What is it?
Dermal filler is a safe, effective way of restoring volume to the face and improving the contour and fullness that gives a youthful, vibrant appearance. It is a simple, in-office procedure that gives you immediate results. When done appropriately it will add lift and fullness without creating a harsh or fake look.

What types of fillers are available?

• Hyaluronic acid (Versa, Juvederm, Restalyne) is a natural substance found in the skin and joints. It draws water to itself, providing plumpness, volume, and cushion. Because of its versatility and reversibility it remains the most popular type of filler on the market today.
• Calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) is a substance found in bones. It is popular as a dermal filler because of its lifting strength, durability, and ability to stay put without migrating. It was originally used in dentistry and reconstructive surgery. It has a long history of being both safe and effective.
• Polylactic acid (Sculptra) is a semi-synthetic filler that is also known as a dermal stimulator. It provides volume while also stimulating the skin to produce more of its own collagen. It is popular Previous to its use as a dermal filler it was used for decades as a biodegradable suture material.
• Other semi-permanent fillers (not offered in our clinic because of safety concerns) include polyaklylamide (Aquamid) and polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres “PMMA” (Bellafill)

What areas are commonly treated with dermal fillers?
There are very few areas needing a little extra volume that can’t be treated with dermal fillers. The most common areas include

• Lips
• Cheeks
• Acne scars
• Nasolabial folds (laugh lines)
• Enhances jawlines and cheekbones
• Marionette lines
• Temple depressions
• Smoker’s lines

Who is a good candidate for dermal fillers:
All fillers approved by the FDA have a long history of safety and efficacy. Allergic reactions are very rare. It is generally accepted that the candidates who will get optimal results are those who are those who are baseline healthy, nonsmokers, committed to good skin maintenance, and able to have realistic expectations regarding outcomes.

How long does it take?
It depends on the type of filler, but most treatments take 30-60 min.

How many syringes are required?
It is our belief that the best results are the most natural-looking results, and for that reason we will often take a “start low and go slow” approach of injecting the full amount over 2-3 visits. The number of syringes needed can vary greatly depending on age, genetics, health, weight, and other health factors. Some people will get optimal results with one syringe, while others will need several.

What is the down time?
There is no down time with filler. Certain areas of the face tend to swell or bruise more than others, so we do recommend that you not do it right before any big events. The cheeks seem to swell and bruise the least, and the lips seem to swell and bruise the most. In fact, we frequently tell patients to expect moderate to severe swelling of the lips for up to several days. Most patients will get back to work or their daily routine immediately after the injection.

What is the cost?
It is charged per syringe. The products we currently carry range from $450/syringe to $650/syringe.

What about using fat instead of filler?
The use of fat instead of filler has gained a lot of popularity in recent years, and there are several advantages to this approach. Fat is 100% natural and can be injected in larger volumes than filler. Once injected it will establish a blood supply that will allow it to continue to reproduce. It also contains stem cells that will help the skin replicate and repair while stimulating the skin surface to rejuvenate. Although fat can be injected anywhere (breasts, buttocks, face), our opinion is that injection into the face gives the best, most natural results. The biggest downside to fat is that it must be removed from another part of the body via liposuction, thus adding an additional procedure that requires healing and down time.