6 Things To Know About Dermal Fillers (Facts From a Boston Plastic Surgeon)

Tear troughs and wrinkles and thinning lips, oh my! Oh my, indeed. Stealthy signs of aging creep up gradually until you look in a mirror or (even more mortifying) your image during a Zoom meeting and realize your appearance doesn’t match how you feel. Dermal filler injections help my Boston patients reduce their signs of aging, creating attractive contours that reflect their youthful energy.

Even though fillers are one of the most popular cosmetic treatments in the world—second only to BOTOX® injections—many people considering filler injections aren’t entirely sure about what they are or how they work. In this blog post, we’ll explain some important facts about this nonsurgical treatment.

Here are 6 things you should know about fillers before your treatment.

1. All fillers aren’t the same. When you ask, “What are dermal fillers?” the answer is a bit complicated. Even though hyaluronic acid is the active ingredient in most fillers, such as JUVÉDERM® and Restylane®, some fillers contain other active ingredients and are known as bio stimulators. Sculptra® Aesthetic and RADIESSE®, for example, are formulated with substances that stimulate the production of new collagen.
2. Fillers don’t only decrease the signs of aging. Fillers can change the shape of younger patients’ faces. Maybe you want to create sharper angles, reduce a slight bump on the bridge of your nose, or augment your lips. Those goals can all be achieved with fillers.
3. You can reverse the results of (some) fillers. What if you’re unhappy with the outcome of your filler injections? We can often reverse the effects by injecting hyaluronidase, an enzyme the body produces naturally. Hyaluronidase breaks down hyaluronic acid—the substance used in most fillers. As mentioned above, though, there are other types of fillers. Sculptra and RADIESSE results can’t be reversed.
4. You can get lip fillers without looking unnatural. Most patients who want to enhance their lips with fillers worry about having an overinflated appearance. Our injection experts use lip fillers conservatively, creating plumper, attractive lips that enhance your features.
5. Fillers and BOTOX aren’t the same. Even though filler and BOTOX injections both minimize wrinkles, they accomplish this differently. Filler gels add appealing volume and smooth “static” wrinkles caused by sun exposure, the loss of collagen, and other factors. BOTOX injections target “dynamic” wrinkles, such as crow’s feet and vertical worry lines between the eyes, temporarily limiting muscle movements that cause these wrinkles.
6. The longevity of fillers encompasses a wide range. Filler results can last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. How long the fillers last depends on the type of filler used, the treatment area, and how rapidly your body absorbs the substances. JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® lasts 18 months to 2 years when injected into the cheeks. Lip fillers, such as Restylane Kysse® or JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA®, typically last 12 months. You can get periodic touch-up treatments to maintain your results.

Do You Want To Know More?

If you’re considering dermal filler injections or other nonsurgical treatments, request a consultation using the online form to discuss your options, or call us at (781) 740-7840 to schedule an appointment.