As we age, we begin to notice that our skin does not bounce back as it once did. In terms of skin rejuvenation, many of us will turn to expensive treatments, like chemical peels, microdermabrasion or Botox, to restore that youthful glow. Technology advances have brought a safer, faster and more natural alternative to the market in recent years, that is growing quickly in popularity. The miracle skin treatments of the hour are dermal fillers, a long lasting cure for aging skin.

What Are Dermal Fillers Made Of?

Most dermal fillers on the market today share two common elements, collagen and hyaluronic acid. Both of these ingredients, as well as elastin, appear naturally in our skin. As we age, our bodies stop producing them, and our skin begins to lose its natural elasticity and new skin cell production slows. By reintroducing these elements through the injection of these fillers, production begins again and the fine lines, wrinkles and scars begin to fill in and obtain the appearance of new, youthful skin.

Some products on the market also contain synthetic proteins and other chemicals that may cause an allergic reaction in some patients. Still others are available from mostly natural sources, like bovine cells, that are highly hypoallergenic to use. If there is any doubt as to what is in your filler of choice, ask your doctor to give you a skin test to prevent potential allergic reactions during treatment.

Uses for fillers

Using fillers to erase acne scars has proven to be astonishingly successful. These compounds can help minimize the appearance of acne scars, raising the surface of the epidermis so that it fills in completely around the scar, giving a more smooth and natural appearance.

For fine lines, wrinkles and crows feet around the eyes, fillers have proven to be even more effective than the more expensive treatment known as Botox. Where Botox utilizes a paralytic to smooth out the skin for a short period of time, fillers trigger skin cell growth and production of collagen and elastin for a longer lasting effect. The average patient will see immediate results wherever they are injected and the effects have been known to last six months or longer, depending upon how your skin absorbs the ingredients of the filler.

Benefits

Compared to other skin treatments, using dermal fillers to correct flaws in aging skin has a lot of benefits that other treatments do not. The effects are immediate, within minutes of it being injected during outpatient treatment. Because they incorporate elements already present in skin, they are also much safer to use, with no side effects or bruising. The potency of each injection can be fine-tuned to each patient's needs, less for shallow scars and lines, or greater for deep creases. Unlike other products, the use of these fillers does not mean a return for more injections after a short amount of time, because the effects last far longer, and it takes considerable time for the lines to reappear.