Dermal Fillers

What are Injectable Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers are gel-like substances that are injected beneath the skin to restore lost volume, smooth lines and soften creases, or enhance facial contours. We use a Hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal filler which is a naturally occurring substance that is already found in your skin. It helps keep skin plump and hydrated. HA fillers are typically soft and gel-like. HA is able to combine with water from the body, swell when in gel form, causing a smoothing/filling effect. The results are temporary, lasting 6 to 12 months or longer before the body gradually and naturally absorbs the particles.

How Can Dermal Fillers Enhance My Appearance?

While dermal fillers are casually known as “wrinkle fillers,” they can do much more than just smooth out wrinkles, although they are excellent at this too! Here are a few of the common issues dermal fillers can help address:

Smooth out lines around nose and mouth (a.k.a. marionette lines, smile lines, and parentheses)
Enhance & restore volume to sunken cheeks or temples
Diminish vertical lip lines
Plump & enhance the lips
Smooth out facial creases and other deep lines
Improve symmetry among facial features

Actual patient. Results may vary. Unretouched photos taken before treatment and 1 month after final treatment. A total of 3.0 mL of JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC was injected into the cheek area. A total of 2.5 mL of JUVÉDERM® XC was injected into the parentheses, marionette, and vertical lip lines. A total of 1.8 mL of JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC was injected into the lips.

Lip Filler - Soften vertical lip lines

JUVÉDERM^® Lip Collection Product Differentiation Video – Make Your Mark

This video features Dr. Anita Cela discussing JUVÉDERM^® Ultra XC and JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA^® XC, and includes patient before and afters.

Dermal Fillers:

Juvederm XC / Ultra / Plus
Voluma XC
Volbella XC
Belotero Balance
Radiesse
Versa

What to Expect

Before the treatment, the area will be cleaned, and you may be given a topical anesthetic to numb the area prior to injection. Many filler products also contain lidocaine, a mild anesthetic, which is intended to help minimize discomfort during and after your treatment.

Depending on the product and the areas treated, you should be able to notice results immediately after receiving filler injections. Some patients experience mild bruising and swelling, but these are temporary and should subside over the days following treatment. You will be able to go back to your normal activities right after treatment.

How Long Do the Results Last?

How long the effects of dermal fillers will last depends on the product, the area of treatment, and the patient. Generally speaking, the denser the product is and the more deeply it is injected, the longer it will last, although this is not a hard and fast rule.

Hyaluronic acid fillers tend to be the most temporary option, and are often recommended for first-time filler patients. These will typically last from 6 to 18 months. Voluma may last up to 2 years. Injections to the lips will dissolve a little faster than those to the nasolabial folds due to movement.