What are dermal fillers?

Injectable dermal fillers can plump thin lips, enhance shallow contours, soften facial creases, remove wrinkles and improve the appearance of scars. 

Age, lifestyle, and environmental factors change the skin over time. Dermal fillers can help you battle some of these changes. Dermal fillers are natural or synthetic fluid materials that are injected into the skin to plump and smooth the area of injection. It can be used to:

• Create volume in hollow areas of the face or lips

• Fill in, lift, and smooth lines and wrinkles of the face

• Enhance facial balance

• Improve the smoothness and elasticity appearance for a radiant skin

• Increase volume at the back of the hand

Dermal fillers can be used to treat a specific area, but the treatment approach always considers the full face for more natural results.

How it works

The fillers act as a support layer beneath the skin. Each brand has a range of fillers specific for the areas of treatment.

Restylane®

Restylane® has a safety profile established for over 20 years and 30 million treatments. It is the world’s first stabilized non-animal hyaluronic acid filler with patented technology. They possess a portfolio of dermal fillers with a broad range of hyaluronic acid gels. They can restore a youthful appearance by filling in lines and wrinkles. It can also create volume and improve the overall smoothness and elasticity of your skin. 

Juvederm®

Juvederm® uses a unique VYCROSS® technology that gives your skin a smooth, natural- looking appearance. Juvederm® also contains lidocaine, a pain reliever that will help you be more comfortable during and after the treatment. Each Juvederm® product serves a unique purpose. It can be used to smooth wrinkles, restore volume for a lifting effect, or redefine the lips. It blends with the tissue under the skin to keep your look more natural. 

Radiesse®

Radiesse® dermal fillers are FDA-approved to smoothen moderate-to-severe facial wrinkles. It is comprised of Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA) suspended in a gel. It is mixed with lidocaine to reduce pain related to the injection. Radiesse®provides immediate volume after the injection. The long-term results are due to the stimulation of collagen production. These results last up to a year or more. The CaHA gets absorbed by the body over time. 

Belotero®

Belotero® offers hyaluronic acid dermal fillers. Hyaluronic acid has an innate ability to hold onto water. As a dermal filler, this can help maintain the elasticity, smoothness and volume of skin. Belotero® integrates evenly for a refreshed and natural look. Each of the Belotero® products offers different levels of lifting. This will allow for treatment customization based on your needs, whether your goal is to smooth out fine lines or restore elasticity to large areas of the skin. Most formulas are available with lidocaine to bring you additional comfort during and after the procedure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which dermal filler is the best?

The best filler depends on the area you wish to treat. Our medical professional will recommend you the best filler type for the results you are looking for.

What can I expect during the treatment?

Dermal fillers are delivered through fine needles into specific areas you wish to target. Therefore you may feel some pinching and mild discomfort due to the needle. However, many dermal filler formulas include lidocaine, an anesthetic drug, to bring you comfort.

What can I expect after the treatment?

You may experience some redness and swelling in the area of injection. But this should resolve within 24 to 48 hours. If you have bruises, it will resolve within 5 to 7 days.

How long do the results last?

Depending on the filler, the effect can last from 6 months to 3 years. Juvederm® can last up to 24 months, depending on the treatment. Several factors contribute to how long the results last: the type of filler, the area treated, lifestyle, age, and skin type.

What are the consideration for dermal fillers?

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occuring sugar in the body. When administered by a qualified medical practitioner, it is well accepted by the skin. Make sure to fully disclose all your medical history and medicines you are taking to the doctor or person performing the procedure. This is especially true if you have allergies to hyaluronic acid, gram-positive bacterial proteins, other fillers, and anesthetics. Let the practitioner know if you maybe pregnant, have an untreated epilepsy, bleeding disorder, a history of severe scarring, autoimmune disease, recurring sore throat, rheumatic fever, porphyria, are taking anti-coagulation and immunosuppressive medication. Adverse reactions can include bruising, redness, swelling, pain, itching, bumps, loss of sensation, headache, and difficulty performing activities. A major complication can occur if the product is unintentionally injected into a blood vessel. The complications include vision abnormalities, blindness, stroke, temporary or permanent scarring. If you experience signs of stroke, unusual pain or white appearance of skin, contact a healthcare practitioner immediately. Please note that these side effects occur in a small percentage of patients, but are serious consequences to consider.

