Are Dermal Fillers Safe For Long-Term Use?

Dermal fillers are FDA-approved for helping to create a smoother and fuller appearance in the face, cheeks, lips, and even the back of your hands. Injectable treatments are easy to get, long-lasting, and designed for subtlety. You’re going to love the look of smoother, younger-looking skin after receiving dermal fillers. However, before you commit to your first session, you may be wondering, “Are fillers are safe for long-term use?”

Are Dermal Fillers Safe?

Dermal fillers are perfectly safe, provided, you’ve done your homework and have your injections performed by a reputable doctor. Every practitioner has different philosophies, techniques, and levels of experience. Be sure you and your physician communicate about realistic expectations and results before you ever see a needle. Just like any medical procedure, there are risks for infection, discoloration, and lumps if injections are not performed correctly.

The Difference Between Botox and Dermal Fillers

Many patients fail to realize that dermal fillers are not the same as neurotoxins, such as Botox and Dysport.

Dermal Fillers

Fillers, including Restylane, are composed of hyaluronic acid. Fillers are injections that are primarily used to improve the appearance of sunken cheeks and wrinkles that appear around the nose and mouth. Laugh lines, eleven’s, lips, and frown lines can all be significantly improved with dermal fillers. These injections are administered just under the surface of the skin, which replenishes the skin by creating the appearance of volume and smoothness just underneath the surface. Thanks to its ability to store moisture, hyaluronic acid is responsible for giving skin a plump, hydrated look by restoring lost volume.

Botox 

Botox is a specially formulated product that targets the muscles underneath the skin. These are the muscles that, over time, create wrinkles by repeating similar movements, such as laughing or frowning. When Botox is injected, it works by relaxing the muscles in order to prevent the formation of wrinkles from forming. As a direct result, the appearance of wrinkles begins to fade.

Ideal Treatment Areas

There are a variety of uses for dermal fillers. Whether you have volume loss, or want to soften the appearance of wrinkles, fillers are an excellent way to address specific concerns while maintaining a natural look. Ideal treatment areas for dermal fillers include:

• Chin
• Under the eye
• Side of the eye
• Cheeks
• Lips
• Hands
• Jaw line
• Nose (non-surgical nose job)

Avoid Black Market Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers can be expensive, which has prompted many to turn to the online black market for a do-it-yourself approach. While saving some money may seem significant at first, there are incredible dangers and complications that can result from self-injecting fillers if you are a non-health professional. The FDA has issued an official warning urging consumers to “never buy dermal fillers on the internet. They may be fake, contaminated, or harmful.” Additionally, fillers purchased online can contain a variety of nonsterile substances, including hair gel. When injected, these substances can cause allergic reactions, infections, and the death of otherwise healthy skin cells. Improper injection technique can lead to swelling, lumpiness, and embolism that leads to blindness.

Common Side Effects of Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers disrupt sensation in areas of the skin injected. This can interfere with the way muscle moves and you detect feeling. As a result, fillers can change the way your skin senses the environment. Dermal fillers can also lead to:

• Vascular Occlusion: When filler is injected into or around an artery, blood flow may be reduced or stopped. Skin may look pale in color and start to turn blue over a period of 24 hours. This is usually painful, and if untreated, the skin may begin to ‘die’ and turn black.
• Allergic Reaction: If your body is sensitive to the synthetic substance injected. You may experience redness and swelling around the injection area.
• Inflammatory Reaction: Remember that you are entering a foreign substance into the body and it can irritate your immune system.
• Long Term Use: Over time, long term use of dermal fillers can result in weakness of the muscles of the face, head and neck. These side effects can have undesirable consequences when swallowing, with vocal cord function and eye movements, including double vision.

Dermal Fillers Are Safe When Injected Correctly

Finding the right physician to perform your dermal filler injections is essential for being able to use the product long-term without negative consequences. Always ask about specific training and certification to ensure that you are receiving care from a board-certified and experienced doctor. Safety is always a top concern at Vein & Laser Institute. With the right preparation between you and our highly trained and experienced doctors, you can achieve beautiful and natural-looking results in a safe way. Call us today to schedule a consultation.