Dermal Fillers Q & A

What are dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers are injectable gel fillers made from naturally produced active ingredients that help diminish facial lines and replete volume loss to your facial features. As you get older, your face loses fat underneath the skin, which makes your facial muscles and skin come in contact with each other more. This diminished volume causes wrinkles and facial lines in the face. 

Dermal fillers can help treat early signs of aging, sun damage, and facial lines, or improve your facial features by adding volume to thin lips and shallow cheeks.

How do dermal fillers work?

First, Dr. Cheng cleans your face with antiseptic solution, marks the injection sites, and numbs the treatment area with a topical or local anesthetic. The injection of the filler itself can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as an hour.

After Dr. Cheng injects the dermal fillers, she cleans the injection site thoroughly again and provides you an ice pack to relieve any swelling. It’s normal to feel mild tenderness for a day or two follow following the procedure.

What dermal fillers do you offer?

Dr. Cheng offers a selection of fillers to treat various facial areas, including: 

Juvederm Ultra XC and Juvederm Volbella: plump your lips and improve lines around the mouth

Juvederm Voluma XC: adds volume to your cheeks

Juvederm Vollure: improves the appearance of facial wrinkles and folds

Radiesse: reduces the appearance of wrinkles in hands and other body areas

Hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that provides your skin with moisture-retaining nutrients, is the active ingredient in the Juvederm fillers Dr. Cheng uses. 

Radiesse fillers are made with calcium hydroxylapatite, which contains skin-healing minerals and proteins. Dr. Cheng sometimes uses these fillers for non-facial treatments on a case-by-case basis.

Are dermal fillers safe?