Fine lines may be an inevitable rite of aging, but thanks to the privileged time we live in, this doesn’t mean you have no options available to minimize the issue. Now, anyone looking to subtly restore an effortlessly youthful appearance has a broad palette of options to choose from in the area of dermal fillers. These injections directly and precisely boost volume and attract moisture, reducing fine lines and restoring that plump, smooth, and rejuvenated appearance.
At Zormeier Cosmetic Surgery and Longevity Center of Noblesville, IN, and Danville, IL, we offer a full suite of industry-leading dermal fillers to give you as much freedom and control as possible over your anti-aging treatment plan. Our expert injectors specialize in minimizing fine lines and harmonizing facial aesthetics with fillers to support a natural, refreshed appearance with virtually no downtime. If you’re considering fillers, contact our team, and we will be happy to walk you through the process as we develop a fully customized treatment plan. Until then, this page provides a beginner-friendly overview of everything you need to know about dermal fillers.
What Are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers are injectable compounds used to treat fine lines and wrinkles. They can also increase volume of certain areas (commonly, the lips, under the eyes, and the cheeks) to increase facial symmetry and/or improve aesthetics per each patient’s preferences. This is a non-surgical treatment that uses a very thin needle, and is favored by a wide range of patients (including those with different skin types).
Dermal fillers use different ingredients and mechanisms to reduce wrinkles and enhance volume. Many of the leading options use hyaluronic acid, a molecule produced naturally by the body that can hold around 1,000 times its weight in water. Though the body eventually breaks down the hyaluronic acid, it can greatly increase the skin’s hydration and volume for months, allowing for natural-looking results.
Other formulations rely on substances like polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), which uses microspheres to create a kind of scaffolding structure that physically supports the surrounding tissue. Finally, there are several other ingredients used in fillers, including collagen and some synthetic ingredients.
Benefits and Applications
Dermal fillers have become an extremely popular alternative to other anti-aging treatments for the following reasons:
- Non-surgical, no downtime
- Quick and convenient treatment sessions
- Highly effective at reducing fine lines
- Increase lip volume naturally
- Improve skin texture
This treatment offers a highly customizable and affordable alternative to facelifts and other more invasive options. Thanks to their precision, they can make subtle or more dramatic changes in one or more treatment areas to improve overall facial harmony and aesthetics.
As we will review below, while side effects are possible, they are very uncommon and easily manageable, which is another reason why people of all different backgrounds, presentations, and preferences opt for dermal fillers. In order to provide you with as much power and flexibility as possible over your anti-aging treatment plan, Zormeier offers many leading dermal fillers to our patients.
Explore Our Suite of Dermal Filler Treatment Options
We currently offer Juvederm, Restylane, The RHA Collection, RADIESSE, and Sculptra filler products. Juvederm and Restylane come with multiple variations to choose from, and all of the above have unique strengths and applications.
Juvederm
Powered by moisture-boosting hyaluronic acid, the Juvederm family of dermal fillers is highly favored for its immediately noticeable and long-lasting effects. Here’s a quick breakdown of each Juvederm formulation we offer:
Juvederm Ultra
Juvederm Ultra is available as Juvederm Ultra XC and Juvederm Ultra Plus XC. While there is significant overlap in terms of the issues they treat and the extent of the results, these two formulations bear some differences that influence their use and benefits. Namely, Juvederm Ultra XC is thinner, rendering it more effective for a variety of shallower fine lines and lip augmentation. Conversely, the thicker consistency of Juvederm Ultra Plus XC allows it to more effectively treat deeper fine lines and more advanced volume loss.
Juvederm Volbella XC
Formulated with a lower concentration of hyaluronic acid than Juvederm Ultra, Juvederm Volbella XC is most often used to provide more subtle volume augmentation and fine line reduction. Where Juvederm Ultra Plus XC can boost lip volume significantly, for example, Juvederm Volbella XC is more effective at smoothing fine lines around the lips with a slight volume boost.
Juvederm Vollure XC
Similar to Juvederm Volbella XC, Juvederm Vollure XC is ideal for slightly enhancing volume while minimizing fine lines, but with more fullness. Vollure XC is most often applied around the mouth and nose.
Juvederm Voluma XC
Finally, Zormeier Cosmetic Surgery and Longevity Center offers Juvederm Voluma XC, which is most often used to recoup volume loss (due to age) in the cheeks. Juvederm Voluma XC adds more fullness than Juvederm Volbella XC or Vollure XC.
Restylane
We offer Restylane-L, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Refyne, Restylane Defyne, and Restylane Silk injections. Like the Juvederm collection, these hyaluronic-acid-based fillers differ in their benefits and applications. They are formulated with lidocaine to reduce pain associated with injections.
Restylane-L
Restylane-L has a thinner and very smooth, gel-like consistency, making it the ideal choice for precise fine-line reduction in various areas.
Restylane Lyft
This formulation is thicker than Restylane-L, making it more effective for targeting areas of more significant volume loss, including the cheeks.
Restylane Refyne and Restylane Defyne
These are unique in their use of “XpressHAn” technology, which allows the gel to be pliable enough after being injected that it can move along with your facial expressions. This makes Restylane Refine and Defyne the ideal choice for various instances of dynamic wrinkle reduction.
