A woman receiving a dermal filler treatment to her cheek

How Long Do Dermal Fillers Last?

Everyone gets older, but we don’t want to look or feel like we’re getting older. If you’re looking for a noninvasive way to reduce the appearance of aging, dermal fillers are a popular choice. 

Your treatment provider can help reduce wrinkles and fine lines, helping boost your confidence. Dermal fillers can benefit your skin, but how long do their results last? 

Continue reading to learn more about dermal fillers, including what they are, their benefits, and how long their results last. 

What Are Dermal Fillers? 

Dermal fillers have been around for years, helping people reduce the effects of aging on their skin. In 2020, over three million people received dermal filler injections. They can fill in wrinkles and fine lines in a short time, providing smoother, more volumized skin for extended periods of time. 

You need three essential elements to help keep your skin tight and smooth: collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. Unfortunately, these elements lose strength with time, causing your skin to lose elasticity. Wrinkles develop and your face begins to lose volume. 

Dermal fillers help rejuvenate your skin by strengthening these missing elements. They plump your skin tissue to help reduce wrinkles and fine lines, reinvigorating your skin. 

What Are the Benefits of Dermal Fillers? 

Dermal fillers have several benefits—they can:

  • Decrease or remove wrinkles under the eyes
  • Enhance or fill in different areas of the face
  • Fill in or soften recessed scars and static wrinkles
  • Plump your lips

Types of Dermal Fillers

Many dermal fillers exist today to treat different areas of the face. Your treatment provider will choose the most appropriate filler based on your aesthetic needs. The general goal of these fillers is to reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and scar impressions, enhance your lips, and restore volume. 

  • Belotero: Belotero is a filler with a hyaluronic acid base, used to fill in the fine lines around your mouth, known as your smile lines
  • Collagen: Collagen is naturally present in your skin, tendons, & ligaments—these fillers can help treat wrinkles, lines, & scars & enhance your lips 
  • Juvederm: Juvederm has a hyaluronic acid base & can help smooth fine lines & wrinkles, providing a youthful look
  • Radiesse: Radiesse is a dermal filler used to treat the fine lines & wrinkles around your nose & mouth 
  • Sculptra: Sculptra is a filler used to restore volume to areas of your face, smoothing out wrinkles & fine lines
  • Xeomin: Xeomin is an injection used to treat the glabellar lines, the lines on your forehead, between your eyebrows, & above your nose
  • Voluma: A product of Juvederm, Voluma fillers help volumize the cheeks

A man receiving a dermal filler treatment on his face

How Do Dermal Fillers Work? 

Dermal fillers help fill lines and wrinkles in specific facial areas determined by your treatment provider. These fillers volumize your skin, helping plump your cheeks, chin, jawline, and lips. Your treatment provider makes specific injections into the designated treatment areas, and you’re finished shortly after. 

While you should see quick results from your fillers, you may experience some side effects. These effects should naturally subside within one to two weeks. The most common side effects of dermal fillers include:

  • Bruising
  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Tenderness

How Long Do Dermal Fillers Last? 

With so many dermal fillers available today, their results can vary. Different fillers have different ingredients and purposes, making some more long-term than others. 

According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, how long your dermal fillers last depends on the product, the area of treatment, and your body. Your results last longer the denser the product is and the deeper your filler is injected. 

All dermal fillers are temporary, meaning you’ll need repeated treatments to maintain your results. Many common fillers last between six to 18 months, but some products have longer-lasting results. Your treatment provider will recommend the best filler for your needs. 

What to Expect During the Dermal Filler Process

The dermal filler process is fast and simple. Your process begins with a consultation and assessment where you and your treatment provider discuss your goals. They will evaluate your skin and examine the areas of your face you want to be treated.

Your treatment provider will clean your face before completing your injections. Many people receive an anesthetic ointment or injection to help improve comfort during the treatment. While dermal fillers aren’t completely painless, you should only experience a small amount of discomfort. 

Injections take only a few moments to complete. Your treatment provider will inject the filler, massage the area, and evaluate the results. This process can last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the number of injections you need. 

After completing your injections, your provider will explain what to expect as you recover, such as minor side effects. There is nothing to worry about if you don’t enjoy your results—your skin will be back to normal within a few months. 

Feel Confident in Your Skin

Dermal fillers can help your skin look more youthful and smooth. While these fillers are temporary, you can get repeated treatments to maintain your results. 

Contact your skin care expert if you’re interested in dermal fillers. They can discuss your goals with you and address any questions or concerns you may have.