If you are unsatisfied with the contours of your face, deep wrinkles or the fullness of your lips, you may be a good candidate for dermal fillers. Ideal candidates should be physically healthy and non-smokers. Before making the decision to have dermal fillers, you should schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to make sure that this is the right procedure for your aesthetic goals. In some cases, another treatment option, such as fat grafting or another facial rejuvenation procedure, may be the best course for you.

When you schedule a consultation with the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago, you will meet with a board-certified plastic surgeon who will review your medical history and perform a facial balance evaluation to ensure that you are a good candidate for dermal fillers. Your plastic surgeon will discuss your treatment options with you and recommend the type of filler that best suits your goals.

Unlike most plastic surgery procedures, dermal fillers can be administered in-office by a plastic surgeon. There are several types of dermal fillers, which range from semi-permanent to permanent and vary in softness and material. Most dermal fillers are made from natural ingredients found elsewhere in the body, or otherwise synthetic materials that mimic and stimulate the production of collagen in the body.

To administer dermal fillers, your plastic surgeon will mark the appropriate injection sites on your face. Injections take only moments and are relatively painless. The dermal filler is massaged into the injection site, and subsequent injections are made until results are achieved.

Recovery after dermal filler injection is almost immediate, as are the visible results. You may be given an ice pack to reduce swelling. The injection sites will likely feel tender for a couple of days after the injections, but are not typically painful enough to require medication.

With some dermal fillers, you may experience an “overfull” appearance in the treated areas, or hypersensitivity that may seem like an allergic reaction. These conditions usually resolve within a few hours. If symptoms persist, be sure to speak with your plastic surgeon.

Complications from dermal fillers are very uncommon, but there are potential risks associated with any procedure. The risks involved may also vary according to the type of dermal filler used, so be sure to discuss this with your plastic surgeon during your consultation. The risks generally associated with dermal fillers may include:

• Swelling and bruising at the injection site
• Asymmetry
• Lumps beneath the skin
• Changes in skin sensation

Regardless of the complexity of the procedure, always ensure that your plastic surgeon is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons, and that the procedure is being performed in an accredited hospital or surgical facility.

The cost of dermal fillers varies by several factors, so an average is difficult to ascertain. Your location, surgeon, type of dermal fillers, and number of injections required to achieve results will all affect the cost of the procedure. Be sure to discuss costs with your plastic surgeon during your consultation.

If you would like to reduce wrinkles, add contour to your face, or if you want fuller, more voluminous lips, schedule a consultation with the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago. You will speak with a board-certified plastic surgeon who will discuss your particular aesthetic goals and determine if dermal fillers are right for you.