Restylane Silk
As the first FDA approved filler for treating lip lines, Restylane Silk has demonstrated its efficacy in this area in clinical studies and in everyday clinical use. This formulation has a low viscosity, allowing it to treat fine lines around the mouth that alternative fillers can’t treat as effectively.
The RHA® Collection
While the RHA® Collection is also formulated with hyaluronic acid, it is unique from other HA-based fillers in how it is produced, allowing it to effectively treat both dynamic wrinkles (those caused from repeated facial expressions) and static wrinkles affecting the lower two thirds of the face. RHA® Collection products include RHA RedensityTM, RHA® 2, RHA® 3, and RHA® 4.
RHA® Redensity
Precisely formulated to address lipstick lines (vertical lines surrounding the mouth), RHA® Redensity produces results for up to a year.
RHA® 2
Where neuromodulator injections like Botox prevent the muscles that cause fine lines (known as dynamic wrinkles) from activating, RHA® 2 treats them without inhibiting any movement. This means you can keep smiling and laughing for as long as 15 months before needing any touch-ups.
RHA® 3
RHA® 3 is particularly effective at treating areas of volume loss, including volume loss itself and any fine lines that result from it. Like RHA® 2, RHA® 3 is also highly effective for reducing the appearance of dynamic wrinkles.
RHA® 4
Finally, RHA® 4 covers a wider surface area in terms of locations of the face that it is effective for when reducing fine lines, including those of the forehead and brow as well as the lower third of the face. This filler is commonly preferred among people looking for a more comprehensive anti-aging regimen.
RADIESSE
Instead of hyaluronic acid, RADIESSE is formulated with calcium hydroxylapatite, a substance normally produced by the body (in bony tissue). This compound is suspended in a gel in tiny microspheres, creating a literal framework on which your body’s collagen can mature.
In addition to the initial volume boost after treatment, this unique formulation allows your skin to continually improve over time as the collagen fibers develop and naturally enhance your skin’s elasticity and plump appearance. Since the collagen remains after the microsphere structure has been broken down by the body, RADIESSE allows for long-lasting and natural-looking results.
Areas and concerns typically treated with RADIESSE include marionette lines, hollowed cheeks, jowls, laugh lines, and on the hands.
Sculptra
Finally, Sculptra offers a bio-compatible solution to multiple common signs of aging with the help of an innovative formulation. This injectable is made with Poly-L-lactic acid, or PLLA. When injected deep into the dermal layers of the skin, PLLA stimulates collagen production, which in turn enhances the skin’s elasticity and texture over time.
Unlike most other dermal filler treatments, which use gel-like substances to provide an immediate volume boost, Sculptra leverages the body’s own healing processes to produce results over time. While the initial results are less apparent, the trade-off is that they are both longer-lasting and potentially more natural-looking.
Pairing Dermal Fillers With Other Treatments
As a non-surgical, cost-effective, and convenient treatment, dermal fillers are easily paired with a variety of other popular anti-aging treatments to great effect. These treatments include, but are not limited to the following:
- Neuromodulator injections
- Chemical peels
- Laser resurfacing treatments
- Microneedling
Each combination offers a unique opportunity to broaden and enhance your results, addressing more aesthetic concerns in the process. Depending on which combination of treatments you choose, your particular goals and preferences, your age and health status, and several other individualized factors, your particular treatment plan will come with its own set of recommendations. Timing and sequencing of treatments can also vary depending on these factors.
Whichever direction you’re looking to lean into, our team at Zormeier Cosmetic Surgery and Longevity Center is here to usher you through the process at your own pace. We will work with you from the initial consultation onward to make sure your needs are met and your expectations are exceeded.
Dermal Filler FAQ
How long do dermal fillers last?
The formulation, area treated, age of the patient, and several other factors can influence how long your dermal filler results last. To provide an approximate range, most patients can expect their results to last between 6 and 18 months.
Do dermal fillers hurt?
Patients rarely report more than mild discomfort as it concerns the treatment process itself. The introduction of lidocaine into several leading dermal filler formulations helps to mitigate discomfort. Many providers also use ice or topical anesthetic products to numb the treatment area.
Will fillers make me look fake?
When carefully and skillfully administered by a well-qualified provider, fillers don’t create a fake or exaggerated appearance. At Zormeier Cosmetic Surgery and Longevity Center, we ensure that every augmentation complements your natural facial geometry for subtle, yet powerful results.
Who is not a good candidate for dermal fillers?
The majority of people in reasonably good health will qualify for this non-surgical treatment. Some issues, including skin infections, bleeding disorders, immune deficiency, and others may affect your eligibility.
What am I supposed to do after my filler appointment?
We will provide you with a simple set of post-treatment guidelines, which commonly include applying cold compresses as necessary to the injection site, avoiding strenuous exercise and certain cosmetics, and more.
Choose Zormeier Cosmetic Surgery and Longevity Center for Natural, Long-Lasting Results
Ready for a change, but not sure where to start? Our team at Zormeier Cosmetic Surgery is here to partner with you in creating a fully customized dermal filler treatment plan.
Contact our office today for a consultation, and we will get you started on your journey towards beautifully renewed skin.
