Dermal Fillers

Dermal Fillers Salt Lake City & Riverton, UT

One of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the United States, injecting dermal fillers is a minimally invasive technique that erases years from your face. If you want to remove wrinkles, refresh sunken eyes, plump thin lips or even out skin tone and texture, injectable dermal fillers can provide a safe and quick solution.

The natural aging process, along with constant exposure to the elements, gravity, and environmental toxins, causes sagging skin, wrinkles and sunken areas on the face. Face and lip fillers’ ability to restart the body’s natural collagen production process counteracts these effects. There are numerous fillers available, each with a distinct set of advantages and applications to different regions of the face. Dermal filler injection requires training and an artistic appreciation of the face to achieve the results you desire. To ensure ideal results, Dr. Gale performs all injections himself.

Dr. Derrick Gale is a highly experienced, board-certified reconstructive surgeon and fellowship-trained plastic surgeon. This combination of specialties gives him a deep yet artistic understanding of the functionality and aesthetics of the face. As such, he is ideally equipped to advise you on the various dermal filler products available, and how they can best achieve your desired results.

Dr. Gale applying Dermal Fillers

To consult a leading surgeon who regularly contributes to facial surgery scholarship please reach out to Dr. Gale at 801-506-6344 or visit us online to get your dermal filler questions answered. We are located in Riverton, UT, and provide some of the best lip and facial fillers in Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas. 

Meet Dr. Derrick Gale, MD

Customized Consultations, Individualized Results

With a focus on improving both form and function, Dr. Gale applies experienced aesthetic judgment and surgical expertise to achieve each patient’s individual cosmetic and functional goals. While delivering the highest level of care and expertise, Dr. Gale and his team maintain a down-to-earth and comfortable atmosphere to put you at ease. 

What are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers, also known as ‘soft-tissue fillers’ or ‘injectables,’ are increasingly popular, non-surgical, anti-aging cosmetic substances. Over 2.6 million U.S. patients were injected with dermal fillers in 2018, making them the second most popular cosmetic procedure in the U.S. (after Botox ®, a neuromodulator that relaxes the muscles beneath the skin causing the wrinkles).    

Dr. Gale takes great care to place the precise amount of filler so that the patient achieves the desired facial aesthetic. 

What Can Dermal Fillers Do? What Can’t They Do?

Dermal fillers offer semi-permanent solutions to the signs of aging. They can:

  • Add general volume to the face
  • Fill out and plump up the lips
  • Remove frown lines, crow’s feet, marionette lines, smoker’s lines
  • Define jawlines, cheekbones and other facial contours 

In some cases, dermal fillers may not be the best option. Some more advanced stages of aging like sagging skin may require a facelift. The facelift does more than tighten skin, however. It can reposition muscles to provide more youthful contouring under the skin.

 In the cases of “dynamic wrinkles,” where the wrinkles are caused by muscle contractions beneath the skin, neuromodulators like Botox and Dysport ® work better.

What are Dermal Fillers Made From?

Dermal fillers can be made from several different compounds, each with their own unique benefits.

Dr. Gale applying Dermal Fillers to patient

Most dermal fillers are made from hyaluronic acid – a compound that naturally occurs in our body. Hyaluronic acid is a water-retaining molecule, meaning it attracts and holds moisture. As we age, our body’s ability to produce hyaluronic acid diminishes, causing dull, sagging skin and wrinkles. Manufacturers have successfully suspended hyaluronic acid molecules in an FDA-approved matrix that also fills. 

Hyaluronic acid fillers include brand names such as Juvederm®, Restalyn®, Elevess®, Prevelle®and Puragen® – products that are great for;

  • Reducing finer wrinkles, such as crow’s feet around the eyes
  • Eliminating acne and other small scars
  • Reducing smoker’s lines

Radiesse® is a popular brand of this type of filler. 

A naturally occurring product in human bones, calcium hydroxylapatite has a long safety record in dentistry and reconstructive surgery. These fillers offer a more robust, ‘heavy-duty’ solution than hyaluronic acid fillers. They are ideal for:

  • Eliminating marionette and forehead frown lines
  • Filling out severely sunken cheeks 

Both hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxylapatite fillers will eventually dissolve into the body from six months to one year after being administered. As such, they require touch-ups and multiple appointments to maintain their results. 

Some patients request more permanent results, and these can be achieved with different fillers.

These dermal fillers offer a more semi-permanent solution to enhancing facial contours, jawlines, cheekbones, and scarring. Brand names such as Bellafill® and Aquamid® are highly reputable, and results may last up to five years. The downside to these products is that results from these products take up to three months to fully reveal themselves. 

Which type of filler best suits you will depend on your desired outcomes and circumstances. The different properties of the dermal fillers that are available make it crucial that your doctor is highly experienced and fully understands the nuances associated with each product. 

Moreover, while it is true that the procedure for administering dermal fillers is relatively straight forward, you should ensure your doctor is fully certified and experienced. While infrequent, there are some potential risks associated with dermal fillers, and only trained medical professionals are equipped to handle such outcomes.

Dermal fillers have become an unregulated aspect of the cosmetic industry. This is due to the commercial availability of the products and the nature of the treatment. 

When administered by an untrained individual, the risks associated with dermal fillers become far more likely. These risks include;

  • Bruising, swelling, bleeding and infection at the injection location
  • Possible scarring due to skin damage
  • Itching, rash, and allergic reaction 
  • Asymmetry and unnatural results

However, if you ensure your doctor is trained and experienced, it is highly unlikely that you will experience such complications. 

Dermal Filler FAQs

If you are concerned about signs of aging, have realistic expectations for the outcome of the procedure, and have a generally healthy lifestyle, dermal fillers can provide you with an ideal solution to restoring youth and vitality to your face.

Yes. Dermal fillers increase the volume of the injection site to eliminate wrinkling. Botox and Dysport work in a completely different capacity and neutralize the muscles responsible for wrinkling. 

Depending on the number of units necessary, a dermal filling appointment generally takes no more than twenty minutes.

While you may experience some slight swelling, you can generally resume your day as normal straight after your appointment. Depending on the type of filler, it may take several days to several months to fully realize the results. 

The number of units necessary determines the cost of treatment. Consult with us to learn which type of filler will best suit your needs and how much of the product will be required to get an accurate price for your treatment.

Dermal Fillers in Riverton UT and Salt Lake City, UT

The aging process is inevitable. How you deal with your age, however, is up to you. If you would like to discuss dermal fillers as a counteractive measure to the passage of time in Riverton and Salt Lake City, UT, consult Dr. Derrick Gale at the Ear Nose and Throat Centre of Utah to receive expert advice and the best results. Reach out to us on 801-506-6344 or visit our website to arrange your consultation or ask us any questions.