Summer Bod Season is upon us and, for some, that means celebrating, accentuating and enhancing one’s best features. For those considering between dermal fillers and a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), here’s the distinction: BBL procedure — also called fat grafting — uses the body’s own fat supply, while fillers are injected with foreign chemicals. Filler injections do cost less and are less invasive with a quicker recovery time. But they also come with higher risks because of fewer regulations.
The most common dermal fillers are hyaluronic acid fillers such as Radiesse and Hyperdilute, which advertise as adding more volume and improving skin quality. These require two to three sessions for best results.
Among the most popular fillers is one called Sculptra. FDA-approved since 2004, Sculptra is a poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) filler, or biostimulator, that promotes collagen production in the skin’s deeper layers, providing a lifting effect.
Sculptra treatments are performed five to eight weeks apart, and results are evident as early as one month after treatment, lasting up to two years.
Ideally, new collagen would continue to form even after stopping injections. If time is of the essence and you can’t wait a month for results, Restylane or Juvéderm fillers can provide a more immediate result, and an average duration of 10 to 15 months.
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Hydrogel is another available option, and it got its start as a reparative substance used to promote regeneration in bone, cartilage, and cardiac tissue. As a dermal injection, it produces immediate results and can last up to six months.
As with any filler, Hydrogel results will vary depending on the person and how their body reacts or accepts the injection. Roughly 50 percent of patients experience a fully successful procedure. Those with skin or joint infections at the site of the planned injection or allergies to bacterial proteins and hyaluronate preparations should avoid getting gel shots.
One of the fillers to avoid is silicone, which is not approved by the FDA for any enhancement procedure, not just fillers. Some patients who have gotten silicone fillers have reported chronic health issues like inflammation, tissue loss, and skin color changes.
Others have experienced swelling, which can be caused by an immune response. Silicone-based fillers can be removed from the body by invasive surgical extraction.
It’s strongly advised that anyone electing to undergo a filler procedure should conduct thorough research of their chosen practitioner, the facilities where they practice, and what they use.
Some practitioners who administer filler injections may offer lower fees, but they might not be licensed or may work in nonsterile environments. Any complications arising from unregulated work may result in expensive medical recovery, as has been the case with the surgical removal of silicone.
The risks involved in getting cheaper fillers include infections at the injection site and migration of the filler materials to other parts of the body. Filler migration isn’t exactly rare, but still very concerning.
In milder cases, it may present as swollen or lumpy tissue located far from the initial injection site, and this can be massaged to mitigate the swelling.
In more serious cases, the filler may wander to areas of the body where it doesn’t belong. Lesser experienced practitioners may accidentally inject into the blood vessels, allowing the filler to end up in the heart or lungs with fatal results.
Always confirm that your practitioner uses a good-quality anesthetic 10 to 20 minutes before treatment. Plan ahead for after treatment as well. Most patients should expect to feel minimum pain and discomfort for about three days after, and medical professionals suggest avoiding physical activity, sun exposure or tanning. Most importantly, avoid butt exercises for six weeks to allow the filler to properly settle where it’s intended to.
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