Bellafill: An Injectable Filler with Staying Power

For a growing number of patients, injectable fillers are an excellent way to add volume to areas of the face, lips and hands. For others it’s a comfortable alternative to a facelift. In each case, the fast-acting dermal injectable is inserted into a muscle under a wrinkle or shallow contour. The result is the relaxation of the muscle under the wrinkle, crease or sagging skin. As the muscle relaxes, the area becomes plump as it fills out the hollowed space.

While dermatologists have safely used the application of dermal fillers to smooth facial wrinkles and lift lines in the cheeks and temple to great client satisfaction, dermal injectables typically have one major grievance. No matter how good the outcome of the dermal filler, the results never last as long as most patients would like. This is because the collagen in dermal fillers is eventually reabsorbed by the body, requiring frequent dermal injections to maintain the desired smooth results. Bellafill is changing the game.

Bellafill: An Improved Dermal Filler

Bellafill (formerly known as ArteFill) is a collagen filler with the added boost of tiny PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) microspheres. These microspheres create a supportive extension to the body’s natural collagen structure. After the dermal Bellafill injection, collagen tissue and blood vessels form a matrix structure around the PMMA of the microspheres. This structure is akin to the framing of a house that’s designed to support walls and a roof. Unlike slabs of wood, the PMMA microspheres are very tiny – so small they are half the diameter of one human hair. When collagen from the injection is re-absorbed by the body, as it does with all dermal fillers, the structure built by the PMMA microspheres remains in place supporting the skin. These structural additions help replicate collagen’s natural cell-strengthening effects found in younger skin. Collagen, the main protein structure of connective tissues, dissipates with age.

Paced and Prudent Application

As with all dermal injections, patients always undergo a skin test to check for skin sensitivity prior to treatment. If no sensitivity occurs, Dr. Vargas will assess the grade (the number of syringes needed for the application) of Bellafill required for each patient’s individual needs. Every injection contains the ratio of 80 percent bovine collagen and 20 percent PMMA microspheres.

Because the microspheres remain, Bellafill injections start off conservatively in order for Dr. Vargas to observe the results over time. Following the in-office treatment, patients can return to normal activities immediately after. Expect to see some redness and swelling at the site of the injection. Bellafill has been safely used on smile lines and facial wrinkles since 2006. These innovative microspheres also have more than 60 years of prior application in the medical industry. Vargas Face and Skin is proud to be the premiere provider of Bellafill in Kansas and Missouri.

At Vargas Face and Skin, Dr. Hannah Vargas is ready to address any surgical or non-surgical cosmetic interests you may have. Her primary focus is to help create a beautiful, natural outcome for your specific goals. If you wish to have an in-depth consultation with Dr. Vargas about QuickLift for men or any other cosmetic procedure, please click here to access our Contact Form page.