Home Remedies for Wrinkles

Certain wrinkle fillers have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to combat the effects of facial lines. However, as perhaps the majority of us feel quite concerned about our facial appearance seeing it is the most visible part of the body, it pays to do research and understand the benefits but also potential side effects of injectable wrinkle fillers.

These are the specific problems wrinkle fillers are designed to overcome:

Crows Feet: These are the wrinkle lines found in the outer corner of the eyes, often as a result of the aging process.

Deep Smile or Laugh Lines: The are fine lines that can emanate from the corners of the mouth. As the aging process continues, deeper lines may extend from the corners of the mouth toward the nose.

Forehead Furrows: These tend to be deep lines that appear above the nose, in the middle of the forehead in the gap between our eyebrows.

Facial lines seem to become more pronounced as a person gets older, and the double action of aging and sun damage take their toll. A person can look considerably younger by minimizing the prominence of facial lines. Hence the great interest in injectable wrinkle fillers which smooth out the wrinkles for a period of time.

Temporary Vs Permanent Wrinkle Fillers

Many of these wrinkle fillers are what are known as absorbable fillers, meaning they are gradually absorbed by the body and the treatment may need to be repeated after six months or more. There is a permanent solution however which has been approved by the FDA called PMMA (Polymethyl-methacrylate) which contains a resin used in a bone cement orthopaedic surgeons have used for some time when performing joint replacement procedures. PMMA implants are tolerated well by the majority, and any side effects such as minor pain, redness or swelling soon goes after some days.

Back To Absorbable (Temporary) Wrinkle Fillers

Some of the absorbable materials which have been used in wrinkle fillers, and which have stood the test of time, are:

Hyaluronic Acid Gel: Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the skin and these gels have established themselves over a long period of time as a very safe agent for soft tissue augmentation. They are biodegradable and biocompatible and require no prior skin test. Hyaluronic acid gel protects, lubricates, and binds with water to make the skin appear fuller.

PLLA (Poly-L-Lactic Acid): This agent is also biodegradable and biocompatible. It is a synthetic material made from the AHA (alpha-hydrogy-acid) family. It has been safely used in various procedures since the mid 1990′s. The cost can be high.

Calcium Hydroxylapatite: Like the previous two agents, Calcium Hydroxylapatite is both biodegradable and biocompatible. It stimulates the body to produce more collagen, a fibrous type of protein that connects and supports bodily tissue including the skin.

Injecting wrinkle fillers into the skin is an elective procedure. This means it is not life-sustaining, or an emergency treatment but rather a planned procedure to improve the quality of your life through increasing one’s confidence in one’s appearance.

Medical procedures often involve side effects and injectable wrinkle fillers are no exception. These can include: bruising, minor pain, irritation, swelling, tenderness, rash, redness, bumps, and possible infection. Within a week however the side effects should disappear.

Be Careful

While the effects of wrinkle fillers may seem very desirable, namely, a more youthful appearance, it is wise to find a good dermatologist or plastic surgeon and get all the information you can including possible side effects for the specific wrinkle filler you are considering. The doctor or dermatologist you consult will be able to spell out the choices available to you.

Women who are breastfeeding and pregnant women should be aware that the safety of these products is unknown for nursing or pregnant women. Also remember, injectable wrinkle fillers have been tested for safety only on facial areas, not on other parts of the body.

In view of the rigorous testing which takes place for any product which gets FDA approval, it seems men and women who are bothered by facial wrinkles can contemplate receiving injectable wrinkle fillers with a measure of confidence. Just be sure to have a thorough consultation beforehand with the doctor or surgeon who will perform the procedure so you know what to expect in your particular case, in view of your skin condition and the type of wrinkle filler the doctor suggests.