Dermal Filler
An injectable implant material placed into or beneath the skin to restore volume, correct contour deficiencies, or efface lines and folds.
Full Definition
Dermal fillers encompass a broad category of injectable substances—including hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, poly-L-lactic acid, and polymethylmethacrylate—used to augment soft tissue and address volume loss associated with aging or lipoatrophy. Regulatory classification differs by jurisdiction: in the United States they are FDA-regulated devices, whereas in the EU they are classified as medical devices under CE marking frameworks. Editors must distinguish 'dermal filler' (the generic category term) from specific product names and from 'biostimulator', which denotes an overlapping but mechanistically distinct subgroup. The plural 'fillers' is acceptable in clinical and editorial shorthand. Brand names such as Juvederm and Sculptra must be capitalised and, on first use in promotional material, accompanied by the appropriate trademark symbol.
Usage
Usage note: When editing promotional copy, verify that specific brand names of dermal fillers are appropriately trademarked and not used generically.
In Context
- "The regulatory submission must specify the exact composition of each dermal filler product rather than using the generic category term alone." — Regulatory submission document
- "Editors reviewing clinic websites should ensure 'dermal filler' and 'botulinum toxin' are not used interchangeably, as they are mechanistically distinct." — Clinic website copy