Dermal fillers can be great for a few different short term uses. These include problems such as facial wrinkles and scars. These fillers are injected into, or just beneath, the the skin. They work simply by ‘filling in’ dents or wrinkles.
The two commonest types of fillers are hyaluronic acid and fat.
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance present in human skin. As such it is safe, there are no issues with allergy and so there is no need to undergo allergy testing. Once injected, the hyaluronic acid gel absorbs water and holds it thus producing a ‘filler’ effect. Eventually, after 6 months or so, the hyaluronic acid gel is broken down naturally, releases the water and the ‘filler’ effect wears off. Hyaluronic acid fillers can last up to a year. They cause little bruising or swelling, and can be used to remedy a variety of problems with the skin.
Fat is a more permanent filler material. This is an exciting new field of cosmetic surgery and after a century of trying, the technique has been refined so that fat can be reliably removed from one part of the body and injected into another area to create a ‘filler’ effect. As the fat is harvested from and re-injected back into the same patient there are no issues of allergy or rejection. This is an excellent way of restoring the common changes in facial shape and volume which accompany the ageing process.
