Have you taken the dermal filler plunge? Do you ever wish you could erase lines and fill in deep folds in your face? Do you feel as if your cheeks have lost volume and sag? Dermal filler is a viable solution for these cosmetic concerns. This non-surgical procedure is one of the quickest and easiest ways to give yourself a rejuvenating boost.
There are many different types of facial fillers, and each one specializes in treating a specific area of the face. During your initial consultation for dermal fillers in Ann Arbor, your practitioners will go over these different types.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Truth be told, there isn’t a whole lot of necessary preparation for facial filler. However, it’s key to note that some bruising (at the injection site) and possible swelling may occur. Therefore, it is wise to schedule your appointment at least two weeks before an important event.
To help prevent bruising, avoid blood-thinning medications, including pain relievers and supplements like fish oil for a week prior to your appointment. (Also, smokers have an increased likelihood of bruising.) You may wish to take the holistic supplement Arnica Montana several days leading up to your procedure, as this helps to minimize the chances of bruising, as well.
Here’s what you can expect during your dermal filler appointment:
Assessing your condition
During your consultation, our cosmetic injector specialist will carefully evaluate your skin condition and facial appearance. This will include your skin tone, as well as the features of your face that would look better augmented. Such areas will be marked appropriately to serve as guide during the actual treatment later on.
Prepping your skin
Before administering the injections, the involved area will be cleansed with an antibacterial agent. An anesthetic ointment or local anesthesia may be administered to keep you as comfortable as possible throughout the procedure.
Starting the injections
Each injection only takes a few moments for every treatment site. The entire procedure usually takes 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the extent of the area or condition being treated.
Going through recovery
Once the necessary filler has been administered, your skin is cleansed again to remove any markings. While you may feel some discomfort, swelling, or tenderness in the area, ice packs and pain medications usually do the trick.
Dermal fillers are a no downtime procedure. After treatment, you’ll be able to leave our offices immediately. You’ll be able to drive yourself home. Many patients actually head right back to work. Redness, tenderness, and swelling can occur, but typically are minor and fade over the course of a few days. Makeup can be applied to cover any redness you may experience.
The procedure itself is very simple and result is a naturally enhanced you.
Immediate Long Lasting Results
Quick treatment
No downtime
Highly Effective
Last 6 – 12 months
WHAT DERMAL FILLER DO I NEED?
Juvéderm / Juvéderm is a collection of fillers and different forms are designed to be used in different areas of the face. For instance, Juvéderm Voluma XC is used to add back youthful contours to the cheeks, which naturally flatten over time. It also smoothes moderate-to-deep “parentheses” lines around your nose and mouth (aka the nasolabial folds) and the lines that run from the corners of your mouth toward the chin (the marionette lines). Juvéderm Ultra XC plumps up the lips, as does Juvéderm Volbella XC, which also is used to soften vertical lip lines. Though not totally painless, most HA fillers are infused with the anesthetic lidocaine to minimize discomfort during and after treatment.
Restylane / Like Juvéderm, there’s a family of Restylane products designed to treat various, sometimes overlapping, problem areas. The original Restylane smoothes away wrinkles and folds and can be used to add volume to thin lips. Restylane Lyft (formerly Perlane-L), a much thicker gel, is used to correct severe wrinkles and folds like the nasolabial folds, as well as volume loss in the cheeks. It’s also FDA approved to add fullness to the backs of the hands. Restylane Silk is designed especially to enhance the lips, as it is made with smaller particles than the other products.
Radiesse / Radiesse is used to treat moderate-to-severe facial creases, such as the nasolabial folds. It also can be used to plump up cheeks and other facial contours. It’s not used on the lips.
The most popular fillers on the market are Hyaluronic Acid (HA) based, a substance that naturally exists in the human body, lubricating soft connective tissues, the skin, the eyes, and certain joints. The Hyaluronic Acid found in fillers is a synthetic compound that acts similarly to the natural substance. It attracts water molecules and therefore acts like a cushion, propping up existing facial structures that have lost volume and elasticity as part of normal aging.
FILLER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How Long Will The Results From Dermal Fillers Last?
Dermal fillers fade very slowly and gradually, so for the vast majority of patients, results should last between 6 and 9 months. After approximately 6 to 12 months, the effects of the dermal filler gradually weaken, until your skin returns to its natural state. The specific amount of time dermal fillers last varies depending on the patient’s skin, the treatment area, and the type of product used.
As treatment with dermal fillers is temporary, they require touch-up injections for maintenance, and eventually repeat injections. At Avissa Skin, our experienced health care practitioners will determine the ideal time interval for your follow-up treatments, and develop the optimal injectable regimen to suit your needs. Alternatively, if you decide not to maintain your new appearance, the results will gradually disappear over time.
How Long Is The Recovery From Dermal Filler Injections?
After receiving your dermal injections, you might experience some mild redness, swelling, tenderness, bruising, or itching. These effects should clear up in less than 7 days (or 14 days for lips). Redness can be concealed using foundation or concealer. In general, most patients experience little or no downtime – which means you can return to work and continue with your usual daily activities.
How Much Do Dermal Filler Injections Cost?
The cost of dermal filler injections depends primarily on the amount of dermal filler injected, which in turn depends on the amount of product you require to achieve a significant result. At your consultation at Avissa Skin, your unique facial features will be assessed, your concerns will be taken into account, and a treatment plan will be developed. At this point, you will be told the exact amount of filler you will require.
Are Dermal Filler Injections Painful?
