Dermal Fillers
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are an injectable substance made up of Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occuring substance in our body. It is injected into the skin at different depths to help fill in facial wrinkles, provide facial volume, and augment facial features.
In the aging process, our skin produces less hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin. With time, this results in wrinkles (smile lines, frown lines, crow’s feet, vertical lip lines, marionette lines, etc.).
Dermal fillers are used to add volume to treat fine lines and even deep lines and wrinkles by filling out sagging skin, enhancing facial contours, and restoring a smoother, more natural look. They can also be used as a lip filler to give more volume to thin lips and other areas of the body such as the hands, feet, and neck.
The benefits of an injectable treatment of hyaluronic acid dermal filler is that it can be done quickly, with little or no downtime, causes only mild discomfort, and gives immediate results — even in the case of deep wrinkles. Moreover, dermal filler cost is only a fraction of that of a surgical procedure.
What to Expect
- The most loved fact about dermal fillers is the fact that results are instantly visible without any downtime! They provide long-lasting results and can be used to address a variety of skin concerns. It is a safe and minimal risk procedure.
- Injectable filler treatment can be administered in our office in 15-30 minutes and results can last up to 1 year with proper care.
- Facial filler can effectively address many signs of aging and immediate improvement is evident.
- When properly administered by dermatologists with expert knowledge of anatomy and technique, hyaluronic acid facial fillers are extremely safe. The risk of a reaction to injectable fillers is very low and the gel can be dissolved with the enzyme hyaluronidase.
- Patients are able to return to their normal daily activities immediately following filler injection.
- Injection of hyaluronic acid fillers is associated with minimal discomfort. Most injectable dermal fillers contain small amounts of lidocaine to numb the skin during injections.
Treatment Plan
Pre Treatment
- Avoid taking aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen, Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin®, Aleve®, Celebrex®, Fish oil, Gingko Biloba , St. John’s Wort and high doses of vitamin E for at least 7-10 days before your appointment, unless medically necessary.
- You may take Tylenol® (if not contraindicated) one hour before your appointment to prevent any discomfort you may experience. If you have concerns about discomfort.
- If you are taking prescription blood thinners such as Coumadin or Plavix, you should check with the prescribing doctor to see if you are able to stop these medicines for 7-10 days before your appointment and at least 2 days after the procedure has been done.
- If you have any history of Herpes Simplex (cold sores) on your face, make sure you inform the doctor that you have made your appointment with, one week prior to your appointment; this will allow us adequate time to prescribe a medication to prevent an outbreak.
- Avoid dental procedures (including cleaning) 2 weeks pre filler and 2 weeks post filler
Come to your appointment with a clean face. **This means NO MAKEUP or MOISTURIZER**
Eat a small meal or a snack before your appointment. - Bruising and swelling will be worse for the first 24-48 hours after you receive your dermal filler injections. Refrain from exercising for the remainder of the day following your injection(s). You may want to refrain from going to any special events during this time.
Post Treatment
- The majority of reactions to dermal fillers are redness, swelling, bruising and tenderness after the injections. These usually subside a few days after the treatment, but can last up to a week. If any of these symptoms persist longer than a week, or if you develop other symptoms, please contact our office.
- Cold compresses may be used after the treatment to reduce swelling and decrease soreness. You may take Tylenol (if not contraindicated) every 4-6 hours after the treatment to help with any discomfort you may have.
- Make-up may be applied a few hours after the treatment, if no complications are present, such as open wounds, bleeding or infection.
- In the first 24 hours following treatment, limit exposure to sunlight or UV lamps. Extensive sun or heat exposure and alcoholic beverages may cause a temporary increase in redness, bruising or swelling at the injection sites. If there is persistent swelling or redness after the injections, you should limit exposure to sunlight or UV lamps until these symptoms subside (for at least 5-7 days). If sun exposure is unavoidable, use a sun block with an SPF of 30 or greater, combined with zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide.
- Patients should avoid strenuous exercise for 48 hours to prevent moving the filler or increasing blood flow to the face.
- Avoid taking aspirin (unless medically necessary) or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen, Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin®, Aleve®, Celebrex®, Fish oil, Gingko Biloba , St. John’s Wort and high doses of vitamin E for 5 days after the treatment, as these may cause an increased risk of bleeding or bruising at the injection sites.
- Avoid excessive touching or massaging the treated areas for about 6 hours after the injections. The treated areas can be washed with a gentle cleanser such as Cetaphil® Cerave® or Dove® unscented.
- Avoid dental procedure (including cleaning) 2 weeks post filler
- Your satisfaction is important to us! We would like you to return to the office in 2 weeks to see whether a touch-up is necessary. If follow up treatments are necessary, there will be additional charges at the regular rate. Additional costs of medical treatment would be patients’ responsibility would complications develop after dermal filler procedure.
- Studies have shown that having a follow-up treatment before the product has fully dissipated will enhance the lasting effect. Consult your physician about recommendations for touch-up or follow-up treatments.
- Remember your sunscreen daily.
Services
Dermal Fillers pricing varies per patient. Please book a free consultation to get your custom pricing today.
FAQs
How long do dermal fillers last?
Dermal fillers last between 6-18 months, depending on the product used and the location of the injections.
What is in a dermal filler?
Dermal fillers (also called soft tissue fillers) are soft injectable gels that contain bio-compatible hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance found in your skin. The hyaluronic acid found in dermal fillers is manufactured in a lab and is not from an animal source. They are called dermal fillers because the hyaluronic acid naturally increases moisture, restoring volume to your skin.
Several companies make dermal fillers. We use Juvederm, Belotero, Restylane, and Teosyal fillers.
Is there anything I can do to reduce the risk of bruising?
We recommend that patients getting facial filler to avoid aspirin (unless you have been advised to take a daily aspirin by another physician) and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen, for 7-14 days prior to their treatment if possible. Avoid alcohol within 24 hours of your dermal filler procedure.
If you do experience mild bruising, it should resolve within 1-2 weeks.
How soon are the results of dermal filler injections seen?
Improvements due to injections of dermal filler are visible immediately following your treatment. Mild swelling and occasional bruising may result from filler injections and can take up to 2 weeks to subside. Final results can be assessed at two weeks.
Can fillers make you look younger and more refreshed?
Yes, dermal fillers can restore a more youthful appearance and make you appear refreshed by improving common signs of aging such as volume loss, fine lines, severe facial wrinkles, and folds.
Are dermal fillers safe?
When performed by qualified providers at a reputable clinic, dermal fillers are a very safe way to improve the look of lines and wrinkles. Injectable fillers even include numbing agents to minimize discomfort.