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Are Dermal Fillers Safe?

Over 2.7 million Americans received cosmetic injections with dermal fillers in 2016, according to statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. With so many people seeking non-surgical anti-aging treatments, it should not come as a surprise that dermal fillers are put through rigorous safety evaluations. Patients who want to rejuvenate their wrinkled, thinning skin can expect a safe treatment experience with dermal fillers when administered by an approved practitioner.

Approved Practitioner

The safety of treatment with dermal fillers depends on who administers the treatment. Only an approved practitioner should perform this treatment for you. Patients should never inject themselves and should research the credentials and experience of their practitioner beforehand. All of our dermal filler treatments are performed by Dr. Benjamin Schlechter, our board-certified plastic surgeon.

Safely Approved for Specific Purposes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has analyzed dermal fillers and determined that they are safe and effective for specific treatment purposes. Fillers can be used to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds (e.g. smile lines or crow’s feet), augment thinning areas (e.g. lips and cheeks), correct depressions or other contour deficiencies, and improve volume in the back of the hands. These treatments are approved based on the FDA’s review of controlled clinical studies that confirmed the safe and effective use of fillers in these specified areas. However, all other uses for dermal fillers should be avoided because they have NOT been approved for safety or efficacy. Even if a certain filler can safely augment the cheeks, the same filler could be unsafe for use in augmenting the buttocks.

Risks and Side Effects

Like all medications and medical procedures, dermal fillers come with a few precautions and potential side effects. Common side effects are bruising, swelling, redness, tenderness, pain, itching, or a rash, and these tend to dissipate within less than two weeks. Rarer side effects that have been reported include nodules, infection, open or draining wounds, sores, tissue death, migration of the filler material, tissue damage, injury to the blood supply, severe allergic reaction, or even a stroke. These risks are genuinely rare, especially in comparison to surgical treatments.

A reassuring fact is that dermal fillers would not be approved for use if the FDA wasn’t absolutely certain that the vast majority of people can undergo treatment without serious repercussions. Even the more common side effects are not likely to occur in most patients. If you read the warning labels on any medication in your medicine cabinet, you will see a similar list of side effects that you’ve likely never experienced. Fillers may be regarded in the same way because they have been through the same kind of testing.

Safety Measures

Patients should be careful about how they pursue treatment in order to receive the anti-aging benefits of dermal fillers. Be mindful about the product you select, as there are counterfeit products available online as well as fillers that are not approved by the FDA but are approved in other countries. Patients should discuss with a health care provider the decision to get fillers, and they should learn as much as possible about their chosen filler before undergoing treatment. This will provide peace of mind and put you in the best possible place to enjoy your results.

Injectable Fillers Are Safe Anti-Aging Treatments

Dermal fillers are widely used for their anti-aging benefits. These treatments can successfully erase many facial wrinkles and restore smooth, even, and younger-looking skin. Fillers can also reverse age-related volume loss and recapture defined and youthful facial contours. With the right filler administered by an approved practitioner, you can enjoy the fullest advantages and rejuvenate your appearance without having to undergo surgery.