection practices, and infection.
 Coming to a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist at First OC Dermatology can give you peace of mind in knowing you are getting the best possible care. Our providers are expert injectors who have years of experience using FDA-approved fillers to help our patients achieve their aesthetic goals.
What Can I Treat with Dermal Fillers?
Fillers aren’t just for anti-aging purposes. Dermal fillers are fully customizable to meet a number of needs, including:
- Increasing lip, cheek, and chin fullness and symmetry
- Filling tear troughs and under-eye hollowness
- Improving the contours of the jawline and cheekbones
- Improving the appearance of scars
- Tightening skin after weight loss
If you’re not sure if dermal fillers are right for you, our expert providers can help. During your initial consultation, we will examine your skin and talk to you about your concerns. We use this information to help you decide on the best course of treatment for you.
How Long Do Dermal Fillers Last?
How long a dermal filler lasts is different from person to person. Different factors like treatment area, the type of dermal filler used, and your skin type can affect how long your results last. On average, most patients’ results will last between 6 and 18 months.
 Having a consistent schedule of maintenance sessions can keep your results looking their best. We recommend scheduling your touch-up appointments every 3 to 6 months.
 Because dermal fillers are non-invasive, they can be performed in just 15 to 30 minutes, making your appointments easy to fit into even the busiest schedules. You can get right back to your everyday responsibilities immediately after your treatment without any downtime necessary. Our providers will walk you through the simple aftercare steps you need to ensure you get the best possible results.
 If, for some reason, you decide you no longer want dermal fillers, the treatment is completely reversible. With a simple injection of a dissolvent solution in our office, we can fully or partially reduce the amount of filler in a specific treatment area.
Are There Risks to Using Dermal Fillers?
Any cosmetic treatment will come with some risks. That’s why it’s important to only get injectable treatments from an accredited provider you can trust. Licensing ensures your provider is properly trained and experienced to minimize your risks.
The most common side effects of getting dermal fillers include:
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Redness or bruising in the treatment area
- Itching or rashes around the treatment area
- Hardened nodules of fillers (these often soften on their own, but may require solvent)
In rarer cases, dermal fillers may also lead to:
- Migration of the filler material
- Allergic reactions
- Tissue damage and necrosis
- Immune foreign body reaction
- Embolism resulting in blindness
These more serious potential issues are why it's crucial to never receive cosmetic injections by an unlicensed provider. Why more establishments and service providers are beginning to offer dermal fillers, your safest route is always with a dermatology specialist or licensed cosmetic injector. Our team at First OC Dermatology always prioritizes patient safety above all else. We go above and beyond to ensure you have the best possible experience from the moment you enter our offices. If you’re ready to take back control of how you look, we’re here to help.
