What You Need to Know Before Getting Dermal Fillers

The earliest and most visible signs of aging occur in the skin. Over time, skin loses its firmness and elasticity, causing wrinkles and sagging skin to develop. Dermal fillers can restore skin’s smooth, structured look for those who aren’t ready to let go of their youthful appearance.

At Kaniff Cosmetic Medical Center in Sacramento, CA, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Thomas Kaniff provides patients with both surgical and non-invasive treatments to let their natural beauty shine through. 

Patients from all over Northern California, including Bodega, Pacifica, San Mateo, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and the surrounding areas, travel to Kaniff Cosmetic Medical Center to benefit from Dr. Kaniff’s expertise.

If you’ve considered dermal fillers to restore your skin’s youthful appearance, you know there’s a lot of information to contemplate. Here’s what you need to know before your first dermal filler appointment. 

Dermal Fillers Are Not the Same as Botox

Dermal fillers support and plump up the skin to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Fillers are not the same as Botox, Dysport, or other neuromodulators. While both dermal fillers and neuromodulators smooth wrinkles, they work differently. 

Neuromodulators interrupt the communication between the nerves and the muscles to weaken the contractions that cause wrinkles to develop. They work on dynamic wrinkles, which are caused by facial expressions and muscle movements and tend to disappear when the face changes.

In contrast, dermal fillers work on static wrinkles, which are moderate to severe wrinkles and folds that don’t disappear when your facial expression changes. With age, the supportive fat pads and collagen in the face begin to dissipate, causing the skin to lose its plump, youthful appearance. 

A dermal fillers procedure allows Dr. Kaniff to restore volume to the facial structure and skin, smoothing lines and wrinkles and lifting sagging skin.

There Are Four Categories of Dermal Fillers

The FDA categorizes fillers based on their main ingredient. Therefore, your dermal fillers results depend on the type of filler chosen.

1. Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Most dermal fillers use hyaluronic acid as their main ingredient. Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by the body, providing lubrication and cushioning to joints and skin. It also attracts and binds to water molecules, increasing the water content in the skin and giving it a youthful glow.

2. Calcium Hydroxylapatite Fillers

Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) also naturally occurs in the body and is a mineral found in bones. These fillers have microspheres of CaHA suspended in a gel carrier substance. The makeup of CaHA fillers allows them to last longer than hyaluronic acid fillers.

3. Poly-L-Lactic Acid Fillers

Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) fillers use the same biodegradable, synthetic material used in dissolvable stitches. PLLA fillers are biostimulatory injectables, which means they stimulate the body to produce new collagen and send it to the injection site.

4. Polymethylmethacrylate Bead Fillers

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bead fillers offer very long-lasting dermal fillers results. PMMA is typically used for depressed acne scars, thin lips, or nasolabial folds.

Choosing the Right Dermal Filler Requires Expert Input

When you arrive for your dermal fillers procedure, you’ll consult with Dr. Kaniff to develop a treatment plan to achieve your desired dermal filler results. Kaniff Cosmetic Medical Center offers a wide variety of fillers because the most natural-looking results may require more than one type of filler. 

The most popular lines of dermal fillers are Juvéderm and Restylane. Both Juvéderm and Restylane are brands of hyaluronic acid fillers that offer a range of products designed for different treatment styles and areas. 

In addition to the Juvéderm and Restylane lines, Kaniff Cosmetic Medical Center offers the CaHA filler Radiesse and the PLLA filler Sculptra Aesthetic.

Dermal Fillers Treat Several Skin Concerns

Dermal fillers are a popular choice to reduce the appearance of severe wrinkles and folds. Patients with frown lines, crow’s feet, marionette lines, and nasolabial folds often choose dermal fillers to plump up the skin and fill in these lines and wrinkles. 

Additionally, dermal fillers restore volume to the skin. As a skilled plastic surgeon, Dr. Kaniff uses fillers to define cheekbones, fill in temples, address sunken skin under the eyes, and provide more structure to a jawline. 

While dermal fillers have become infamous for giving some patients over-plumped lips, when applied correctly, lip fillers can correct asymmetry, smooth lip lines, and restore volume in a natural, subtle way. 

Patients seeking less-common dermal treatments, such as restoring volume to the backs of hands, fixing sagging earlobes, and having non-surgical nose jobs, should only see a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Dermal Fillers Costs May Vary

The treatment plan that Dr. Kaniff develops for you during your consultation will lay out your dermal fillers procedure costs. Determining the dermal fillers cost depends on several factors, such as:

• Type and brand of dermal fillers used
• Injection sites
• Number of syringes needed

Since dermal fillers offer proven, long-lasting results in fighting the visible signs of aging, most patients feel the benefits of the injections greatly outweigh the costs. In addition, patients who choose dermal fillers as an alternative to more invasive surgeries and procedures enjoy rapid results with little to no recovery time. 

Dermal Fillers Require a Skilled Injector

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kaniff is highly qualified to assess patients for cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. Through extensive training and experience, he has developed the necessary skills to see a patient as they are and their potential. 

Due to this unique combination of technical skills and an eye for optimal results, a plastic surgeon is your ideal choice for dermal filler application.  

At Kaniff Cosmetic Medical Center, our offices in Sacramento, CA, are conveniently accessed by patients from Tahoe, Modesto, San Jose, Truckee, the Bay Area, and the Oregon border. If you’re seeking dermal fillers in Northern California and beyond, schedule your consultation with Dr. Kaniff today.