The Science Behind Dermal Fillers: How They Work and What to Expect

The beauty market is inundated with products that claim to plump lips, smooth skin, and help you achieve a more striking appearance. While many of these products do produce results, they are usually short-lived. If you want to transform your appearance for several months to one year, you may be interested in dermal fillers.

At Ethos MedSpa, we offer types of dermal fillers that address everything from thin lips to sullen under-eyes. These dermal fillers go beneath the surface of your skin to add subtle volume, enhancing certain facial features and combating age-related changes. If you are new to dermal filler injections, take a look at our comprehensive guide.

What Are Dermal Fillers?

Also known as cosmetic fillers, dermal fillers are minimally invasive and non-surgical aesthetic treatments. The main purpose of dermal fillers is to increase volume under the facial skin. 

Why would anyone want to increase the volume of their skin? You might not realize that the fullness beneath your skin is what gives your face a more youthful appearance. Have you ever noticed that younger people tend to have fuller, suppler cheeks? This is because they have more volume in the deeper layers of their skin. 

This volume comes from a natural compound called hyaluronic acid. When you are young, hyaluronic acid is found in abundance within your skin. As you age, hyaluronic acid decreases, and your skin loses its youthful fullness. That’s why older faces appear to sag more or look hollow in certain areas, like around the cheeks and under the eyes. 

Where do dermal fillers come in? Many dermal fillers are formulated with synthetic hyaluronic acid or similar compounds. When injected beneath the skin, these compounds boost volume and restore youthful fullness. 

For example, dermal fillers under eyes can create a younger-looking appearance by resolving sullen skin or fine lines in the area. Another function of dermal fillers is facial enhancement. Have you ever thought that your jawline was soft and unstructured or that your lips were too thin? These are common aesthetic complaints for people of any age, and cosmetic fillers present a viable solution.

When injected into specific areas of the face, dermal fillers can change the structure and appearance of features like cheekbones and lips. Dermal filler lip treatments can create a full, pouty mouth that even the best plumping gloss cannot achieve. Fillers injected along the jawline can make your face look sharper and more contoured.

The Different Types of Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are a versatile aesthetic treatment with seemingly endless options. There are a number of different filler products, each designed to address a different concern or for use in a specific area of the face:

Cheek Fillers

As you age, you may notice your cheeks have started to droop and sag. This can create the appearance of hanging jowls or poor facial structure. Cheek fillers are designed to restore youthful volume to the cheeks or to add volume to the cheekbones. This volume can create a more appealing facial structure that looks both youthful and contoured.

Lip Fillers

Lip fillers are some of the most frequently requested dermal fillers. Lip treatment with fillers can add fullness to naturally thin lips or to lips that have developed creasing with age. When injected directly into the lips, cosmetic fillers create plumpness that makes them look fuller and smoother.

Eye Area Fillers

Another popular type of dermal filler is under-eye filler. The skin around your eyes is very susceptible to age-related changes. Sullen skin, fine lines, and hollow under-eyes can all start to appear as early as your 30s. Dermal fillers under the eyes or around the eye area can add subtle fullness that creates a more youthful appearance overall.

Your Biggest Questions About Dermal Fillers

Do you still have some questions or concerns about dermal fillers? Find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions that our new patients have about fillers, including, “How long do dermal fillers last?”

Are Dermal Fillers Uncomfortable?

Before your injections are administered, a topical anesthetic will be applied to the injection site. This anesthetic will linger for several hours, which means that you won’t feel much of anything during or after dermal filler treatment.

What Are Dermal Fillers Used for in Younger People?

A common misconception about fillers is that they are only for older patients with more mature skin. However, plenty of young people seek dermal fillers for facial enhancement. Lip injections, jawline filler, and cheekbone enhancement are all great uses for fillers in younger patients.

Is the Dermal Filler Process Complicated?

The dermal filler process is very simple and easy. All you have to do is sit back and relax while we administer your injections. Depending on the areas being treated, a dermal filler session can take as little as 15 minutes to complete!

How Long Do Dermal Fillers Last?

The duration of your dermal filler results will vary depending on factors like the brand, the amount of filler used, and the injection site. Large amounts of filler injected into the cheeks can last as long as nine months to one year. Smaller amounts of filler injected into the lips may last closer to six months. Areas with more movement may cause fillers to dissolve quicker, which is why lip injections have a shorter duration than other fillers.

Where to Get Your Cosmetic Fillers in Chesterfield, MO

Are you interested in dermal fillers in the Chesterfield, MO, area? Look no further than Ethos MedSpa! We offer a wide variety of filler injectables, from lip fillers to cheek enhancers. To learn more about our cosmetic filler options, contact us today to schedule your consultation appointment.