Need a crash course in filler skin care 101? You're not alone. With so many options, many still wonder just what are dermal fillers and how are they used?

"Injectable dermal fillers are soft tissue and wrinkle fillers approved by FDA as medical devices. Generally, these products are injected into the skin to help fill in facial wrinkles, restoring a smoother appearance," explained Food and Drug Administration (FDA) medical officer Janette Alexander, M.D.

These temporary fillers include the following materials:

- Collagen injections, made of highly purified cow or human collagen

- Hyaluronic acid gel, a protective lubricating gel, produced naturally by the body

- Calcium hydroxylapatite, a mineral and a major component of bone

- Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a biodegradable, biocompatible, synthetic material

An remember the FDA has not approved dermal fillers for increasing breast or buttock size or for injections anywhere else than the face.

And as for the risks? "As with any medical procedure, being injected with dermal fillers poses some risks," Alexander says. "You should ask what you can expect and contact your health care professional if you are concerned about a particular side effect."

Check out Part 2 of our story next week, where we talk about the possible side effects to dermal filler.