Wrinkle Fillers 101: What You Need To Know

As we age, contending with wrinkles can feel like a never-ending process. Sometimes, it seems like no matter what we do, wrinkles continue to appear. The face and chest are particularly vulnerable because they are exposed to the elements more than other skin. Some people, are willing to take drastic measures and turn towards surgical procedures to rid themselves of their wrinkled skin. But between the anti-wrinkle products like SiO Beauty and surgery lies another wrinkle treatment: wrinkle fillers.

This article will give you everything you need to know about wrinkle fillers including what they do, the risks involved, and the types of wrinkle fillers available.

What Do Wrinkle Fillers Do?

When you’re young, the collagen and elastin keep your skin looking smooth. But as you age, wrinkles form because of the breakdown of collagen and elastin within the dermis.

Topical solutions like SiO Beauty work to keep the skin hydrated and healthy and prevent the breakdown of collagen and elastin from the outside in.

Injectable wrinkle fillers work from the inside out to fill the space in the dermis left by the disappearing collagen and elastin. Some may think that wrinkle fillers and BotoxTM are the same thing, but this is not true. According to WebMD, BotoxTM injections work to relax the muscle underneath a wrinkle. Fillers, as their name suggests, act as a plumping agent that supports and adds pressure to the epidermis from underneath. This pressure causes wrinkles to all but disappear after just one 30-minute treatment.

Though wrinkle fillers can work wonders in a short amount of time, they are not a permanent solution. Wrinkles can disappear for anywhere from 4 to 12 months, but will eventually begin to reappear.

What Are The Risks Associated With Wrinkle Fillers?

When you introduce foreign substances into your body, there are always risks of allergic reaction. This is just your body’s natural reaction to something that’s not normally there. Here are the three most frequent reactions associated with wrinkle fillers:

Risk 1: Tiny Bumps

According to Seattle plastic surgeon, Shahram Salemy, the bumps that can result from the injection of wrinkle fillers are caused because the filler was not injected deep enough. He goes on to say that experienced injectors will know how to minimize this risk. In some cases, the bumps may be permanent. Be sure to consult a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon for more details.

Risk 2: The Tyndall Effect

The Tyndall Effect, as it applies to wrinkle fillers, is a bluish skin discoloration that may form at the site of injection and last for several months. If the discoloration does appear after injection, further treatments may be necessary to get rid of the bluish tinge. In some extreme cases when fillers are not used properly, skin cells may die at the site of the injection.

Risk 3: Blindness & Nerve Paralysis

As with the extreme cases where skin cells may die, some have reported blindness or nerve paralysis as a result of wrinkle filler injection. Again, these are extreme cases but you should always consult a dermatologist or plastic surgeon before undergoing the procedure.

The Four Most Common Types Of Wrinkle Fillers

Wrinkle fillers are just as different as the skin into which they are injected. No two cases are the same and the best results can only be had by choosing the right filler for your situation. Here are the four most common fillers.

Type 1: Hyaluronic

Hyaluronic acid is the most popular category of wrinkle filler. Included within that category are such brand names as Juvaderm, Elevess, and HylaForm.

Each type of hyaluronic filler produces a different result so it’s important to consult your physician before making a decision. Hyaluronic acid has few and moderate side effects which can include redness, swelling, and bruising.

Type 2: Synthetic

Synthetic fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptura, and Silicone are substances that are not naturally found in the skin. These products can produce the same side effects as the hyaluronic fillers: redness, swelling, and bruising. Synthetic fillers can also cause bumps under the skin that, in some cases, may require surgery to remove.

Synthetic fillers offer longer-lasting effects than the other types of fillers but are also more likely to cause side effects and even disfigurement.

Type 3: Collagen

This category of wrinkle filler was first produced from a purified form of cow collagen. When the product first came out in the 1980s, results were positive, but didn’t last long and were more likely to lead to allergic reaction. Since then, advances in processing the cow collagen have lowered the risks considerably. Synthetic collagens have even been created to make these fillers safer and more useful.

Collagen-based fillers don’t last as long as hyaluronic, synthetic, or autologous, but many feel that the results are more natural looking because the filler is similar to what should already be there. As with the other fillers, most reactions are limited to redness and bruising at the site of injection.

Type 4: Autologous

Autologous fillers are those that are taken from your own body. The most common autologous fillers are fat from your thighs, buttocks, or stomach.

Unlike the other fillers, the autologous process involves two procedures: one to remove the filler and one to inject it. Both the fat removal and fat injection can be done in one longer visit.

Side effects are similar to other fillers and can result in redness, bruising, and swelling. That said, autologous fillers can last from 12 to 18 months and, because they are from your own body, do not require FDA approval.

How To Get Started With Wrinkle Fillers

As with all invasive procedures like surgery and injections, you should always consult a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon before proceeding. Similarly, the procedure should always be conducted in a doctor’s office with sterile instruments.

It’s important that you always know exactly what is being injected and that you don’t base your decision solely on price. Some wrinkle-filler treatments cost less than the standard treatment, but that’s most often because filler quality or technician skill is less than desirable. Never risk your face for a good deal.

After the procedure, use sunscreen every day to help preserve both the results and the filler. Sunscreen also helps protect against post-inflammatory pigment changes.

In light of the risks involved with wrinkle fillers, SiO Smoothing Patches are a much better option for those looking for repair and prevention. They are a fraction of the cost of injectables, do not require a doctor, and are tested hypoallergenic so there are never any side effects.