Dermal Fillers in Mission Viejo

Dermal fillers offer several benefits to help smooth your skin and rejuvenate your appearance. Age, gravity, exposure to environmental toxins, and lifestyle choices affect the speed at which your skin ages. One of the primary factors is the loss of production and the increase in the destruction of collagen and elastin.

Collagen and elastin are two protein molecules responsible for skin tone, texture, and elasticity. We naturally make less as we age, contributing to visible signs of aging in our face and neck. Many men and women consider dermal fillers in Mission Viejo to help reduce signs of aging and improve their overall appearance. Cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Lenore Sikorski offers a variety of fillers to help you achieve your aesthetic goals.

What Are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers are injectable substances Dr. Sikorski can use to restore facial volume, smooth lines, and enhance facial contours. Filler treatments are non-surgical, minimally invasive procedures that address the visible signs of aging and help improve the appearance of facial features.

There are several types of dermal fillers. The advantages and disadvantages vary depending on the type of filler used. Most offer immediate and visible results with minimal downtime. Nearly all are temporary, lasting from several months to a couple of years, depending on the type.

Dermal fillers can cause slight side effects such as swelling, bruising, and redness in the treated areas.

The most popular dermal filler is made with hyaluronic acid. This is a compound naturally found in the body that helps to retain moisture and elasticity. Common brands that use hyaluronic acid include JUVÉDERM® and Restylane®, which help smooth fine lines or add volume to lips.

Calcium hydroxylapatite fillers such as RADIESSE® use compounds typically found in your bones to provide a thicker, longer-lasting solution. They are often used for deeper wrinkles and folds and to add volume to larger areas like the cheeks.

Poly-L lactic acid fillers like Sculptra® are biodegradable synthetic substances that stimulate your body to produce collagen over time. These dermal fillers are used for treating deeper facial wrinkles and folds, providing a gradual and natural-looking result as your body produces more collagen.

Finally, autologous fat grafting uses fat from your body instead of a lab-generated substance. Fat is harvested from one area of the body, processed in the office, and injected into the face during procedures like the ALMI fat transfer. It offers a biocompatible and natural way to restore volume or to contour certain areas.

During your consultation, you and Dr. Sikorski can discuss your goals and concerns and work together to choose the filler that will suit your needs.

How Can Dermal Fillers Help Me Look My Best?

Dermal fillers offer a variety of aesthetic options to enhance facial features and help you look more youthful and attractive. They are most used to help smooth wrinkles and fine lines, especially the nasolabial folds along the sides of the nose to the corner of the mouth (sometimes called marionette lines) or that run from the corner of the mouth to the chin. Hyaluronic acid fillers may also help reduce the appearance of lines around the forehead and eyes.

Dermal fillers can be used to create facial contours, improve profile symmetry, or add fullness and shape to the lips. Hyaluronic acid fillers help reduce fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin texture and hydration in the areas where they are used.

Dermal fillers may also be used to correct minor asymmetries on the nose as an alternative to a rhinoplasty (nose job). They can improve the appearance of certain types of acne scars by filling the depression and smoothing the skin surface.

People in Mission Viejo find dermal fillers offer several benefits, including immediate and natural-looking results with minimal downtime and an enhanced appearance that boosts their self-esteem and confidence.

What Dermal Fillers Cannot Do

Dermal fillers are temporary treatments, and ongoing maintenance is necessary for long-term results. For some people, a surgical approach such as a facelift, brow lift, or eye lift may be the best option. Dermal fillers cannot achieve the same result but may help delay the surgery.

While dermal fillers can help improve facial volume, they cannot correct skin laxity, which may require surgical intervention. Dermal fillers work well on static wrinkles but not on dynamic wrinkles caused by muscle movement, such as frown lines and laugh lines. While dermal fillers in Mission Viejo can help enhance contours, they cannot change the underlying bone structure or improve the appearance of all scars.

What to Expect During Recovery

Recovery time varies depending on the individual and the product used. Most people can resume activity immediately, but you should typically avoid intense physical activity for the first 24 to 48 hours.

Many people initially feel like they have an overfilled appearance in the treated area, but this subsides over a few days. You may experience some swelling, bruising, or temporary numbness in the area. Most of the discomfort or swelling can be alleviated with topical icing, which usually improves within a matter of hours or a day. Recovery from an autologous fat transfer is usually longer and may take several weeks.

Learn More About Dermal Fillers in Mission Viejo

When you struggle with a loss of facial volume or feel you look older than you are because of fine lines and wrinkles, you may find that dermal fillers offer the benefits you are looking for without invasive surgery. We encourage you to call our office today and schedule your consultation with Dr. Sikorski to learn more about how dermal fillers in Mission Viejo can address your cosmetic concerns.