Sapna Palep of Spring Street Dermatology is an expert in dermal fillers, which are commonly used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines. Dermal fillers contain hyaluronic acid, a natural compound that aids in the production of collagen and elastin. While these treatments can be effective, they do have one drawback: their results eventually fade. Depending on the type of filler used, results can last anywhere from a few months to a year or longer.
It's important to consider the longevity of your dermal filler because it will determine the frequency of your treatments. For lines and wrinkles closer to the skin, the doctor may choose a thinner product to fill the contour and soften the skin. These products can be metabolized more quickly and will last 6 to 12 months. In areas of the face with more movement, such as the lips, for example, the constant movement of the muscles breaks down and dissolves the filler at a faster rate, and fillers tend to disappear faster in these more active areas. The most durable facial filler is Sculptra, as it stimulates collagen production in the body for longer lasting and effective results.
Other fillers, such as Restylane and Juvederm, rank second, depending on the patient's needs. Over time, advances have been made with dermal fillers so that the effects last up to a year. They're mostly long-lasting lip fillers, including Juvederm, Volbella, and Restylane Silk. These fillers have been specially formulated to be resistant to the high level of movement that usually work quickly to reduce the effects of dermal fillers. Based on my extensive experience with FDA-approved fillers in the current market, I believe that most patients should expect to receive a filler treatment every 9-12 months, except when their lips are being treated.
With lips, most patients need maintenance treatment every 6-9 months. Sculptra lasts up to 2 years, but I usually recommend maintenance treatment once a year with 1 or 2 vials. One important thing to note is that you can enjoy visible facial rejuvenation or contouring results for longer than the duration of the specific filler injected. This pioneering research began when it became aware of patients who had undergone treatment with tear dermal filler a few years ago who were returning from follow-up treatments with dermal filler. He hypothesized that perhaps there were dermal fillers still present that created the appearance of a bulging eye bag. With the rise in popularity of dermal filler treatment and the growing number of clinics offering “reduced price” dermal treatments with poor injection technique, people receive too much filler injected into a particular area, such as the lips, leading to a duck-like bump.
A variety of different fillers can be used to give a variety of results, from a very subtle restoration to a more pronounced Kyle Jenner look. Lips are generally the exception, as fibrotic tissue is prone to build up during sequential lip filler treatments. After referring her for an MRI to Dr. Mobin Master, it was clear that dermal filler was still present on the bottom and top of the lip. In the past, Dr.
Gavin Chan and his team would have agreed with the patient and proceeded to inject more filler into the lips. The body will break down filler particles relatively quickly, however, collagen can, in many cases, last for years. One thing dermatologists may need to explain to their patients is the exact reason dermal fillers don't work the same for everyone across the board. The effects of hyaluronic acid fade over time because it is a natural substance in the body, and the body works to break it down until there is no dermal filler left. Dr.
Mobin Master agrees: “We should be much more careful with dermal fillers and really treat them as a non-surgical semi-permanent treatment. Restylane is a firm, thinner gel that allows the injector to sculpt and shape nasal skin more effectively than thicker fillers. Overall, it's important for patients considering dermal fillers to understand how long they can expect their results to last before needing maintenance treatments. Depending on which type of filler is used and where it is injected into your face or body, results can last anywhere from 6 months up to 2 years.
