Sapna Palep of Spring Street Dermatology is an expert in dermal fillers, a popular anti-aging treatment in the United States. Dermal fillers are injected into the face to restore or improve facial features, and they contain hyaluronic acid, a natural compound that helps the production of collagen and elastin. The effects of dermal fillers can last between three months and two years, depending on the product being used and where on the body it is injected. People with higher metabolisms will experience shorter filler results because their bodies will break down the filler compound faster than those with slower metabolisms.
Dr. Mobin Master points out that dermal filler can last much longer than dermal filler brands say. In the past year, Dr. Gavin Chan has discovered something about dermal fillers that has “surprised” him regarding the longevity of the filler.
Instead, cosmetic doctors and cosmetic nurses will dissolve the dermal filler before injecting a new dermal filler into the lips. 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.
Due to the low maintenance factor of most fillers on the market, some of the worst fears people have about prolonged use of filler are unfounded. Patients can seek expert facial plastic surgeons who can inject fillers into specific parts of the face to provide the most satisfactory results, while selecting the areas with the least amount of movement. 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. This pioneering research began when it became clear that patients who had undergone treatment with tear dermal filler a few years ago were returning from follow-up treatments with dermal filler. Over time, as facial movement increases in areas such as the lips or cheeks, it causes the filler to break down and dissolve at a faster rate. He also warns his patients who have developed a lump above the lip to dissolve injectable fillers before new filler injections.