You invest a lot in finding the accurate pair of eyeglasses. Clearly, you need to protect your investment.

Here are some tips to help you take care of your eyeglasses:

•clean lenses regularly with warm water and a drop of dish detergent, then dry with a clean, soft cotton cloth, like a handkerchief, or a microfiber cloth.

•use a hard-shell case that is the right size for your glasses.

•lay glasses down with their lenses facing upward.

•use both hands to put glasses on and take them off, and keep glasses on your nose, not on your head.

September has been deemed “Healthy Aging Month” but the American Academy of Ophthalmology. According to the National Eye Institute, older adults are at higher risk for certain eye diseases and conditions, including age-related macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, dry eye, and low vision.

Like any other organ in your body, your eyes do not stay the same as you get older. Vision changes are normal with age, but vision loss and blindness are not. To continue to enjoy healthy vision, it’s important to have a comprehensive dilated eye examination with an ophthalmologist or optometrist on a regular basis.

Here are some other tips to maintain healthy vision both now and as you age:

🥬 Good Eyesight Begins with Your Stomach: It may sound crazy, but good eye health actually begins your stomach! What you choose to eat has a direct impact on how you see! Omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and vitamins C and E might help diminish age-related vision problems. A well-balanced diet also helps you stay at a healthy weight. That lowers your odds of obesityand related diseases like type 2 diabetes, which is the leading cause of blindness in adults. Make a concerted effort to fill your plate and your belly with green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale. Have fish like salmon and tuna that are loaded with omega acids. In addition, reach for citrus fruit and juices that will provide an extra punch of vitamins.

✖️ Don’t smoke. Smoking increases your risk for age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and other eye diseases and conditions that can damage the optic nerve. The more times you try to quit, the more likely you are to succeed. Ask your doctor for help in kicking your nicotine habit.

🕶 Wear protective eyewear when outdoors.Protecting your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays when you are outdoors is vital for your eye health. Too much UV exposure boosts your chances of cataracts and macular degeneration. Choose a pair of sunglasses that reflect your own unique style and blocks 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Consider wraparound lenses to help protect your eyes from the side. Polarized lenses reduce glare while you drive. If you wear contact lenses,some offer UV protection. However, it’s still a good idea to wear sunglasses for an extra layer. In addition, if you use hazardous or airborne materials on the job or at home, wear safety glasses or protective goggles at all times.

🗂 Examine Your Family Tree.Talk to your family members about your eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone in your family lineage has been diagnosed with a disease or condition since many are hereditary, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetes. The best course of prevention is knowing if you are at higher risk. Start at the roots of your family tree.

💊 Consider a Multivitamin.Do you take your vitamins in the morning? Studies have shown that there are many vitamins that promote healthy eyes, and some may even help to decrease age-related eye conditions. Vitamins C, E and the mineral zinc have been shown to promote eye health. Vitamins with Lutein and Zeaxanthin have been known to help patients with moderate to severe age-related macular degeneration. Always check with your doctor before beginning a daily multi-vitamin regime.

📱 Manage Your Screen Time. As people of all ages are spending more hours focused on digital screens, their eyes are getting an exhausting workout. Eye strain from hours of screen time can result in eye irritation, dryness, fatigue or blurred vision. A good rule of thumb is every 20 minutes, look away from your screen. This can help reduce eyestrain. In addition, consider using a lubricant eye drop during long periods of intense eye use and rest your eyes afterwards in 5-minute intervals.

🏂 Remaining active and engaged is the best gift you can give yourself. Staying physically and mentally active and nurturing social connections with friends and family are all part of the bigger picture in helping to keep your mind and body well.

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