As people get older, they start to lose fat in certain areas and gain it in others. The loss of facial fat, fat in the hands and fat in the buttocks make you look older. Injections that restore volume to the face or hands are meant to reduce the signs of aging.
Typically, patients have a few options when it comes to facial fillers. You can choose an injection made of a synthetic or naturally occurring ingredient or one made from your body’s own fat.
There are several differences between fatinjections and dermal fillers that you should be aware of when deciding which is best for you.
For Non-Surgical Procedures, Here are the Following Ingredients
Dermal fillers can be made of substances that occur naturally in your body, such as collagen or hyaluronic acid, or they can be made from synthetic substances.
As you get older, your body produces less and less of both hyaluronic acid and collagen, which leads to volume loss on the face and the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Fillers that contain hyaluronic acid include Juvederm and Juvederm Voluma.
Another type of dermal filler is made from a synthetic ingredient, poly-lactic acid. Found in ScupltraAesthetic, poly-lactic acid stimulates the production of collagen.
It’s often injected into the area around the mouth to help reduce the look of folds and wrinkles on the sides of the mouth and by the nose. It can also help reduce the look of wrinkles on the chin.
Like poly-lactic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite helps stimulate the production of collagen in the skin, giving the face a smoother and more youthful appearance. The ingredient is naturally produced by the body.
Found in Radiesse, calcium hydroxylapatite is used to treat nasolabial folds, the lines on the side of the mouth, and to add volume to the cheeks.
While the ingredients in dermal fillers can be found in the human body, in most cases they aren’t from your own body. That’s not the case with fat injections. Autologous fat is removed from the body through liposuction, then injected into another part of the body to add volume and to smooth wrinkles. Fat offers two benefits to patients: it helps them reduce unwanted fat in certain areas, such as the thighs and hips, while adding volume to specific parts of their face.
Process
One of the big differences between dermal fillers and fat transfers is the duration of the process. In most cases, an experienced surgeon can inject a dermal filler in about 20 minutes.
Since the fat transfer process also involves liposuction, it can take considerably longer, at least when the fat is first harvested.
Patients also need to have a sufficient amount of fat on their thighs, hips or other area of the body for the transfer to be most effective.
At Dr. Chernoff’s practice, you can either undergo a non-surgical needle aspiration or ultrasound assisted liposuction to remove the fat. The fat is then sent through a centrifuge, which removes blood and other impurities.
After that, it is ready to be injected into the desired areas. You can also have the fat stored for later use.
Risks and Recovery
Both fat injections and dermal fillers require little downtime. You will most likely to need to rest for a few days after the liposuction. At first, the injected area might seem to voluminous or full if you decide to undergo fat transfer.
Your body will absorb some of the fat over time, leading to a less swollen look after a few days. You might need to receive an additional injection if your body absorbs too much of the fat, which is why many patients choose to store some for later.
Side effects are rare for both dermal fillers and fat injections. Swelling and bruising can occur, but usually diminish within a few days. Synthetic fillers can trigger an allergic reaction in some people.
Duration
The duration of results differs based on whether you get a dermal filler or a fat injection. Some fillers only last for a few months. Others can last for up to two years.
The results from a fat injection are permanent. Keep in mind that neither a dermal filler or a fat injection will stop the aging process.
Dr. Gregory Chernoff, a triple board certified facial plastic surgeon, offers fat transfer and injections, as well as dermal fillers, to patients at his Indianapolis, IN, and Beverly Hills, Newport Beach, and Santa Rosa, California, offices.
For an appointment with Dr. Chernoff in the midwest, call (317) 573-8899. If you’re on the west coast, you can call (707) 544-3232 for the Santa Rosa office or (800) 482-5499 for Newport Beach and Beverly Hills.
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