Dermal Fillers (Juvederm and Restylane)

What Are These Dermal Fillers?

Dermal Fillers such a Juvederm and Restylane are long lasting, crystal-clear gels made from stabilized hyaluronic acid and used for augmenting lips, lower eyelids, and filling facial wrinkles and creases. Hyaluronic acid is a normal constituent of our skin, subcutaneous tissue, and connective tissue. When injected under the skin, hyaluronic acid attracts and holds water, adding volume to the area injected, lasting until the body degrades it, four to eight months after injection. The increase in volume that results from implanting one of these fillers under the skin improves overlying facial creases and wrinkles, and enlarges lips.

What Are Dermal Fillers Used For?

Dermal fillers are implanted to improve facial wrinkles and creases such as the nasolabial fold (the crease between the nostrils and the corner of the mouth), frown lines (especially in conjunction with BOTOX® Cosmetic), and wrinkles on the cheeks. They are particularly useful to enhance and augment the lips and fill vertical wrinkles above the upper lip. We inject dermal fillers under the skin in the lower eyelids to eliminate dark circles, hollowness, and to hide bags there. For many patients, the improvement after a dermal filler injection into the lower eyelids is quite dramatic.

How Are Dermal Fillers Implanted?
How Long Does The Procedure Take?
It Is Painful?

Dermal fillers come in pre filled syringes and are injected just underneath the skin using very fine needles into the area to be improved. As they are a natural body constituent, no pre testing is necessary. Prior to injecting a dermal filler, we often numb the area to be filled with topical anesthetic cream. As we inject the area, we can also cool the overlying skin with our Zimmer Cryo 5 skin cooler resulting in additional anesthesia. This combination of topical anesthesia and cold air reduces any pain from the injections to a minimum. If the lips are to be enhanced, nerve blocks are sometimes administered to numb them. The implantation of a dermal filler takes between 20 and 30 minutes.

When Will I See Improvement From Dermal Fillers
And How Long Will It Last?

You will see improvement from a dermal filler immediately after it is injected. On average, this improvement will last from four to eight months. After the first two or three injections, most patients find they can go increasingly longer intervals without reinjection.

Is There Any Downtime Following Dermal Filler Implantation?

No! You can return to your normal activities without restriction following the dermal filler implantation procedure as soon as you wish. The area injected, particularly the lips, may be swollen and numb similar to visit to the dentist. The numbness will disappear in one or two hours.

Are Dermal Fillers Safe? Are There Any Side Effects?

All the dermal fillers we use are FDA approved for filling facial wrinkles. While relatively new to the United States, they been used for a decade or more in Europe and Canada. They are exceedingly safe products with few side effects. Occasional bruising, swelling, lumpiness, and/or tenderness at the implantation site can happen but all disappear within a few days. Allergy to these products is very rare. As for any cosmetic procedure done around the mouth and particularly to the lips, we customarily provide a prescription for an antiviral agent to prevent any outbreak of cold sores (oral herpes virus).

How Much Do Dermal Fillers Cost?

Dermal fillers are priced by the syringe. Most individual areas such the lips, lower eyelids, nasolabial folds, etc. require only one syringe. Multiple areas may need more. To inquire about our current prices, please call our office.

If I Am Considering a Dermal Filler, How Do I Proceed?

Satisfaction with these treatments is high. If you think you will benefit from a dermal filler, call our office at 623.876.9494 for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Richard Fisher.