How Often Should You Consider Getting Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers have become a popular non-surgical solution for addressing a range of cosmetic concerns, from reducing wrinkles to enhancing facial contours. While they offer remarkable results, a common question many individuals have is, “How often should I consider getting dermal fillers?” The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all and depends on several factors, including the type of filler used, your body’s natural metabolism, and your aesthetic goals. In this blog post, we’ll explore these considerations to help you make an informed decision about the timing of your dermal filler treatments.

Understanding Dermal Fillers

Before diving into how often you should consider getting dermal fillers, let’s first understand what they are and how they work. Dermal fillers are injectable substances, often made of hyaluronic acid or other biocompatible materials, that are used to add volume, smooth lines, and enhance facial features. They work by replenishing lost volume, stimulating collagen production, and hydrating the skin.

Factors Influencing Frequency

  1. Type of Filler: Different fillers have varying durations of effectiveness. Some may last six months, while others can provide results for up to two years or more. It’s essential to know which filler you’re using and its expected longevity.
  2. Metabolism and Lifestyle: Your body’s natural metabolism plays a role in how quickly your body breaks down and absorbs the filler. Additionally, lifestyle factors like sun exposure, smoking, and alcohol consumption can impact how long the results last.
  3. Aesthetic Goals: The frequency of dermal filler treatments also depends on your personal aesthetic goals. Some individuals prefer a more subtle look and may need treatments less frequently, while others seek more dramatic results and may choose to have treatments more often.

Recommended Frequency

The recommended frequency of dermal filler treatments can vary widely among individuals. Here are some general guidelines:

  • Initial Series: Many people opt for an initial series of treatments spaced a few weeks apart to achieve their desired results. After this, maintenance treatments can be less frequent.
  • Maintenance: Maintenance treatments are typically needed to sustain the results. Depending on the filler used, this may be every 6-18 months.
  • Consultation: The best way to determine the ideal frequency for your dermal filler treatments is to consult with an experienced practitioner. They can assess your unique anatomy, discuss your goals, and create a personalized treatment plan.

Dermal fillers are a great way to improve the look of your skin. You can plump up thinning lips, reshape your jawline, smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, correct under-eye bags and much more! You can even get a “liquid nose job” using hyaluronic acid fillers.

It’s no surprise that dermal fillers are the number one cosmetic procedure. We can do a lot with dermal fillers to help you look younger or enhance your beauty. Not to mention, fillers don’t require downtime and provide quick results.

That said, something many fail to keep in mind is that there are good, better and best times to book your filler appointment. Additionally, fillers can often require multiple appointments for desired results and also need retreatment once the filler has dissipated.

In this article, we will discuss when it is best to schedule your initial filler appointment, five scenarios in which you might want to reschedule your filler appointment, and a timeline for any retreatment appointments you might want in the future.

Dermal fillers offer a versatile and effective way to enhance your appearance, but how often you should consider getting them depends on various factors. By understanding the type of filler, your body’s metabolism, and your aesthetic goals, you can work with a skilled practitioner to create a treatment plan that keeps you looking and feeling your best. Always remember that individual results may vary, and it’s essential to consult with a qualified professional for personalized guidance.

Scheduling Your Fillers

Fillers are used to fill out your lines and wrinkles. They can also be used to help plump up the shallow or sunken parts of your face. Regularly using fillers can also help in the prevention of lines and wrinkles. These exciting changes may persuade you to schedule your first appointment as soon as possible.

We don’t blame you for being eager, but there are a few reasons why you may want to hold off or reschedule an appointment.

1: Do Not Book Your Filler Appointment Until You’ve Had A Consult To Discuss Your Medical History and Allergies

The most popular cosmetic fillers are made out of hyaluronic acid gel. The ingredients in this gel are also found in our skin. There are also synthetic fillers made in a lab with no naturally occurring elements. One potential issue with synthetic fillers is that an allergic reaction is possible.

During your consultation, our specialists will discuss your medical history, including any allergies you know of. It is imperative to tell us about anything you feel may affect your filler procedures. If you have left out important medical information or are unsure, it’s best to book a consultation and reschedule your actual appointment until after we’ve had a chance to chat.

2: Reschedule Your Filler Appointment If You Are Pregnant

Another reason to postpone or reschedule a filler appointment is if you find out you are pregnant or if you are breastfeeding. Dermal fillers are very safe, but there haven’t been many clinical studies on pregnant or breastfeeding women to know whether or not fillers could have any adverse effects on the baby. You can speak with your doctor, but waiting until your child is born and/or weaned before you make your appointment might be safer.

