Dermal fillers do a remarkable job of erasing wrinkles, enhancing facial contours, and making you feel great about your appearance.
The results last a long time — six months to two years or longer, depending on the filler — but dermal fillers slowly disappear. That’s why many patients at Allure Dermatology Franklin Square wonder if they can prolong their results.
Our team answers that question with the following five tips for getting the most out of your dermal filler.
Dermal fillers need time to settle in place. Pressure can force the newly injected filler to spread, moving away from the injected area and diminishing your results.
If you want to prolong your filler results, you should avoid anything that puts pressure on the injection areas for at least several days and possibly longer.
We may suggest that you prevent pressure for up to several weeks because most fillers take that long to settle in the surrounding tissues.
Don’t rub or itch the area. Put off other facial treatments. And be careful with heavy eyeglasses, ensuring they don’t push against the treated area.
If you sleep on your side or stomach, we may ask you to stay on your back for a few days. Gentleness is also essential when cleansing and applying makeup.
We’ll give you personalized self-care instructions, including how long to avoid pressure, based on the type of filler you receive and the extent of your injections.
Ultraviolet rays from sunlight and tanning beds break down hyaluronic acid, the main ingredient in most dermal fillers. Exposure to ultraviolet light before the filler settles can reverse the effect of your treatment.
Even if it’s a cloudy day, gently apply an SPF 30 (or higher) sunscreen or use a physical blocker (products containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide). Physical sun blockers are less likely to have ingredients that may irritate the injection area.
One of the benefits of dermal fillers is that you can return to work and most daily activities as soon as you leave the office.
However, there is one exception: You’ll need to postpone intense physical activities. Excessive sweating can delay the time it takes the filler to settle (possibly diminishing your results), while strenuous exercise raises the risk of bruising and swelling.
Activities that raise your heart rate and send more blood through the vessels can cause delayed bruising, even if it didn’t appear shortly after your injection.
Following a good cleansing and moisturizing routine supports your dermal filler. Maintaining well-hydrated skin also helps your filler last longer.
Hyaluronic acid, your skin’s natural moisturizer, keeps your skin moist, pliable, and resistant to wrinkles by absorbing water. Unfortunately, wrinkles appear as you age because your skin produces less hyaluronic acid.
The hyaluronic acid in dermal fillers also absorbs water, pulling it from the surrounding tissues to plump up the area. Your filler lasts longer if you supply hydration by applying moisturizers and drinking enough water.
Each type of filler has an average lifespan, but certain variables affect the speed at which they wear off. For example, where we inject the filler, the amount injected and your body’s metabolism can shorten or lengthen its life.
One of the best ways to extend your results is with a touch-up treatment before the filler wears off. Some people schedule a touch-up as soon as they notice diminished fullness in the treated area, a change that typically appears about halfway through the filler’s expected duration.
Alternatively, you can wait until the filler reaches the end of its anticipated lifespan and schedule a complete treatment.
Call Allure Dermatology Franklin Square or use online booking to schedule a skin evaluation and learn if dermal fillers are the next step for restoring your appearance.
