Collagen & Dermal Fillers
Restore a Smoother, More Volumized Appearance with Injectables in Albuquerque, NM
Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers from our Albuquerque, NM-based practice are treatments with a specific goal: to restore volume and fullness to the face. These injectables can reduce facial wrinkles and creases for patients who want to address early signs of aging, enhance the contours of the face, address hollows, and more.
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Want to learn more about addressing collagen loss and adding volume with dermal fillers at Albuquerque′s Western Dermatology Consultants? Call us at 505-855-9267 or fill out a contact form online to request a consultation.
What Are Dermal Fillers?
Patients—and especially those who are new to cosmetic treatments—will often ask, “What are dermal fillers and how do they work?”
Dermal fillers, also known as facial fillers or injectable fillers, are minimally invasive injectable treatments typically made up of natural or synthetic soft, gel-like substances to be injected under the skin. The goal is to create a smoother surface, a fuller appearance, or both.
Although there are many options, hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers are the most popular type available. Dermal fillers that contain hyaluronic acid can quite literally “fill” the skin to boost volume and smooth out lines, wrinkles, and folds.
Dermal fillers are highly versatile treatments that can be tailored to each patient’s unique needs and goals.
Dermal Fillers: What Maintains the Skin’s Firmness and Elasticity?
Patients considering dermal fillers are often curious about the role of collagen in the aging process. Over the years, as people lose collagen, hyaluronic acid, and other beneficial components from their skin, wrinkles may begin to develop. The shape of the face may also change as certain areas become flattened or hollow and the contours of the face become less defined. For example, the lips may become thinner, or the cheeks may develop a gaunter appearance.
Although wrinkles can add character to the face and reflect a life well-lived, many people are self-conscious about the age-related lines or wish that their outer appearance was a better reflection of how they feel inside. Dermal fillers can restore a smoother, younger, and more vibrant appearance by adding volume and lift.
Collagen
If you have firm, smooth skin, you can thank collagen for it. The protein works to support a variety of organs throughout the body, providing both structure and flexibility. The same component that helps to give bones their strength keeps your face looking youthful and healthy.
While everyone’s bodies generate collagen naturally, production of the vital protein begins to slow over time. UV radiation from sunlight and other factors can damage collagen, changing it from a pliant element in the skin to a brittle one. People in their 20s may find that their skin is beginning to show signs of wear as damaged collagen is replaced by new collagen at ever-slowing rates. Collagen production typically stops in a person’s 40s.
A reduction in healthy collagen creates two problems.
- Once-resilient skin now lacks the ability to fully smooth out again after being pushed into folds, leading to the formation of wrinkles. Think of skin full of healthy collagen as a soft cloth. If you push it into folds, then pull it flat again, it will look the same as it did before. Now, consider skin with lowered collagen levels to be a piece of paper. If you push it into folds, then pull it flat again, you will still be able to see lines where the folds happened. Repeated folds will eventually turn faint lines into creases.
- Areas of the face that once enjoyed a vital volume begin to flatten and sag, creating hollow areas that can make a face appear sunken or gaunt. This change due to collagen loss is especially apparent in the cheeks.
Elastin
Collagen isn’t the only component of healthy skin. Elastin is another element that provides structure. It’s responsible for providing both stretch and elasticity. It acts something like a rubber band, allowing your skin to stretch and shrink back. Although young skin contains plenty of elastin, the molecule declines as we age, leading to decreased skin elasticity.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid also serves to keep wrinkles at bay by ensuring the skin stays properly hydrated. Similar to collagen, the production of hyaluronic acid diminishes over time, so skin gradually loses its moisture-retaining abilities and dries out. The resulting wrinkles and other aesthetic issues can be hastened by sun damage and a lack of proper skin care.
In addition to the depletion of collagen and other components, some subcutaneous fat is also naturally lost from the face.
With all of this in mind, many patients ask: Is it actually possible to reduce wrinkles? One of the most effective ways of addressing volume loss that occurs due to the depletion of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid from the skin is with temporary dermal fillers.
Which Wrinkles Can Be Improved with Dermal Fillers?
Not all wrinkles are the same. There are two main types: static wrinkles and dynamic wrinkles.
Dynamic wrinkles develop due to the skin repeatedly being pulled and stretched by habitual facial expressions and other motions, like squinting. These lines usually only appear when the face is active.
Static wrinkles are deeper, more etched-in lines that develop because of loss of collagen and elastin. They are always visible on the face. Damage due to environmental stressors such as the force of gravity, sun exposure, and air pollution can also cause static wrinkles to occur.
Most dermal fillers are designed specifically to treat static wrinkles on the middle and lower areas of the face, such as around the nose and mouth.
Contact Us
Ready to find out more about dermal fillers? Contact Albuquerque, NM’s Western Dermatology Consultants to request a consultation. Call us at 505-855-9267 or fill out a contact form.
What Is the Juvederm® Dermal Filler Collection?
At Western Dermatology Consultants, we offer the entire Juvederm® line of dermal fillers from Allergan, the manufacturer of BOTOX® Cosmetic.
The Juvederm® collection is Allergan’s family of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers. Each is formulated with a different consistency for specific uses or areas of the face: 1) Voluma®, the thickest and longest-lasting dermal filler, is meant for the cheek or midface. 2) Volbella® is meant for vertical lip lines and subtle lip augmentation. 3) Ultra may be used for moderate nasolabial folds or the lips. 4) Ultra Plus and Vollure™ may be used for nasolabial folds and marionette lines. 5) Volux® is for improving jawline definition.
