How Long Do Dermal Fillers Last?

If you feel as though your face is showing the signs of aging but you aren’t ready to commit to any surgical procedures or invasive treatments, there is a solution that will let you get your younger face back. At Westover Hills Dermatology in San Antonio, TX, we offer dermal fillers as a way to restore volume, plump the skin, get rid of fine lines, wrinkles, and facial folds, and help you remove the signs of aging so you can look and feel your very best.

How Long Do Dermal Fillers Last?

Dermal fillers are a temporary solution that treat the signs of aging. They are temporary but at the same time, they are long-lasting. Different brands and formulations of fillers last for different amounts of time, but when you get injected with fillers, you can expect them to last anywhere from six months to five years, based on which filler you choose. Fillers last much longer than other cosmetic injectables and will let you enjoy results for an extended period of time.

What Makes Results Start to Fade?

Dermal fillers are a temporary solution for aging-related issues. They do not last forever, but instead, their ingredients can be metabolized by the body, which makes them a safe option for those who want to improve their appearance.

How long fillers last depends on their ingredient composition and how quickly the body metabolizes those ingredients. Once they’re metabolized, the body naturally eliminates them and your face returns to its pre-injection state.

What Are Fillers?

Dermal fillers are anti-aging injectables typically composed of synthetic hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is an acid that the body produces naturally. As the aging process occurs, hyaluronic acid production, like collagen and elastin, begins to decrease, which is evidenced in the appearance of the skin.

Fillers are administered in injectable form through an ultra-fine needle that reaches into the area of the skin that requires treatment and adds volume.

How Do They Work?

Fillers restore the hyaluronic acid lost in the skin by injecting it into the area between the dermis and epidermis. They restore moisture and volume beneath the skin, plumping the skin and making lines, folds, and wrinkles essentially disappear.

What Do They Treat?

Dermal fillers restore volume to areas of the face that have begun to develop a hollow appearance as a result of the aging process. The most common areas of treatment include areas of the face with lines, folds, or volume loss. Filler can remove nasolabial folds, augment thin lips and plump them, add volume to hollow areas around the eyes, add volume to acne scars or chickenpox scars, and lift, contour, and increase volume in the cheeks.

What Happens During a Consultation?

Consultations are an important step in choosing the right dermal fillers. A filler that works to treat one person’s face may not be right for someone else’s face. Injecting filler is an art form and the face should be treated accordingly.

During your consultation, we will analyze your face and choose the best filler for your personal needs. If you have any skin allergies, there are ways to test the skin to make sure that your chosen filler won’t cause an allergic reaction.

What Happens During a Treatment?

During treatment, your injector will apply a topical gel to the injection sites to numb the areas for optimal comfort and to give you the best experience possible. The filler will then be injected into your pre-discussed problem areas with a series of injections through an ultra-fine needle.

Your total treatment time will take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes. You can resume your normal daily activities immediately following your treatment.

When Will I See Results?

The benefit of fillers is that results are immediate. As soon as the filler is injected into your face, you can look in a mirror and see immediate results. You’ll notice a smoothness that was previously nonexistent, as well as the complete disappearance of nasolabial folds if you choose to have that area treated. You’ll also see instant volume in areas that previously were defined by volume loss.

What Is the Difference Between Botox and Fillers?

Botox and dermal fillers are both anti-aging cosmetic injectables that improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but they are not the same. They accomplish the same goal in different ways. Botox works by temporarily disabling the muscles in the face from contracting and in doing so rids the face of lines and wrinkles. Dermal fillers add volume and plump the skin from the inside out as a way to fill hollow areas and erase fine lines and wrinkles.

When compared to neurotoxins like Botox, the results from fillers last much longer. Botox results last anywhere from three to four months while the results from fillers last anywhere from two to five years. Both are effective at treating the signs of aging and can be used together to help you reach your aesthetic goals.

Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today

Your face is the first thing people see, so you should be completely confident in how you look. If you have begun to notice that the signs of aging are creeping up and leaving a permanent mark on your face, know that there is a way to replace those marks with a youthful glow. If you face needs of some TLC, we can help. Contact us today at Westover Hills Dermatology in San Antonio, TX, and schedule your initial consultation for dermal fillers.