Types of Facial Fillers

Smile lines, wrinkles and folds are inevitable signs of aging skin. However, facial fillers can help reduce and sometimes even erase them. You can also use facial fillers to add volume to the lips, repair scars and soften facial imperfections. Facial fillers now come in a variety of materials. Your dermatologist can help you select the facial filler that's right for your skin type and your budget.

Collagen

Collagen is the main protein found in skin and connective tissue, according to a review of injectable fillers published in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery. Bovine collagen from cows, porcine collagen from pigs and even human collagen are used to plump the lips, erase crow's feet and treat frown and smile lines. Some forms of collagen cause allergic reactions in susceptible people, so your doctor will perform a skin test before using them. Like other facial fillers, your doctor injects collagen with a syringe and needle. No anesthetic is necessary since collagen products contain lidocaine, a numbing agent. The procedure generally takes under an hour.

Hyaluronic Acids

Hyaluronic acids are naturally present in the connective tissues of the body, including the skin and cartilage. Hyaluronic acids serve to lubricate, hydrate and stabilize the connective tissues. Aging skin contains diminishing amounts of hyaluronic acids, so this kind of facial filler serves as a replacement for a naturally occurring substance in the body. The hyaluronic acids used in facial fillers are artificially synthesized. Products containing hyaluronic acids are currently the most popular facial fillers on the market, according to Donald Buck and colleagues in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery.

Synthetic Polymers

Synthetic polymers have been in use as facial fillers for many years. The Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery explains that there are several types of synthetic polymer fillers, including silicone, a substance no longer used for cosmetic purposes. These compounds are becoming increasingly popular for several reasons. They're often less expensive and tend not to cause allergic reactions. According to the website SmartSkinCare.com, they also are associated with more lasting results than other kinds of facial fillers due to the fact that they're less biodegradable and won't break down under the skin.

Autologous Fat

Autologous fat, removed from the patient's own body, is sometimes used to add volume to sunken or emaciated areas of the face or to plump the skin where desired. The fat is often removed from the thigh, abdomen or buttocks. The autologoous fat is cleansed and then re-injected into the target areas of the face. The procedure can be painful, but because the fat isn't a foreign substance, there is much less risk of adverse reactions, according to SmartSkinCare.com.