What Are the Different Types of Juvederm® Fillers?
Allergan’s Juvederm® line is one of the most tried, tested, and true brands of dermal fillers on the market. All formulated from hyaluronic acid, each FDA-approved dermal filler provides the moisturizing and structure-providing carbohydrate back into the skin wherever it may be injected. Some of the dermal fillers focus on smoothing out wrinkles, some focus on adding volume, and some do both.
The members of Allergan’s Juvederm dermal filler line are:
- Juvederm® (Ultra and Ultra Plus)
- Juvederm Vollure™ (or simply Vollure™)
- Juvederm Voluma® (or simply Voluma®)
- Juvederm Volbella® (or simply Volbella®)
- Juvederm® Volux®
Juvederm® Ultra and Ultra Plus
Juvederm®, the flagship or parent dermal filler of the line, comes in two formulations: Ultra and Ultra Plus. Both are FDA-approved to treat moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds (such as nasolabial folds), and last about a year–Ultra is recommended for moderate wrinkles and folds, while Ultra Plus is recommended for deeper ones. Ultra is also approved for lip augmentation.
Vollure™
Vollure™, the latest addition to Allergan’s dermal filler line, is also FDA-approved to treat moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds and can last up to 18 months.
Voluma®
Voluma® is the first FDA-approved dermal filler for the midface and offers the appearance of a cheek lift with a simple injection. After the injection, you will have a very natural-looking cheek lift without the need for surgery. Results from this dermal filler last up to two years. Click here for the complete Voluma® XC PDF download brochure.
Volbella®
Volbella® is FDA-approved for both lip augmentation and treating vertical lip lines. While Volbella® achieves a subtler amount of lip augmentation than Ultra, it is the only dermal filler in the line that can treat vertical lip lines. Both can last up to a year.
Volux™
Juvederm® Volux™ is a dermal filler that enhances the jawline area—one of the most popular areas for patients who are interested in facial rejuvenation treatments. Volux™ received FDA approval for enhancing the lower face in 2022 and became available at our practice as of early 2023. Volux™ is the most robust dermal filler in the collection. It can provide structural support to give the jawline a stronger, sharper, and more well-defined appearance. The results last for up to one year.
Note that Juvederm® dermal fillers with an “XC” in its label contain lidocaine, a local anesthetic that reduces injection-related discomfort, swelling, and bruising.
What Is Restylane® Kysse?
The Restylane® collection is another family of clear, gel-like dermal fillers that are similar to Juvederm® and are also made from hyaluronic acid. Restylane® Kysse is used for injections into the lips to add plumpness and can also soften lines around the upper lip. This dermal filler is designed to last longer in the body compared to your naturally occurring hyaluronic acid.
What Happens During a Dermal Filler Procedure?
Depending on your individual concerns, one or more of these dermal fillers may be used on specific parts of the face. The treatment protocol for dermal filler treatment can be discussed in detail during a consultation. Typically, your injector will administer the first unit dermal filler, then wait to allow sensation in the rest of the treatment area to fade before proceeding with the remaining injections. Patients concerned about potential pain can also request a topical numbing agent to help reduce sensation in the targeted area. Some slight massaging by your injector may ensure that the dermal filler is evenly distributed throughout the face to restore the appearance of natural collagen.
How Soon Will I See Results from Dermal Fillers?
How long does it take to see results from dermal fillers? Simply put, the effects from dermal fillers are visible right away. Patients will see a difference in the treated areas as soon as the filler is injected. Most patients can return to their normal daily activities within 24 hours. Makeup can typically be used after a dermal filler session to cover up any bruising. Other temporary side effects—lasting from a few days to about four weeks—may include tenderness, firmness, swelling, bumps, lumps, and/or discomfort in the treated areas.
Some patients find that follow-up dermal filler treatments after their initial session help to better achieve the results they’re looking for, as well as for maintenance treatments to preserve them long-term.
Beyond Dermal Fillers: Which Other Cosmetic Treatments Give You Smoother Skin?
Patients looking for treatments that don’t involve injections may want to consider some of our other services. Thermage® can remodel existing collagen to smooth out wrinkles, using heat energy to penetrate deep into the skin. Fractional laser treatment also employs heat energy, stimulating production of new collagen for a rejuvenating boost.
Although dermal fillers reduce wrinkles and enhance contours, they won’t address other types of cosmetic concerns relating to the skin tone and texture. Chemical peels and microdermabrasion are skin rejuvenation treatments that can address hyperpigmentation, uneven texture, scars, discoloration, and more, in addition to softening wrinkles.
Dermal fillers reduce static wrinkles, but for wrinkles that are associated with our habitual facial expressions—such as frown lines and crow’s feet—BOTOX® will be the most effective approach. Unlike dermal fillers, BOTOX® is a neuromodulator. Rather than adding volume, this treatment works by relaxing the overactive facial muscles that cause wrinkles.
Contact Us
For more advice about the benefits of dermal fillers, contact our Albuquerque, NM-based Spa at Western Dermatology Consultants. Call 505-855-9267 or submit a contact form to request a consultation online.