3: Reschedule Your Filler Appointment If You Have An Infection

You should also pick a different appointment time if you have any type of infection. When the doctor injects the filler, if you are sick with an infection, it might increase the risk of the injection site becoming infected as well. Even if it’s not an infection, it is always best to reschedule your appointment if you feel under the weather.

4: Do Not Book Your Filler Appointment If You Are Visiting Your Dentist

You should reschedule if you have dental work coming up within 14 days of your filler treatment. Although rare, dermal fillers can migrate within the skin if consistent pressure is applied to the treatment area. The dentist will be pulling and pushing on your face, which could cause the filler to shift or dissolve quicker than expected.

5: Reschedule Your Filler Appointment If You Have An Upcoming Massage or Facial

Like going to the dentist, facials and massages require pressure on the face. Even if they aren’t massaging your face, lying with your face down can create lots of pressure. For this reason, we advise patients to not get a facial treatment or massage for two weeks following getting filler.

We want you to be happy with your dermal fillers, and your safety is our primary concern. If at any point you are worried about a potential risk factor, please reach out to the professional staff at The Lett Center to discuss your options. You can always reschedule your dermal filler appointments!

You Might Need To Schedule A Follow-Up Filler Appointment

Dermal fillers are an easy in-office treatment that can usually be performed in about 30 minutes to an hour. Dermal fillers work very quickly. You will notice a difference as soon as the filler is injected. That said, these injectable treatments take a little time to fully integrate into your tissues and settle, so you won’t see the full effect for about two weeks.

For this reason, if it’s your first time getting a dermal filler treatment, you might want to play it safe and have our board-certified injectors use less product during your first visit, wait two weeks, and if the results aren’t as dramatic as you were hoping, you can easily revisit for more injections. It is better to underfill than overfill!

We suggest you make a follow-up appointment roughly two weeks later in case you want a little more or have any concerns you wish to discuss with your injector. You can always cancel your follow-up appointment if you are happy with your results!

Don’t Forget To Book Your Filler Retreatment Appointment

Dermal filler is not permanent. It is a temporary treatment. How long your filler lasts depends on several factors. It is a wide range. Some fillers only last 6-12 months, while others can last up to five years!

No matter what type of dermal filler you use, retreatment will eventually be needed if you want to maintain your desired results.

It’s important to note that retreatment appointments differ from the follow-up appointments outlined above.

Follow-up treatments should be booked a few weeks post-treatment. During follow-up appointments, you aren’t getting re-treated. The purpose of a follow-up is to check in with your injector to ensure your treatment results turned out as desired and to address any concerns you might have.

A retreatment appointment is when your filler has lost its effects, and you are ready to have it done again. Many choose to wait until the filler has noticeably dissipated, while others prefer to come in a little before. Either is fine!

Here are the five primary factors that will determine when you should book your retreatment appointment.

  1. The Type of Filler Used: There are several dermal fillers on the market and some last longer than others. The reabsorption rate ranges anywhere from 4 months up to 2 years.
  2. The Location of the Injection: Some injectables wear off more quickly in areas of the face that are more active. On the contrary, they will last longer in less mobile areas. For example, your face is most active around the mouth. Lip filler or filler to correct marionette lines might need a touch-up after 3-6 months. Whereas filler placed deep in your cheeks or the tear troughs can often last a year or more.
  3. Dosage of the Injection: Small dose injections will dissipate more quickly than larger doses. Areas that require multiple injections placed closely together will also last longer.
  4. How Well You Hydrate: Hyaluronic-based fillers work by using the water naturally stored in our tissues. Hyaluronic acid loves water! The more hydrated you stay, the better! Drinking lots of water following your dermal filler treatment can keep your skin hydrated and enhance the effect of hyaluronic acid fillers.
  5. The Speed of Your Metabolism: Genetic factors, age, and even how active you are might influence the rate at which your injectables dissipate. The correlation mostly has to do with the speed of your metabolism. The same bodily mechanism that determines how quickly you metabolize calories can also determine how fast your filler will break down.

You probably have a fast metabolism if you are young or workout a lot. For this reason, your filler might break down more quickly. We obviously don’t suggest that you stop exercising! The fix could be as simple as using a different brand of filler. For unknown reasons, some patients metabolize filler brands more quickly. If you notice your filler isn’t lasting as long as you would like, try a different brand next time!

Schedule Your Dermal Filler Appointment in Middle Tennessee

We can do many things with dermal fillers to help you look younger, more refreshed, or even reshape your face.

The best way to ensure you will love your results and lengthen the time between retreatment appointments is to choose a board-certified, experienced injector. Our experienced staff here at The Lett Centre know that appropriate filler dosing and precise filler injecting lead to more natural and longer-lasting results.

Call today to book your dermal filler consultation or appointment with our experienced and friendly staff at our Mt. Juliet, TN or Lebanon, TN, location.