Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are a cosmetic treatment that can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by plumping up the skin. These injectable treatments are minimally invasive and can be administered by a licensed skin care doctor or dermatologist.

Dermal fillers contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid (HA) that can contribute to a younger-looking appearance. According to the FDA, dermal fillers are most commonly used by people who want to improve the appearance of facial lines and restore volume that has been lost due to aging or certain medical conditions.

Dermal fillers can reduce signs of aging by plumping up areas of the face to help soften and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. According to the University of Utah, some dermal fillers can stimulate skin cells to produce a higher amount of collagen, which helps you achieve a fuller, more youthful-looking appearance. The university adds that many dermal fillers also contain HA, a naturally occurring substance that keeps the skin hydrated and lends to an overall rejuvenated look.

Dermal fillers can reduce fine lines and wrinkles on the face and restore volume to areas that may look hollow or sagging. According to the University of Utah, dermal fillers can also plump the face to reduce scarring, such as that caused by acne. Facial thinning caused by sun damage, surgery, weight loss, or trauma may be improved with dermal fillers, adds the university.

Dermal fillers are injectable treatments that can soften creases, fill in crevices, and add volume to shallow areas of the face, says Ohio State University (OSU). They can also add volume to thin lips and reduce scarring caused by acne, nicks, and scrapes. The FDA says dermal fillers contain gel-like substances that are generally meant to create a smoother or fuller appearance.

Different fillers have different uses that can address specific parts of the face. For instance, lip fillers can plump thin lips, while cheek fillers can add volume to cheeks that may be hollow or sagging. In addition, smile line fillers may soften and fill in creases and wrinkles around the mouth caused by smiling or smoking.

Your dermatologist can often help you choose the right dermal filler based on the appearance of your skin and on what you hope to accomplish with treatment. Some of the most popular dermal fillers contain HA, calcium hydroxylapatite, polylactic acid, and polymethylmethacrylate beads (PMMA), according to the University of Utah

Hyaluronic acid (HA)

HA fillers are the most commonly used fillers in the U.S., reports the University of Utah. These natural compounds bind to water, making them effective at restoring volume in the skin and softening fine lines and wrinkles. OSU adds that HA fillers can also reduce skin depressions caused by scars and injuries and treat vertical “smoker’s lines” around the lips.

Calcium hydroxylapatite

This ingredient is a mineral-like compound that is found naturally in bone tissue, says OSU. It adds that complications from dermal fillers containing calcium hydroxylapatite are rare, given how these fillers are biosynthetically produced without animals or animal products. Dermal fillers that contain this compound can help minimize moderate to deep creases and add fullness to cheeks and facial contours.

Polylactic acid

Dermal fillers with polylactic acid usually plump the lips and fill in laugh lines and deep folds around the nose and mouth. Polylactic acid also stimulates your body’s natural collagen production, reports OSU. Compared with other dermal fillers, fillers with polylactic acid produce results that appear gradually over time. OSU says it can take four to six weeks to see the full effect of these fillers.

Polymethylmethacrylate beads (PMMA)

PMMA fillers are often regarded as an alternative to collagen replacement therapy or hyaluronic therapy, reports OSU. These dermal fillers are effective at treating medium to deep wrinkles and folds in the face—particularly those that extend from the nose to the mouth. OSU says full results from PMMA fillers are usually visible after about three months.