Are Dermal Fillers Expensive?

Beauty seems to come with a price, with available aesthetic procedures having prices that are worth thousands of dollars. While some are willing to shell out money for dermal fillers, this cost might scare off those who want to undergo the procedure. They might even be skeptical, and think first whether or not the price is worth it. 

So are dermal fillers expensive? No, they're appropriately priced because there are certain aspects that must be met before this cosmetic treatment may be deemed successful, such as requiring expertise, careful product selection, patient evaluation and selection, use of anesthetic agents, and use of good injection techniques. It's also guaranteed to be safe and effective especially because it's FDA-approved.

How Much Do Dermal Fillers Cost?

The cost of dermal filler injection is subject to differences based on the expertise and qualifications of the healthcare provider doing the procedure, the type of product and procedure done, how much time and effort are exerted in doing the procedure, and the place where the clinic is located.

The average cost of dermal fillers is priced per syringe, with most patients requiring multiple syringes per application for them to achieve optimum benefits. Examples of typical prices of dermal fillers are as follows:

Product	Average Cost
Calcium hydroxyapatite filler	$717
Fat transfer	$2,508
Hyaluronic acid filler	$684
Polylactic acid	$853
Polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres	$1,058

Dermal Fillers are FDA-Approved

Not all cosmetic procedures in the market are FDA-approved, so it's important to mention that dermal filler injections are FDA-approved. They're approved for use in facial injections, specifically in the following procedures:

• For the improvement of the appearance of wrinkles and facial lines for temporary fillers;
• For the improvement of the appearance of lips, cheeks, chin, and the back of the hand, making them look fuller and more contoured;
• Nasolabial folds and acne scars for permanent fillers;
• For the improvement of the facial fat loss (lipoatrophy) in people living with HIV;

Successful Application of Dermal Fillers Need Expertise

Choosing who to get dermal filler treatments with must be done like how you would choose someone to have surgical treatment with since this non-surgical procedure is still a medical procedure that requires expertise. 

A successful application of the product entails professionals with adequate training and skill with regard to the cosmetic procedure. It also requires sufficient knowledge about the anatomy of the human body, especially in the area in which the procedure will be done.

Whoever you choose, it's best to go for reputable providers with a proven background and credentials in cosmetic medicine, like Dr. Lanna Cheuck who's an Ivy League-trained urologic surgeon and master aesthetic injector, who even provides training for other healthcare professionals. She's even trusted even by celebrities in providing their aesthetic needs.

Successful Application of Dermal Fillers Requires Careful Product Selection

A cosmetic surgeon is the one who will decide what the best dermal filler product will be needed to address your skincare needs. The diagram below illustrates where these professionals usually place the products they choose:

Similarly, it's also good to know what these professionals put in your face. Typical dermal filler products used include hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, collagen-based products, silicone, polymethylmethacrylate, poly-L-lactic acid, and fat transfer. These are constantly being improved to make sure that they're safe and effective for the patient undergoing the procedure.

• Hyaluronic acid - Hyaluronic acid is a hydrophilic product that can maintain its shape by binding to the body's own water content. It's a natural component of the human body that functions for lubrication and shock absorption. This product can be absorbed through time, binding more water as it's absorbed, making the treated area more natural-looking. This product is considered to be the most widely used in the North Americas.
• Calcium hydroxylapatite - Calcium hydroxylapatite works by promoting collagen production in the area applied with this product. It's delivered with a methylcellulose carrier that dissolves through time. This product is the same as the materials found in the bone, but worries about new bone formation in the area treated with this product are unfounded since this process isn't observed upon CaHA injections.
• Collagen-based products - Collagen-based products are made of bioengineered collagen implants. They come with lidocaine, an anesthetic agent, so numbing the area with another anesthetic agent isn't necessary.
• Silicone - Silicone is a permanent dermal filler. Although effective, silicone is yet to be approved by the US FDA for cosmetic use because of complications like granulomas and surface deformities associated with the procedure being done by an inexperienced injector and using adulterated versions of silicone. 
• Polymethylmethacrylate - Polymethylmethacrylate is another permanent filler. It's approved for use by the US FDA and is delivered as tiny round plastic beads surrounded by bovine collagen. It's best used for deeper folds, facial wrinkles, and acne scars.
• Poly-L-lactic acid - Poly-L-lactic acid is the first product approved to also be used for improving the appearance of lipoatrophy in people living with HIV. It works by providing an additional volume to the area applied with the product. It also has long-lasting effects, typically lasting for 2 years after injection. 
• Fat transfer - Fat transfer offers the advantage of having no immunologic rejection as compared to other foreign body fillers. It came from the patient's own fat and doesn't have an allergic reaction. It's gradually becoming popular due to its natural effects, especially when combined with a surgical procedure.

