Dermal fillers offer the promise of a more youthful appearance with little downtime, no anesthesia, and no surgery. With injectable dermal fillers, you can enhance your facial contours, erase wrinkles, and fill in hollows and volume loss from aging.
How Do Injectable Facial Fillers Work?
Injectable fillers are administered on an outpatient basis in your doctor’s office. Treatments are fast, and there typically is no need for any type of anesthesia. If necessary, nerve blocks are available to minimize discomfort during the injections. After determining which injectable filler best suits your needs, your skin is thoroughly cleansed. Then, the filler is carefully injected into precise areas of the skin to smooth out lines, wrinkles and add volume. Each treatment takes only a few minutes. Upon completion of your treatment, our spa staff ensures that you are not experiencing major discomfort and provides camouflage makeup, if needed.
Am I a Candidate for Injectable Dermal Fillers?
Injectable fillers are generally safe, and many people who are unhappy with their signs of aging are good candidates. Because there are numerous options available, it is possible to find a filler that is appropriate for nearly any patient. During your initial consultation, be sure to let your doctor know about any health conditions you may have and any medications you are taking. Patients taking aspirin are at a higher risk of bruising. It is recommended that aspirin be stopped about ten days prior to a treatment.
“DI would like to say again how wonderful my experience has been meeting Dr. Schlechter and having him take care of my little issues! I don’t look tired anymore…and I feel he has a great understanding of Sculptra, Juvederm, and Botox and their many uses!” – NM
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Types of Injectable Fillers
There are many different fillers to choose from, and they do not all work the same way. Each filler listed below has a specific purpose in rejuvenating the appearance of the face. The fillers used at Dr. Schlechter’s Spring Ridge Plastic Surgery practice are the most popular and widely used dermal fillers in the United States.
Radiesse®
RADIESSE® is a wrinkle filler that replenishes lost volume in the skin. This injectable is made of calcium-based microspheres suspended in an aqueous gel solution. This gel acts as a scaffold under the skin, providing structure and stimulating collagen growth over the following months to enhance the initial effects of the treatment. RADIESSE® is used to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles, including smile lines and other wrinkles around the mouth and chin. It can also correct volume loss on the back of the hands.
Sculptra® Aesthetic
Sculptra® Aesthetic is a sculpting agent that restores volume to correct the signs of facial fat loss. This injectable is made of poly-L-lactic acid and is injected deep into the dermis to stimulate collagen renewal. It is used to fill out facial hollows, deep smile lines, marionette lines, and wrinkles on the chin. Sculptra® Aesthetic provides a gradual and significant increase in skin thickness to improve the appearance of folds and sunken areas. Typically, multiple treatments are required to achieve the desired result.
Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
These fillers are made of hyaluronic acid (HA). This sugar molecule is naturally found in the body and binds moisture to keep the skin smooth and plump. Each of these fillers has a different formula of HA, and their differences allow them to rejuvenate the face in diverse ways.
Belotero Balance®
BELOTERO BALANCE® is a smooth injectable gel filler that can enhance skin volume and smoothness. It is most effective in reducing fine lines and superficial wrinkles above the upper lip and enhancing the softness and volume of the lips. BELOTERO BALANCE® is also a good choice for treating crow’s feet, fine lines on the forehead and cheeks, and shallow acne scars anywhere on the face. With its unique formula of hyaluronic acid, BELOTERO BALANCE® spreads between the collagen fibers of your skin more evenly than other fillers, producing a soft, smooth result. It is an excellent filler for thin, delicate skin.
Juvederm®
One of the most popular dermal fillers on the market today is JUVÉDERM®, a smooth consistency gel filler that can instantly restore volume and smooth away wrinkles. The smooth, natural-looking results of JUVÉDERM® help you look younger without looking like you’ve undergone treatments. The JUVÉDERM® family of fillers includes:
- JUVÉDERM® XC (erases lines and wrinkles)
- JUVÉDERM VOLLURE™ XC (erases lines and wrinkles)
- JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC (enhances cheek volume and contour)
- JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC (enhances lip fullness and smooths facial lines)
- JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® XC (enhances lip volume and smooths vertical lip lines)
Restylane®
Restylane® is derived from non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) gel, which means it contains no animal products. This clear gel reduces facial wrinkles and enhances volume lost with age. Restylane® fillers include:
- Restylane® (treats wrinkles around the mouth, hollows under the eyes, volume loss, and lip lines and wrinkles)
- Restylane® Silk (treats perioral lines and enhances lip fullness)
- Restylane® Lyft (formerly Perlane-L®, treats deep facial folds and cheek volume loss)
- Restylane® Refyne™ (softens smile lines and marionette lines)
- Restylane® Defyne™ (smooths deep smile lines and marionette lines)
Recovery from Injectable Fillers
Unlike surgical procedures, there is no lengthy downtime following treatment using injectable fillers. The majority of patients are able to immediately return to work and other daily activities. You may experience some mild swelling or bruising, but these side effects clear up quickly. Depending on which filler you choose, the results can last anywhere from nine months to two years. As the filler wears off, follow-up treatments are needed to maintain the full results of the operation.
