When someone is thinking of rejuvenating their face due to sagging skin or deep wrinkles, the first thought is to undergo a facelift. While plastic surgeons have been performing facelifts for decades, there is still a bit of apprehension among some people. That’s because a facelift is an invasive surgical procedure that can require a lengthy recovery period.
But before you go down that path, you may want to consider a much less invasive procedure that may be able to accomplish your goal and return a youthful glow to your skin.
What I’m referring to are dermal fillers which are used to add volume to places on the face that have lost collagen due to age or damage to facial tissue. For example, fillers can plump thin lips, smooth out wrinkles, improve the look of areas that have been deeply scarred, and enhance contours of the face.
Credit: FACEmed and Monica Berrange RGN, INP
There are a variety of dermal fillers in the marketplace. They are available in different degrees of softness, and the one that is used will often depend on where it’s used. For example, the lip area will tend to require a softer dermal filler than the cheek bones.
The actual composition of dermal fillers can range from human fat to animal collagen to hyaluronic acid and beyond (although animal collagen is becoming less popular). And newer products are introduced on an ongoing basis. Some fillers are better for certain individuals, and some will last longer than others. This is where the dermatologist’s expertise comes into play.
One of the most popular types of fillers is fat from the patient’s own body. The fat could be extracted from the buttocks, abdomen, or thighs. It just depends on which area is a suitable donor. The fat is removed in a similar manner as liposuction.
The best candidates for a dermal filler procedure include people who are in general good health, don’t smoke, and who don’t unrealistically expect the procedure to make their face look perfect.
When the procedure is performed, fat is injected into the targeted facial areas underneath the skin. This is a minimally invasive procedure, and certainly nothing close to what you’d experience with a facelift.
However, after the procedure, you should expect there to be some pain and redness at the injection spots. The pain could last 36 to 48 hours. But an ice pack should provide significant relief.
Other reported side effects immediately after the procedure include minor bleeding, facial bruising, and swelling. And a small percentage of patients who were not candidates for human dermal fillers experienced allergic reactions to the non-human fillers.
Again, keep in mind that this is not a surgical procedure and it is not the ideal solution for everyone. A dermatologist or plastic surgeon would need to examine the condition of your skin and discuss expectations and the desired result.
