Dermal Fillers

Dermal Fillers in Portsmouth, NH – AW Plastic Surgery

Insecurities about a person’s body or the way they look because of their age are two of the top reasons people walk through the doors of our practice. Often, there’s some overlap between these insecurities, because aging can quickly change the way someone’s skin and body looks. There are few areas of the body where this is truer than the face.

As you age, the structural building blocks and that keep your facial skin look youthful, full, and vibrant—collagen and elastin, for example—naturally break down. When you start to hit your late 20s to early 30s, your body beings to produce less and less of these important molecules. Over the years, this causes your skin to sag and lose significant volume, and the area where this is most visible is the face. At AW Plastic Surgery, we offer several facial plastic surgery procedures and non-surgical cosmetic treatments for those who want to rejuvenate and revive their tired face.

Because they’re convenient, affordable, and one of the least invasive non-surgical treatments, dermal fillers are one of the most popular ways our patients choose to address signs of aging in the face. Restore volume, tighten sagging skin, and address deep signs of aging with a wide range of soft-tissue filler products.

If you want to learn more about dermal fillers or other non-surgical anti-aging treatments, please contact Dr. Wilson at AW Plastic Surgery. You can contact us and send us your questions through our website, or you can call our Portsmouth, NH practice at (603) 294-4526

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How Do Dermal Fillers Work?

Many of the earliest signs of aging will appear in the face. The primary reason for this is the loss of skin volume, which also leads to skin laxity, or sagging skin. As the skin is stretched and pulled closer to the muscles underneath the face, it causes all sorts of wrinkles and lines to become more visible. Plastic surgeons and cosmetic medical professionals use dermal fillers to address these issues, including:

  • Crow’s feet
  • Brow furrows
  • Sagging skin under the eyes
  • Marionette lines
  • Cheek depressions
  • Thin lips
  • Wrinkles on the chin
  • Prominent nasolabial folds (lines going from your nose to the corner of your lips)

Most dermal fillers are typically comprised of one or more of three naturally occurring ingredients: biosynthetic polymer, collagen, or hyaluronic acid (HA), that latter being the newest and most popular. Dermal fillers work by adding volume to needed areas, and the ingredients in dermal fillers help retain moisture and deliver vital nutrients to the skin.

You’ll see some benefits of dermal fillers immediately, and over time the appearance of deep lines, loose skin, and wrinkles will give way to softer, more youthful skin. The results of dermal fillers are not permanent, but results are long lasting. Depending on the material and areas being treated, you will see results that last from six months to five years.

Dr. Wilson and his entire staff are very knowledgeable. There is a team approach to achieve what the patient is looking for through skin care, products, injections and surgery. Dr. Wilson is very personable. I could not ask for a better plastic surgeon. Love the results.
Anonymous

What Types of Dermal Fillers Does AW Plastic Surgery Use?

At AW Plastic Surgery, we use the latest and most popular dermal fillers. Products we carry include:

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in your body found in connective tissues, cartilage, and joints. In the skin, it’s used to maintain healthy skin volume and moisture, which is what makes HA fillers so versatile as an anti-aging treatment. It can also be used to improve the appearance of acne scarring. Some of the most popular HA fillers include brand names such as:

  • RHA
  • Juvéderm® (including the XC, Voluma, Volbella, and Vollure variations)
  • Restylane® (including Silk, Lyft, Refyne, and Defyne variations)
  • Belotero Balance
  • Sculptra®

When we need to add more collagen to your body to boost facial volume, polylactic acid fillers are our go-to dermal filler. Polylactic acid is primarily used to treat areas in the lower third of your face where there aren’t many great options other than surgery if you want tighter and smoother skin. This type of dermal filler is used to stimulate collagen production over time, achieving better and better results for months after your dermal filler appointment. Polylactic acid is naturally broken down and metabolized by your body and has been used for sutures in medical applications for more than 40 years. One of the most popular PLLA fillers we carry at AW Plastic Surgery is:

  • Sculptra® Aesthetic

Learn More About Dermal Fillers and Non-Surgical Anti-Aging Treatments

Dermal fillers can be a great, safe standalone treatment to help achieve significant anti-aging results, especially when you don’t have time for surgery, or it isn’t an option. Many of our patients also add dermal fillers to a larger, multi-step facial rejuvenation plan. If you’re ready to learn more about where dermal fillers can fit into your aesthetic goals, we’d love to schedule a consultation with you and begin building your personal treatment plan.

