Between the Lines

Many men and women who look for a cosmetic surgeon aren’t looking for an extreme makeover, or even a full facelift.  One of the most common complaints of patients seeking cosmetic treatments are those little lines that start appearing in your 30’s and become more common in your 40’s, eventually turning from “lines” into “wrinkles.”  Most patients find that dermal fillers will serve just as well as extensive surgery, without the higher cost or recovery time.

But the question most people want answered before approaching a cosmetic surgeon about dermal fillers is, are they safe?

Dermal fillers such as <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href= >Restylane</a> and Botox have become well-known throughout the US.  The question of how safe dermal fillers are can be a difficult question to answer, partially because with any cosmetic surgery or treatment people may react differently to the chemicals and procedure.

Approved for Human Use

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is the organization which determines which dermal fillers are approved for human use, like Restylane.  In comparison to other countries, the US has a very small number of approved dermal fillers.  This is largely due to the fact that injectable treatments have to undergo extensive testing before they can be approved for human use by the FDA.

Although dermal fillers which are approved by the FDA and not made from animal byproducts are considered safe, it is still possible that you might have a negative reaction to a procedure.  If this happens, you should contact your cosmetic surgeon immediately.  Negative reactions most commonly happen when the filler was not injected correctly, so one of the best ways to insure the correct usage is by working with an experienced cosmetic surgeon who is familiar with dermal fillers and their proper use.  However, most patients never have a negative reaction when treated with Restylane, or other approved dermal fillers.

Steps to Take

The following steps can help you make sure that your procedure will go smoothly:

• Ask your <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href= >cosmetic surgeon</a> which filler he or she recommends
• Follow your doctor’s instructions before and after your procedure
• Contact your cosmetic surgeon immediately if you have a negative reaction

Your best resource for finding out more about dermal fillers, like Restylane, is your cosmetic surgeon.  When you make an appointment, be sure to take a list of any questions you might have.