The Long Term Effects of Facial Fillers

The Long Term Effects of Facial Fillers

Dermal fillers are a type of cosmetic procedure that uses injectable products to improve the appearance of wrinkles, scars, and other defects in the skin. These beauty injectables are being increasingly used as regularly as a manicure or a haircut; a regular, inconsequential part of an everyday grooming regime, and in this age of Instagram and Snapchat filters, they are being used more and more to plump up lips and smooth the skin in an attempt to achieve the “filtered” look.

The role of dermal fillers is to provide a more youthful appearance to the skin. Fillers are also used to treat scars, wrinkles and other skin imperfections.

They are made of natural or synthetic substances that are injected into the skin to improve its appearance.

Dermal fillers are made of natural or synthetic substances that are injected into the skin to improve its appearance. They are made up of a thick gel-like substance that is injected into the skin, and can be used to fill in wrinkles, make lips fuller or plump up areas around the eyes that have lost volume. In some cases, they can also be used to correct scars or cover acne on the face. The most popular ones are hyaluronic acid and collagen.

The effects of dermal fillers depend on the type of filler and how it is administered. For example, a hyaluronic acid filler is biodegradable while collagen is not. The long-term effects of dermal fillers are still unknown due to lack of research and regulation in this industry. However, for every successful administration and happy client, there are a handful of concerning cases and more long term effects of the procedure being discovered. Confusion is high surrounding their use, with doctors even disagreeing with whether there are harmful effects to using these products long term or not.

While using fillers for a short period of time is unlikely to cause any problems, especially if a more natural hyaluronic acid solution is used, there are some very real risks to consider before committing to the procedure long term. Short term issues are more likely to appear if the doctor administering the product is inexperienced or hasn’t taken the time to fully understand the product. Another thing to keep in mind is that sometimes black market fillers are used to cut costs, and they carry a plethora of potential problems! If it seems like a good deal financially, it’s probably not worth taking the risk.

Short term issues:

-infection - This is usually caused by contaminated products or instruments. If the doctor administering the filler has a high reputation, it is unlikely to be an issue, but as with any medical procedure, is always a risk to be considered.

-nerve damage - if a nerve is hit, muscle paralysis can occur in places it wasn’t meant to. Fillers disrupt the way your face naturally moves, and this can also be exacerbated if the doctor doesn’t take care to make sure an appropriate amount of filler is used.

-vascular occlusion - If a filler is injected into or around a vein, blood flow can be reduced or stopped. Your skin may look pale and start to turn blue within 24 hours. This is usually painful, and if untreated, can lead to necrosis of the skin cells.

-allergic reaction - redness, excessive swelling, or a rash can occur shortly after getting the procedure done. The severity will depend on which product was used, and your body’s tendency towards allergic reaction.

Long term issues:

-fibrosis - with extended use, some fillers can cause a thickening and hardening of the tissue under the skin, or what is known as fibrosis. Once this scar tissue forms, the only way to remove it is with surgery. Fibroids will distort the appearance of the very area you are trying to contour.

-stretching of the skin - of course the intention of fillers in the first place is to stretch the skin to give it a smooth appearance. However, with extended use, this stretching of the skin can become permanent, even once the use of fillers is halted. It can make the initial issue you were trying to solve worse in the long run.

-damage to the attachment of natural facial fat pads

-long term numbness - going along with nerve damage, numbness is a side effect which may never go away after extended use of facial fillers.

-general weakening of the facial muscles - neck, head, and vocal cord muscles can be affected as well, leading to bigger issues such as migraines, problems swallowing, issues speaking, eye movement and more.

Dermal fillers are a hot trend right now, but they can come at a cost that extends beyond the financial.