Contact Dr. Wilson if you have questions about dermal fillers or to schedule your consultation. You can call our plastic surgery practice in Portsmouth, NH at (603) 294-4526, or contact us through our website. We look forward to hearing from you!

Schedule a Consultation

From Breast Augmentation to Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty and everything in-between, Board-Certified plastic surgeon Anthony Wilson, MD, FACS offers a wide range of procedures at his Portsmouth, NH office. If you are interested in booking a procedure, take the next step by scheduling a consultation today.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dermal Fillers

At AW Plastic Surgery, we consider patient education to be an essential component of care in every treatment and procedure we offer. We know that knowing the how’s and why’s helps you feel more comfortable and make better decisions about the best treatments to meet your goals. Here, we’ll answer several of the most frequently asked questions we get from our patients when it comes to dermal fillers.

There’s no one-size-fits all answer to this question, because every patient’s healing process will be slightly different. However, for most types of soft-tissue fillers, you should be able to get back to your normal routine within a few days at most, and often right away. Facial fat injections will require a slightly longer recovery period, possibly altering your normal day-to-day a little bit for a couple of weeks. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommends no strenuous physical activity for 24-48 hours after a dermal filler treatment.

Some other tips to keep in mind during your recover include:

  • Follow your plastic surgeon’s instructions after treatment.
  • Try not to lay down for at least 3-4 hours after an injection.
  • Don’t put pressure on the treatment area for at least a few hours after your appointment.
  • Try to avoid being in direct sunlight as much as you can until swelling goes down.
  • Have some ice packs ready when you get home to help with any swelling and bruising.
  • If you feel any pain or tenderness, it’s OK to use Tylenol.

Most patients only experience mild temporary, manageable pain and some swelling following an injectable treatment.

How long dermal filler results last is usually determined by their main ingredient and can range anywhere from about 6 months to several years. For example:

  • Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA): This category of dermal filler includes the popular Radiesse® line of products and is usually used to address deep lines and wrinkles. The results of CaHA fillers typically last about 12 months for most patients.
  • Hyaluronic Acid (HA): Dermal fillers that use hyaluronic acid include Juvéderm®, Restylane®, and Belotero® fillers. Hyaluronic acid is a substance that occurs naturally in your body. Your body uses it to draw and retain moisture in areas like your eyeballs and your joints. Results from most HA-based fillers last about 6-12 months.
  • Poly-L-lactic Acid: This group of dermal fillers helps stimulate collagen production and produces long lasting results, sometimes for more than 2 years.
  • Autologous fat transfer: Also called facial fat grafting, this type of dermal filler treatment involves removing excess fat from a donor site and transferring to areas where you’d like more volume on your face. The results can last more than 3 years in some cases.

This is not an all-inclusive list of dermal filler products. We’ll cover the entire range of options and their results during your consultation.

For most types of injectables, you’ll start seeing some results right away and incremental improvement daily for some time after. As your dermal fillers stimulate healthy collagen and elastin production and draw in more moisture, you’ll notice more volume and smoother skin over time.

Most patients, even ones with a low pain tolerance, report feeling only a slight pinch at the injection site. If necessary, we can use a local anesthetic to enhance your comfort. Some brands of dermal filler products even include a local anesthetic in the formulation.

Meet Dr. Wilson

Anthony Wilson, MD, FACS has vast experience performing facial, body, and reconstructive procedures. After receiving an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and completing training with a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Wilson has continued to improve his technique to ensure the best results possible. Learn More about Anthony Wilson, MD, FACS and why you should choose the Board-Certified plastic surgeon for your next procedure in the Seacoast Region.