Most patients only experience mild discomfort. As the needles used for dermal fillers are very fine, the amount of pain experienced by patients is minimal and the procedure does not require anesthesia. It should also be noted that many of the dermal filler products available today contain Lidocaine, a local anesthetic, to minimize your discomfort. Topical numbing creams can be used to further minimize discomfort when injecting sensitive areas.
Are Dermal Fillers Reversible?
Fortunately, there is the option of completely reversing the results you obtain from Hyaluronic-Acid based fillers if you are not happy with the results. A solution called Hyaluronidase is simply injected into the treatment site which effectively dissolves the filler within approximately 24 hours.
At What Age Should I Start Getting Dermal Filler Injections?
The age at which you start using dermal fillers depends entirely on the type of issue you’d like to address. While severe wrinkles and folds typically become evident well into middle age, fine lines appear much earlier. Moreover, there are a number of issues which dermal fillers are very effective at addressing, that are not always related to aging, such as a sunken appearance, thin lips, a wide jawbone, or a crooked nose. In general, however, dermal filler products should not be used in individuals under 18 years of age.
Will I Look Natural After Getting Dermal Filler Injections?
Dermal injections, such as Juvederm®, are designed to smooth out lines, wrinkles, and folds, or create more youthful and attractive facial contours by adding volume in strategic areas.
Are Dermal Filler Injections Safe?
Dermal fillers are approved by the FDA, and have an excellent safety track record. Additionally, the dermal fillers used at Avissa Skin in Ann Arbor are all Hyaluronic Acid-based, which is a substance that naturally occurs in our bodies, and has been used for over 20 years for arthritis treatment, wound repair, and eye surgery.
Possible Complications
Dermal fillers are very similar in composition to the Hyaluronic Acid that naturally exists in your body, as such it is very unlikely to induce an allergic reaction. To reduce the risk of complications and ensure your safety, your practitioner will review your medical history, including allergies and medications, at your initial consultation to determine whether you are an appropriate candidate for fillers.
The most common complications associated with fillers include receiving results other than you had intended, tiny lumps or irregularities under the skin, and prolonged redness. After receiving dermal filler injections, patients prone to cold sores may develop an outbreak. Those with HSV-1 should therefore be treated with a course of antiviral medication prior to the procedure. More serious complications such as infection and tissue necrosis are exceedingly rare.
FILLERS OFFERED
JUVÉDERM® XC
Smooths lines around your nose and mouth
JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC
Adds fullness to lips
JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® XC
Adds subtle volume to lips and smooths the appearance of vertical lip lines.
JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC
Lift and contour cheeks
LIP FILLER ?
MYTHS ABOUT FILLERS
#1 Botox and fillers are the same thing
#2 Everyone will notice I’ve gotten fillers
#3 Fillers are extremely painful
#4 You can’t undo a cosmetic treatment
MYTHS ABOUT DERMAL FILLERS
Contrary to popular belief, Botox is not a filler. Botox causes the muscles to relax so the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles decreases whereas dermal fillers actually add volume to your face to fill out those extra folds of skin. Though both Botox and dermal fillers serve similar purposes, the treatments reach the desired results through distinct physical alterations.
Myth #2 – Everyone will notice I’ve gotten fillers.
This is a fear for many individuals because they have witnessed how the media torments celebrities and other public figures based on their personal choices about cosmetic procedures. Although you may be worried that you will look drastically different or fake after receiving dermal fillers; however, there could be nothing further from the truth. Dermal fillers, when administered by a certified and experienced professional, provide natural-looking results that still deliver the plumping you desire.
Myth #3 – Fillers are extremely painful.
We understand many people have a particularly acute fear of needles, but there is nothing to be afraid of when it comes to fillers. Most providers apply topical anesthetic before the treatment which helps to minimize significantly any discomfort. Many fillers are mixed with lidocaine to ease any discomfort that the initial injection might cause.
Myth #4 – You can’t undo a cosmetic treatment.
This might be the case in many other cosmetic treatments but dermal fillers have a lot more flexibility. If you decide to use the naturally-derived hyaluronic acid as your dermal filler, then this can be reversed almost instantaneously. By injecting hyaluronidase, any mistake can be automatically reversed because it breaks down the hyaluronic acid under your skin quickly. Most dermal fillers are temporary, lasting sometimes as little as three months, so you are not making a lifelong commitment by trying them out.
Fascinating Facts on Fillers
1 / Fillers can stimulate collagen growth so over time so you may require less injections later on than when you first started.
2 / The effects of most fillers are temporary, some of them being reabsorbed into the body after three months. If you seek a more permanent solution, there are a few types of fillers that can last several years.
3 / It need not only be used for facial rejuvenation. It can be used to smooth wrinkles and hide veins in the hands. Many practitioners even suggest fillers to support droopy earlobes.
4 / Side effects and complications are extremely rare with dermal fillers.
5 / It would take quite a lot to over-do it when you are working with a qualified professional; you won’t get anywhere near looking overdone unless you opt for too many syringes of fillers all in one session.
6 / A common (but flexible) rule for fillers is one syringe per decade. Get three syringes at thirty years old, four at forty years old, and so on and so forth when you have a treatment session per year. The syringes can be spread across various areas (including off-label ones) such as lips, smile lines (nasolabial folds), cheek depressions (cheek hollows and malar volume loss), jowls (marionette lines), and temples (for hollowing).
One of our first priorities at Avissa Skin is patient education, allowing you to know everything about available procedures and how they can help. Our staff will spend quality time with you to ensure that all of your questions are answered and you feel 100% comfortable and confident with the treatments you are receiving.