Facial Fillers FAQs
How Do Facial Fillers Work?
Facial Fillers are injected into your skin to push the wrinkle outward, making the skin fuller and the wrinkle less noticeable. The skin is supported and padded. In a sense, we give volume to your skin. Your skin becomes smoother, creating a more youthful appearance. We offer several types of Facial Fillers including Radiesse, JuveDerm and Autologous Fat. In addition, we offer fat transfer techniques to the face to rebalance the face and fill deep creases and depressions.
JuveDerm
JuveDerm is made of Hyaluronic acid, found naturally in your skin and other tissues. It is a very versatile Facial Filler and can be used on almost all deep creases or wrinkle lines. Primarily used in the lower part of the face, it can fill smile folds and lips beautifully. It is great for just outlining the lips for that subtle lip enhancement. JuveDerm treatments last around 9 months.
Radiesse
Radiesse is an injectable Facial Filler that is long-lasting; treatments can last a year or longer. Radiesse is made of microscopic calcium crystals suspended in a gel. Results are visible immediately following the treatment and because it contains no animal products, it is very compatible with the body, and can last longer than some other fillers.
Your Own Fat
The fat in your body can be harvested with a special liposuction technique and reinjected in your face to fill wrinkles, creases and depressions caused by loss of volume. Called “fat balancing”, it provides gradual and significant increase in skin thickness, improving the appearance of folds and sunken areas. The advantage of using your own fat is that it’s your natural filler.
What Do Facial Fillers Treat?
Facial Fillers are for people who are troubled with deep facial lines, creases or wrinkles - the ones you can see even when your face is fully relaxed. They can also be used on any indentation in your skin, such as scars. The most common areas treated are your smile lines. These are the deep lines that extend from the corners of your mouth both up above the corner to the nose and down below the corner into the jaw area.
What Are Facial Filler Treatments Like?
Facial Filler treatments are performed in our office as an office visit. Usually a local anesthetic is administered similar to a dental block. Occasionally, topical creams are also used to numb the treatment area. The Facial Filler is then injected, using a very thin needle, and results can be seen immediately. You can get back to your normal activities the following day.
Does It Hurt and What Can Go Wrong?
Serious complications from Facial Fillers are rare. Many people bruise after the injection which can be quite unsightly and can last for one to two weeks. Ice packs and pressure on the areas right after the treatment can minimize this bruising.
What should I expect from Facial Filler Treatment?
Expect slight redness, swelling, bruising, tenderness or an itching sensation, but minimal pain in the treated area. These resolve quickly. The discomfort is temporary and generally disappears within a few days. How long the filler lasts is variable. This depends upon the filler used and the severity of the wrinkle. For severe wrinkles, surgery is necessary to get the best and longest-lasting improvement.
For more information about Facial Fillers, we encourage you to call to schedule an in-office consultation.