What Are Dermal Fillers?

Hello, Warriors! Welcome to The Breast Place blog and thank you for taking time out of your active schedule to visit! We appreciate our readers to the utmost degree, as we do our patients. If this is your first visit to The Breast Place blog, we welcome you. We cover a range of topics here. From breast cancer management to anti-aging skin treatments to helpful tips for maximizing your overall health and wellness—The Breast Place is committed to sharing the best health practices and treatment options with you! Our offices are open and our staff is prepared to answer any questions you may have about your health, your breast cancer risk, and how to reach your aesthetic goals. 

At The Breast Place, we offer several oncoplastic surgical procedures, such as natural reconstruction, nipple-sparing mastectomy, Hidden Scar™, implant reconstruction, and breast lift with or without reduction. Oncoplastic surgery is distinct from both breast cancer surgery and plastic surgery–though you initially assume oncoplastic surgery to be a mixture of both. Rather, the aim of oncoplastic breast surgery is “to achieve good aesthetic outcomes for women with breast cancers who would have unacceptable outcomes with other BCS techniques, and in addition, enable breast-conserving surgery for larger breast cancers.” While breast cancer surgery prioritizes the eradication of cancerous tissue and plastic surgery prioritizes the cosmetic appearance of the breasts, oncoplastic surgery takes both of these aspects into account when planning for the final outcome. You can find out more information about what to look for in an Oncoplastic surgeon here. 

Our last article continued our discussion about ways to take care of your skin. The key to great skin lies within your daily routine. This includes the products you use and how you treat your skin overall on a daily basis. We discussed protecting your skin from the sun, developing a skincare routine, minimizing stress, getting adequate sleep, and more! If you’re interested in learning about the various ways you can take care of your skin, we encourage you to check out our last two posts!

Before we continue with today’s topic, we’d like to make you aware of what we have to offer at The Breast Place this month. We can’t believe May is almost over already! The weather continues to get more and more beautiful and we hope you are feeling just as great. This month we have special pricing on our new service that we are so proud to offer; EMSELLA, a breakthrough treatment for incontinence. (You can learn more about incontinence and pelvic floor therapy in one of our previous blogs or learn more about EMSELLA on our website!) Additionally, we are offering 25% treatments and products for moms and graduates this month! Although Mother’s Day has already passed, we think this is a great excuse to treat your mom – or yourself! – to one of our many services. We hope to see you at our aesthetic clinic soon!

Today, we’ll be talking about dermal fillers and how they can aid in the process of facial rejuvenation. Dermal fillers are an injectable treatment that can help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the face, lips, and hands. In today’s post, we’ll be taking a closer look at what fillers actually are, as well as how to know which one is right for you, and what you can expect from a treatment. If you are interested in learning more, you’re in the right place! Let’s get started.

Dermal fillers are made of gel-like substances that are injected beneath the skin in order to fill in areas of volume loss. As we age, our body produces less collagen. Collagen is a structural protein that provides support to tissues and plays a role in tissue repair and cellular migration. As collagen production slows, the skin loses volume and can become saggy or wrinkled. Dermal fillers and other injectable treatments are used to make up for this loss of volume. There are a variety of FDA-approved fillers– These are only available through a licensed physician, such as a board-certified cosmetic surgeon. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ingredients commonly found in dermal fillers.

• Hyaluronic Acid (HA): Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the skin and connective tissues. Its main function is to retain water, which keeps skin hydrated and volumized. 
• Poly-L-Lactic Acid: This is a synthetic substance that has been used for many years in medicine, such as in dissolvable stitches. This substance is known as a “collagen stimulator” because they help the skin rebuild natural collagen.
• Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA): This is another naturally occurring substance, found mainly within our bones. It also helps promote collagen production and is primarily used for deeper lines and wrinkles.
• Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA): PMMA is a synthetic substance that takes the form of a “microsphere”, or tiny ball, when used in dermal fillers. This microsphere remains beneath the skin for continued support. PMMA also contains collagen. 

In addition to correcting volume loss, dermal fillers can also do quite a few things to enhance your overall appearance! Dermal fillers have the ability to smooth out lines and wrinkles, plump the lips, and improve symmetry among facial features. They are often confused with Botox, which is another type of injectable treatment. Botox is a drug made from a toxin that has been used in the medical field for years to treat wrinkles and facial creases. Additionally, Botox has the ability to treat other conditions such as excessive underarm sweating, chronic migraine, and overactive bladder. Both dermal fillers and Botox are long-lasting treatments, but they do have several differences. The main difference is that rather than filling in areas of volume loss, Botox is used to paralyze or relax the muscles near the wrinkles, which reduces their appearance. Botox is not used for fine lines caused by loss of collagen. 
Each type of filler is formulated in a particular way, so certain fillers will work best in certain areas. With that being said, how do you know which filler is right for you? While it is best to consult with a professional, we’ve put together a short-and-sweet guide that will hopefully lead you in the right direction!

• If you want to plump the lips, fillers containing hyaluronic acid may work best, such as Juvéderm.
• For smoothing crow’s feet, frown lines, or brow furrows, Botox or Dysport may be best.
• If you want to smooth under the eyes, consider Juvéderm.

Once you’ve consulted with a professional and decided on the best treatment, you may be wondering what to expect from your first treatment. One of the great things about injectable treatments is that they are done during an office visit and typically won’t take longer than 30 minutes, depending on the area being treated. This means you can absolutely make an appointment during your lunch break, and there is little to no downtime afterward! As long as you are receiving treatment from a certified medical professional in a safe, medical environment, there are very minimal risks associated with dermal fillers. 

Your provider will clean the area to be treated and you may be given a topical anesthetic to numb the area. Some patients experience minor redness, bruising, or swelling, but these side effects are only temporary and will subside within a few days after treatment. As mentioned previously, you can return to normal activities right after treatment, although you may be instructed to refrain from intense physical activity for 24 to 48 hours. You should notice results immediately after treatment, and they may last several months, depending on the amount of filler you received. Your provider may recommend follow-up treatments for optimal results.

As you can see, dermal fillers are a great solution to correct volume loss and minimize signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles. If you are interested in injectable treatments, we encourage you to reach out to us! Here at The Breast Place, we are dedicated to helping you feel more confident in your skin. We offer injectable treatments such as Botox, Juvéderm, and Dysport, as well as other facial rejuvenation services such as laser treatment and more! Additionally, we offer breast imaging services and provide consultations, clinical breast exams, and dedicated treatment plans. We strongly encourage you to reach out to us for a consultation if you have any questions or concerns pertaining to our service areas– We are committed to empowering women, and we are proud to offer treatments and products to help you look and feel your best. Thank you for taking the time to read today’s article and we hope you’ll check back in for future posts about treatments, wellness, and more!