fillers

What you should know about Dermal Fillers

Hyaluronic acid filler injection is the fastest growing non-invasive facial procedures. It can be an over lunch procedure with no downtime. Patients can resume their normal activities immediately after, but bruising and swelling can occur especially if you tend to bruise easily or if you take blood thinners or anti-inflammatories (Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, etc). Hyaluronic acid is a complex sugar found naturally in our skin. It acts like a sponge. It retains water and adds volume to the skin. With aging, our own hyaluronic acid is lost. As a result, the skin loses volume, leading to thinning of the lips, facial wrinkles and folds. Filler injections replace the lost hyaluronic acid from our skin, improving volume, texture and even color. Hyaluronic acid filler degrades 100% with time. It can also be dissolved overnight by injecting an antidote (Hyaluronidase).

We use the best fillers on the market:
· Belotero®
· Juvederm®
· Radiesse®
· Restylane®
· Sculptra®
· Bellafill®

Fillers differ in formulation and one size definitely does not fit all.

Juvederm, Belotero and Restylane

These are the top of the line hyaluronic acid products on the market. They contain lidocaine, an anesthetic that decreases discomfort when injecting.

These brands have a wide range of products. For each area of the face we use a specific type of filler:

Juvéderm Volbella / Belotero Balance / Restylane Silk

These hyaluronic acids are specifically designed for the lips and the eyes. They do not absorb water, as opposed to all the other hyaluronic acids. Volbella, Balance and Silk can be precisely used to fill in the lips and the dark hollow circles under the eyes. They are also used to add volume to the brows and the upper eyelids. Depending on the injection site, the effect can last between 1 year (lips) and 4 years (eyelids).

Juvéderm Vollure / Juvéderm Ultra / Restylane Refine

These medium thickness hyaluronic acids have been specifically designed for the nasolabial folds, lips and marionette lines. They have an intermediate lifting effect which is excellent for these facial areas and last between 1 and 1.5 years.

Juvéderm Voluma / Restylane Define

These are the thickest and most hydrophilic (attract water) hyaluronic acids used to re-volumize the face. Mostly used in the cheeks and the temples, but also in any area of the face where there is volume loss. They last between 1.5 and 2 years.

Radiesse

This is not a hyaluronic acid. Radiesse is calcium hydroxyapatite, a natural component of our bones. It is an excellent product for replacing volume everywhere in the face. The effect typically lasts between 1.5 and 2 years. The advantage of this product is that 30% will last forever and will stimulate new collagen formation. The disadvantages are that it cannot be dissolved and it cannot be used in the eyelids or lips.

Sculptra

This is a permanent filler that acts by stimulating collagen production at the injection site. As opposed to the other fillers, there is no immediate effect after injection. The result is typically seen at a couple of months with the maximal effect at 6 months. It is a good volumizer and it is used to create a foundation for the other fillers. It is not good for defining lines and contours and cannot be used in the eyelids and lips.

Bellafill

This permanent filler also acts by stimulating collagen production at the injection site. It is different from Sculptra in that it is mixed with hyaluronic acid which increases the precision of injection and gives an immediate volumizing effect. It is excellent for cheeks and jaw-line augmentation as well as for acne scar treatment. Similar to Sculptra, Bellafill cannot be used in the eyelids and the the lips.