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
