What is Dermal Fillers Demystified

Fillers, cosmetic injections designed to replace the skin's natural elastin lost over time, is gaining popularity in an aging population to maintain its youthful appearance, without invasive surgery.

Several classes of fillers are approved for use in the United States, mainly collagen-based fillers sold under brands such as Cosmo CosmoDerm and Plastics, and hyaluronic acid fillers are sold under names including Restylane and Hylaform. A new dermal filler called Radiesse, phosphorus and calcium mixture, is also becoming popular. All are derivatives of one or more of the natural protein that gives young skin its firmness, elasticity and ability to retain moisture.

Fillers are used primarily to restore volume and shape of sagging skin of the face and is often used in combination with Botox, another type of injection, which acts as a muscle relaxant. Collagen and hyaluronic acid fillers add volume to the dermis, or middle layer of the skin while Radiesse, also known as hydroxyapatite, which is injected into the deep layers of the skin and stimulates the production of new collagen.

Fillers are commonly used to minimize the appearance of smile lines and smooth wrinkled skin and frown at the eyes, along the jaw and forehead. Hydroxyapatite is also used for lip augmentation.

The injections can cost several hundred to several thousand dollars per treatment, depending on the area treated and the amount of charge required. The effects of collagen-based fillers usually last between three and six months, while hyaluronic acid can last up to one year. Radiesse degrade within months, but the creation of new collagen for about 15 months, although some patients have reported effects lasting more than three years.

Another procedure involves removing fat lipotransfer of a body part and inject in another. Lipotransfer is popular in some patients because it eliminates the risk of allergic reactions, but there is no reliable data indicating how long the effect of the fat injections last filling. Patients have reported very disparate results ranging from months to years.

Dermal filler procedures are usually performed in a doctor's office and require little or no recovery time. Some patients experience allergic reactions and other side effects such as bruising, swelling and redness that usually disappear after a few days.