I don’t know about you, but we’ve started to forget about what life was like before March 2020, pre-COVID, and before working from home was a common and expected lifestyle. We’ve traded the morning Starbucks runs for a quick pit stop in the kitchen on the way to take the dogs out, and the morning commute for a ten-step climb to the office upstairs. Ironically, though, our heads feel like they’ve never stopped spinning since this new “lifestyle” was thrust upon us and the rest of the world. Our commutes are shorter, sure, but our schedules are as hectic as ever. Our meetings aren’t in person, but they’re still very much face-to-face via Zoom.
The face is what others most likely notice first upon meeting us, and is often looked to as an indicator of age. For these reasons and so many others, many individuals value any way to keep their face looking as youthful as possible for as long as possible. It’s not unreasonable that the early development of wrinkles or age spots can be discouraging – the outside of the body doesn’t reflect the youthfulness that’s felt inside.
One of the main causes behind the development of stressful lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet is an overall loss of volume across facial skin. Volume loss is a natural part of aging, but can also be caused by exposure to UV rays and other harmful elements over a long period of time. Facial fillers are injected into problem areas as a method for flattening wrinkles and skin folds. Historically, collagen used to be the most popular filler, but dermatologists now have numerous other substances available that have shown to produce much longer-lasting effects. This allows us to create a far more customizable plan to treat our exact needs and get the ideal results for our trouble areas!
Facial Filler Treatment Areas
Facial filler treatments at Laser Liposuction and Vein Center are a versatile solution to fine lines and wrinkles. Facial Fillers have proven highly effective at treating many areas, such as harsh lines between the eyebrows, laugh lines that run from the nose to the mouth, worry lines that develop along the forehead, crow’s feet that extend from the corner of the eyes, or injections in the lips to enhance the overall shape and volume of the face. Many patients worry that injections will result in a puffy, or unnatural look that may include swollen lips or cheekbones, however, these injections are administered in doses that result in highly-natural-looking and smooth results. A skilled physician will always take time to examine a patient’s skin prior to treatment and develop a plan for injections that result in natural-looking final effects.
One of the main benefits of dermal facial fillers is that they provide nearly instant results in smoothing and softening aging lines to improve your look. These fillers are most successful when injected to accentuate the patient’s natural features, such as the lips or cheeks. Facial fillers can improve skin elasticity, restore volume, and smooth out lines and imperfections. These are typically not permanent results, but they are long-lasting, allowing you to maintain control of your look and test out different filters until you find your perfect look or combination.
Common areas for facial filler treatments include:
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- Nasolabial folds
- Cheeks and chin
- Lips
- Between the eyebrows
- Forehead
- Temples
- Jawline
Facial Fillers For Fine Lines & Wrinkles
The natural aging process lends itself to the development of fine lines and wrinkles. As collagen production decreases, the skin begins to lose overall elasticity. While these changes may not be as noticeable in many areas of the body, men and women alike often turn to cosmetic assistance in the fight against wrinkles that develop on the face, particularly around the mouth and eyes. When it comes to treating these wrinkles, the FDA has approved many different injections and methods to help reduce the appearance of fine lines, and ultimately to smooth and soften the surface of facial skin.
Picking and choosing just the right type of facial filler begins with a thorough consultation and exam with a cosmetic professional in order to determine the product that can best achieve the desired results. In the majority of cases, the solution will be a combination of products that each works to create a smooth, full effect based on your ideal results.
Lip Fillers
Lip fillers are an injectable treatment used to alter the appearance of your lips, usually by increasing their fullness in size. These treatments do not require surgery and can usually be administered quickly, typically in half an hour or less! We use thin, tiny gauge needles, making the procedure less painful than what you may expect. While lip fillers are not a one-size-fits-all treatment, many different types of fillers have been made to meet the different needs of patients, and our team is here to help you navigate what that means for you and your ideal results. Many patients seek treatment and services to make lips look both larger and fuller as a way of contouring the face to the desired shape or highlighting specific focal points. Many patients choose to enhance lip size as a route to achieving a more youthful overall look.
