Dermal fillers are injections that smooth wrinkles and fine lines on your face. As you age, your body starts to lose collagen. Collagen is an important substance in your skin. Decreased amounts of collagen causes skin laxity and loss of volume. The skin becomes thinner, loses its elasticity, and starts to sag.

Dermal fillers are used to improve volume around the eyes, in the cheeks, and in the lips. There are several types of dermal fillers. This common cosmetic procedure typically produces results right away and can last months to years.

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. Come in and see the team at Pittsburgh Hand and Nerve for a consultation today.

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Hyaluronic acid (HA)

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring acid in your skin. It gives your skin volume and keeps it hydrated. With age, your body stops making hyaluronic acid. Results from HA injections usually last six months to a year. Juvederm and Restylane are commonly used HA fillers.

Hyaluronic acid injections can be used to improve the skin's contour and reduce depressions in the skin due to scars, injury or lines. You can see potentially dramatic improvements for:

Acne scars
Cheek depressions
Crow's feet at the corner of your eyes
Frown lines between the eyebrows
Marionette lines at the corners of the mouth
Redefining lip border
Scars including burns, acne and those caused by wounds
Smoker's lines; vertical lines on the mouth
Some facial scars
Worry lines that run across your forehead

Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in your body. High concentrations are found in soft connective tissues and in the fluid surrounding your eyes. It's also in some cartilage and joint fluids, as well as skin tissue. It is extracted and reformulated and now has become one of the most popular kinds of injectable fillers. If the term sounds familiar, it's because the same substance is often injected into the aching joints of people with arthritis to ease pain and provide extra cushioning.

Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) is a type of filler that consists of a substance you have in your bones. Results from these fillers typically last around a year. Healthcare providers usually use CaHA fillers for deeper wrinkles. Examples of CaHA fillers include Radiesse®.

Calcium hydroxylapatite is found naturally in human bones and is a mineral-like compound. It's often used to:

Moderate-to-severe creases such as nasolabial folds, marionette lines and frown lines
Enhance fullness of the cheeks and other facial contours
Improve volume in areas of facial wasting such as can occur in HIV-positive people taking certain medications

Calcium hydroxylapatite is biosynthetically produced, which means that no animals or animal products are used. This lowers your risk of an allergic reaction and no skin testing is required. This type of dermal filler is known to produce a very natural result, doesn't migrate and side effects are rare. This dermal filler was first used in dentistry and reconstructive surgery and has a long safety record.

Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is a substance that helps your body create its own collagen. Healthcare providers usually use poly-L-lactic acid to smooth deep wrinkles on your face. The results can last two years or more. Types of PLLA fillers include Sculptra®.

Polylactic acid is a synthetic dermal filler that is injected into your face, causing your body's own production of collagen. This type of dermal filler is known as a stimulator. This non-toxic, biodegradable substance has been used for more than 40 years as suture material.

Polylactic acid is known to work particularly well in the lower half of your face, and is used to:

Fill the lines caused by laughing
Plump thin lips
Treat deep nasolabial folds

This substance is unlike other dermal fillers because it doesn't produce immediate results. Instead, it stimulates your own body's collagen production, so results appear gradually over a period of a few months.

You will likely need about three monthly treatments to achieve your desired results. With each treatment, there is re-stimulation of your own collagen. Then it can take four to six weeks to see the full effect. While this type of dermal filler is considered semi-permanent, you may still need occasional touch-ups.

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) fillers consist of collagen and very small balls that stay under your skin after your healthcare provider injects them. The balls give your skin volume and keep it firm. Bellafill® is one type of PMMA filler.

PMMA is considered a semi-permanent filler and is most often used to treat medium-to-deep wrinkles, folds and furrows, particularly nasolabial folds. It can also be used to fill out pitted scars and to augment thin lips.

When a more permanent solution to facial wrinkles is desired, PMMA is often used instead of collagen replacement therapy or hyaluronic therapy. PMMA has been used for many years in permanent surgical implants. Because of this, your surgeon will likely under-fill on the first treatment, adding more later if needed.

One of the downsides of PMMA is that a number of injections are needed to create volume and it can take up to three months to realize the full effects. It may also be visible under the skin. To avoid any unwanted results, it's key that your plastic surgeon is familiar with the proper technique, which involves injection at the dermal subcutaneous junction using threading or tunneling methods.

The team at Pittsburgh Hand and Nerve will review the different types of dermal fillers and discuss which may be the right option for you. We will also discuss in depth results that you can expect after getting injections. Call us today to schedule your consultation with one of our Aesthetic Experts!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happens after a dermal filler procedure?

You may have bruises, swelling or discomfort after getting the injections. Usually, these side effects are mild and go away in a few days.

Many people see results right away after getting these injections. But everyone’s results are different. How long it takes to see results (and how long they last) depends on several factors, including the type of treatment you received.

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