Four Types of Dermal Fillers

A dermal filler is a form of soft tissue injected into the skin for wrinkle removal, scar improvement, lip restoration, cheek plumping, and jaw line contouring. Normally, the effect lasts up to six months and sometimes longer, but this depends on factors including the quality of skin, the expertise of the skin care provider, and the type of filler used. Depending on the skin condition, people may need varying amount of dermal filler treatment.

Dermal fillers has several kinds and understanding how they differ in property and function can help skin care enthusiasts find the best dermal filler for their need. The American Society of Surgeons identified five of the most common types of dermal fillers used by skin care experts:

  1. Calcium hydroxylapatite. A mineral-like compound, Calcium hydroxylapatite is found in the human bone and is produced biosynthetically. In other words, there is no animal involvement. This type of dermal filler has been used long enough and is among the most trusted type. Often, it is used for removal of creases, marionette lines, and frown lines; enhancement of cheeks and contours of the face; and improvement of face volume for unique cases. Aside from the little possibility of acquiring an allergic reaction to this type of filler, it is known to have very rare side effects but produce a very natural result.
  2. Hyaluronic acid. This type of dermal filler is a natural substance found in soft connective tissues, fluids around the eyes, cartilages, joint fluids, and skin tissues.  Through extraction and reformulation, Hyaluronic acid is among the most popular dermal filler injections today used for improvement of the skin contour and reduction of different types of scars and lines.
  3. Polylactic acid. Unlike other dermal fillers, Polylactic Acid is not produced biosynthetically nor is it naturally found in the body; is injected into the skin to allow for the body to produce collagen. Focusing on the lower half of the face, this dermal filler addresses those line on the side of the lips brought by laughing and can also plump lips. However, results take a while—sometimes up to four to six weeks—again due to the fact that it basically serves as a prompt for your body to produce the collagen.
  4. Polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres (PMMA). Those who desire to have a semi-permanent solution to their wrinkle problem should rely to PMMA. This dermal filler addresses deeper wrinkles and scars and has been used for years for various surgical implants. It also needs more than one injection and could take up to three months to see the effects.

Wrinkles, lines, scars, and other kinds of skin concerns require specific type of dermal filler and a competent skin care practitioner should be able to inform a patient of these differences. Building a basic understanding on how these differ can help create an informed skin care patient that is able to ask the right questions to their practitioner. After all, undergoing such treatments is a pretty big step, right? Why not spend a little time for research?