Lip fillers are injected into both the top and bottom lip to adequately enhance the patient’s facial features while maintaining a natural, contoured look. Lip fillers are considered a non-invasive treatment option and many patients are able to achieve desired results through the completion of a 30-minute session. While the lifespan of fillers will vary, patients electing this process should understand upfront that lip fillers are recommended as a regular series of injections that must be maintained in order to keep the desired results in place. What may last for nearly a year in one patient may not last as long for another, so like any procedure, results will be patient-specific and different over time.
Types of Lip Fillers
Looking to achieve a more natural-looking result? You may want to consider a fat transfer process, where the lip filler that’s injected has first been removed as fat cells from another part of your body. We make a tiny incision to remove the fat cells, which provides the added benefit of no scarring. Reinjecting a patient’s own fat cells into both the lower and upper lip provides a softening effect, and means that the patient doesn’t have to worry about allergic reactions to synthetic injections – since these are your very own cells we’re repurposing!
Synthetic injections that are commonly used for lip fillers are difficult to distinguish from materials that the body naturally produces but still come with a slight risk for allergic reactions. These injections are developed to mimic Hyaluronic Acid and are marketed under familiar names such as Restylane, Xeomin, Cellfina, and Radiesse. As mentioned above, some facial fillers have multiple uses and can be used on the lips as well as other areas of the face. While some prefer a long-lasting effect may choose a filler such as Juvaderm, others who are seeking a “trial and error” option may prefer a filler like Restylane, known for its 6-month lifespan and lower cost.
If you’re looking for something in between synthetic injections and a fat transfer, Boletero injections might be a solution for you. Belotero is a newer type of dermal facial filler that is made from the same hyaluronic acid that is naturally found in your skin, meaning you don’t have to introduce any foreign products into your body as you look for an effective solution that will smooth out your skin’s surface and leave you looking and feeling refreshed. When it is injected, it connects with the water in your skin right away, allowing results to be seen quickly. Every patient has different outcomes, but Belotero injections are known to often last up to six months and have become popular for their instantaneous results. These injections aren’t specific for the lips, either. Often patients use Boletero for treating fine lines and wrinkles rather than the lips, or even for a combination of both.
Safety & Pain
As an outpatient cosmetic procedure, facial filler injections are done in-office, allowing patients to avoid the risks associated with hospital stays or complications from general anesthesia. For most facial filler procedures, a local or topical anesthetic may be used to help manage pain or discomfort, but nothing as serious or risky as general anesthesia.
The majority of patients report swelling and redness at the injection sites, but these typically disappear within a day or two after treatment. Follow up pain associated with facial fillers is commonly treated with over the counter painkillers, is generally minimal, and many patients report needing no pain medication after treatment at all. Many patients return to their everyday activities shortly after receiving treatment and make the injection series a part of a monthly or bi-monthly routine as recommended by their physician.
Recovery and Results of Facial Fillers
Perhaps the only thing better than a refreshed, clean, and youthful face, patients are able to walk out of the office on their own and get back to their busy day and are confident showing off their rested look in the next day’s Zoom meetings. At most, patients have reported redness or sensitivity at the treatment site for a few days following the procedure, but this type of discomfort is easily treated with over the counter pain medication as needed.
Patients who are looking to completely eliminate the potential for procedural discomfort can always request to have anesthetic cream applied to the treatment area prior to the procedure. Similarly, physicians will often offer patients an ice pack to apply to the area to reduce the potential for swelling once treatment is complete. While minimal results can be seen on the day of treatment, the most drastic changes with facial injections are often seen within a few weeks following treatment as the muscles absorb the full effect of the injections.
Get Started With Facial Fillers at Laser Lipo and Vein Center!
Perhaps the best part of getting facial fillers is how easy it is to start the process! It’s as simple as contacting Dr. Wright’s team at the Laser Lipo and Vein Center for a consultation, sitting down to discuss your ideal outcomes with Dr. Wright and our team, and getting the injection scheduled! We’re here to help you talk through what you’re looking for and how we can help you get those desired results to feel your best in your next Zoom meeting! Before you know it, colleagues will be asking you what your secret is for such a restful and fresh look.