Successful Application of Dermal Fillers Requires Patient Evaluation and Selection

Patient evaluation and selection are necessary for the professional who will be administering the procedure to know which product they'll be using. This enhances patient satisfaction and improves the results of this cosmetic treatment.

This study lists the things to consider in choosing which filler to use for a specific patient, which include the following:

• Patients must have realistic expectations;
• Patients who have already experienced having temporary fillers may go for permanent fillers;
• Patients new to dermal fillers may opt for temporary fillers first;
• Patients who can't tolerate downtime must opt for more superficial products like HA and collagen-based products instead of those placed deeper like fat transfer procedures;
• Patients with simultaneous surgery should opt for fat transfer;
• Older patients are offered more permanent fillers because they have less immune response against foreign body products like dermal fillers compared to younger patients;
• Patients with thin skin should avoid thicker dermal filler products because the skin may appear lumpy with this.

Successful Application of Dermal Fillers Requires Anesthesia

For maximum patient comfort, anesthetic agents must first be applied before injecting the patient with dermal fillers. It's especially important for patients who will undergo lip injections because the lip area is very sensitive to pain thus requiring local nerve blocks. This is in contrast to patients who will undergo treatment under the eyes and may require only a topical anesthetic.

• Topical anesthetics - Topical anesthetics commonly come in creams containing a combination of anesthetic agents betacaine, lidocaine, and tetracaine. They're massaged in the area where the treatment procedure will be done to make the patient feel numb throughout the procedure.
• Icing - Application of ice pack within 1 to 2 minutes is the anesthetic of choice of most patients who prefer it over anesthetic medications. It can also be used to reduce bruising and swelling after the procedure.
• Topical refrigerant spray - A topical refrigerant spray is an agent containing dichlorotetrafluoroethane and ethyl chloride, applied 30 to 60 seconds before the treatment. It works by giving a sensation of coldness to the skin, making the superficial nerves desensitized. It doesn't work for deeper nerves, though, as these still respond to pain.
• Local nerve blocks - Local nerve blocks are typically used for patients who will have lip fillers. The typical agent used is lidocaine, with or without epinephrine, an acidic agent which may have a burning sensation while being injected even when applied with a topical anesthetic agent. Different local nerve block techniques are also employed, such as transcutaneous injection.

Successful Application of Dermal Fillers Requires Good Injection Techniques

Good injection techniques must be employed by an expert injector to make sure that dermal fillers will be successfully applied and that the patient will experience its maximum benefits. Injection techniques that may be done include the following:

• The Threading Method - The threading method may be considered the most popular technique which is best used for lip injections in the vermillion border or the top margin of the lips. This technique entails inserting the needle deeply, into the dermis or the subdermal tissues. A superficial injection is avoided because this will result in a non-appealing effect. This is marked by seeing the needle into the skin.
• The Serial Droplet Method - The serial droplet method is best used for treating glabellar creases or the folds in the forehead seen during aging. The actual treatment is described as inserting the needle deeply towards the deep dermis and delivering a small amount of the product, typically 0.01 to 0.03 mL.
• The Fanning Method - The fanning method is for products placed in the immediate subdermis or subcutaneous tissues. It's the most preferred technique when a patient wants to see the best results that appear most natural-looking and with longer-lasting effects. This technique entails placing the needle at a 30° angle and then depositing the product while the needle is being inserted and withdrawn.

Get Excellent Dermal Fillers that are Worth Its Price at Dr. Lanna Aesthetics

Dermal filler prices could be expensive at first glance, but they're appropriately priced because the quality must not suffer for affordability. Dermal filler injections have different factors that must be met before they're deemed successful, not to mention that this procedure is also FDA-approved so safety and efficacy are ensured.

At Dr. Lanna Aesthetics, we're expert dermal filler injectors with thousands of successful treatments on our record. Our team, led by Dr. Lanna Cheuck, are trained professionals who can help restore your youthful glow. Our cosmetic procedures are worth their price, ensured to be safe and of high quality. Contact us today at (929) 565-7539 for the best dermal filler treatment experience.