About Non-Surgical Facial Fillers
Injectables are a quick, simple way to enhance your appearance with no downtime. Unlike surgical procedures such as a facelift, fillers can rejuvenate your appearance while you are on your lunch hour.
There are a variety of different injectable fillers that are used specifically in areas around the face and neck.
MODEL
Fillers can be injected underneath the skin to “fill” in wrinkles, just as fillers are used to correct dents on a car. These fillers can be used to fill in smile lines, to plump up lips, and even to fill in the troughs under the lower eyelids.
Restylane®
Types of Restylane include Restylane, Restylane Silk®, Restylane Lyft®, Restylane Refyne®, and Restylane Defyne®. All of these types of Restylane® are similar in that they are composed of hyaluronic acid. However, the cross-linking and “thickness” of these different types of Restylane® are different. Therefore, they can be used for different purposes, such as filling in a tiny line around the lips all the way to lifting cheeks up, depending on the type of product used. This is another reason why a skilled medical practitioner should assess your face and make a recommendation for the best product to be used for your face.
Radiesse®
Radiesse is a semi-permanent filler composed of microscopic particles of hydroxyapatite crystals, a naturally occurring chemical in the body. This filler can be injected into the smile lines, the creases in front of the jowls, and can sometimes be used to add a little volume to the chin. Radiesse can also be used on the back surfaces of the hands to add volume and camouflage prominent tendons and veins. Radiesse can last anywhere from 12-15 months.
Where Can You Use Fillers?
Fillers are very versatile and can be used in multiple locations. Below is a short list of where fillers can be used:
- In the glabella to further smoothen out an etched line after BOTOX®
- In the under eye region (OcuRx)
- In the cheeks to lift the face
- In the smile lines
- In the lips (Lip Augmentation)
- Along the jawline
- In the chin
Facial Filler Procedure
After mapping out the face and determining the best spots for facial filler injections, the area is numbed with topical anesthetic or a local anesthesia is given to the patient. Dr. Athré will use a small needle to inject the areas, massage the skin, and evaluate the results. The entire process causes minor discomfort and takes anywhere from five to 30 minutes.
Facial Filler Recovery and Results
Most facial filler procedures take approximately 10 to 20 minutes. Facial filler procedures are normally done with topical numbing cream or simply using ice to reduce the temperature of the skin and hence provide anesthesia.
Following a facial filler procedure, patients normally have some degree of numbness secondary to the lidocaine that is in the facial filler agent. This numbness normally lasts for 1 to 2 hours following the procedure, and redness at the injection site normally fades within 3 to 4 hours after the injection. Bruising and swelling normally dissipate within 1 to 2 days following the procedure.
Immediately after the facial filler procedure, ice is normally applied to the face to minimize bruising and swelling. Ice can be continued for the duration of the day, as long as the skin is given some time to breathe as well. Arnica Montana can be used topically as well as orally to further decrease bruising and swelling. Patients can resume regular activity the day after the procedure.
Different filler agents last for different lengths of time — anywhere from 6 months to over 14 months depending on the filler used and the location where it is injected.
FAQs
How much do fillers typically cost?
Dermal fillers start at $625.
How long do fillers last?
Most fillers last up to 14 months.
How long does a filler procedure take?
An entire filler procedure takes only five to 30 minutes.
How long is recovery from a filler procedure?
Recovery takes one to three days after the filler procedure, but the result is immediate.
Client Testimonial
“Very pleased with another visit to Dr. Athre. It was time to take 5 years off and he did it again in 10 minutes. Dr. Athre injects patients himself, rather than using a nurse aesthetician and I believe it makes all the difference in the world. Quick, painless and I was in and out in less than 30 minutes. He takes a conservative approach which results in a natural appearance. I’m not puffy nor over-filled, just subtly more youthful.”
Schedule a Consultation
Contact Athré Facial Plastics today to learn more about facial fillers and schedule an appointment!