HA Dermal Fillers
These are some of my favorite products to use and procedures to do because you can see amazing results in such short times, giving you a smoother, more youthful appearance. You will be amazed with the instant, natural results from filling minimal lines such as the nasolabial folds (the lines from the nose to the mouth area), or volumizing and filling cheeks, tear troughs, marionette lines, chin creases, frown lines, lip lines/smoker’s lines, and restoring or enhancing the lips. Basically, restoring the beauty of the face to a more youthful appearance to achieve what has been termed the “liquid face-lift”. You will immediately have astounding results for up to two years at a time in a few short hours of work with none to minimal down time. I do like to combine these with neuromodulators (Botox or Jeuveau) and, at times, PDO threads and other procedures for added benefits.
Types:
Juvederm Fillers: These fillers are uniquely designed hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers to give volume beneath the skin where injected. They come in multiple different formulas and are used in specific areas. These dermal fillers are used for non-surgical treatments with instant, natural-looking and long-lasting results.
- Voluma XC: Specifically designed to add volume to the cheeks to add a natural-looking contour and a youthful appearance. This filler is the longest-lasting HA filler available lasting up to 2 years with optimal treatment.
- Volux XC: Designed for use in the jawline and chin to enhance and restore, this can rejuvenate the lower face. Long-lasting results occur with optimal result restoration.
- Vollure XC: This filler is great for moderate lines and wrinkles of the nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and other areas of volume loss to create a more natural youthful appearance. Its long-lasting quality of up to 18 months with optimal correction allows one to really enjoy its volumizing benefits.
- Ultra XC: The longest-lasting HA filler for the lips—lasting up to 1 year. This lip filler is a great filler if you want a plumper lip. It is still nice and soft, giving you a beautiful, kissable pretty lip, and this filler is versatile enough to be used in other locations as well. This can be used for lip lines as well.
- Ultra Plus XC: Another HA filler with a little more oomph! More plumping than Ultra, this can be used in the lips for more fullness, or in deeper lines and wrinkles with a longevity up to 12 months with optimal correction.
- Volbella XC: This is another lip filler from Juvederm that is just as long-lasting—lasting up to 1 year. It gives a more subtle volume or plumpness to the lip. This can also be used for lip lines. It is a beautiful filler that I love to use for a natural lip appearance to restore the lip. This can also be used to fill the tear trough in some as well.
- SkinVive: This treatment involves injecting hyaluronic acid microdroplets just beneath the skin's surface in the cheek and lower face areas to improve hydration and smoothness, giving you a beautifully glowing, refreshed, more youthful and healthy appearance. Recommended every 6 months.
Belotero Balance:
- A soft HA filler useful for thinner skin areas, such as the tear trough or under eye.
Questions and Answers
What area should I use Juvederm fillers on first?
Most patients immediately point to the nasolabial folds or the folds from the nose to the mouth area. Dr. Twigg will listen to your areas of concern, but then also explain about the cheek or midface area restoration. As we age, we all begin losing some fat, muscle, and bone with the curve and volume of the cheek becoming compromised. Once this is restored, the nasolabial fold is improved and the face appears more youthful. The nasolabial fold may still need to be filled as well, but will likely need less than previous since as the cheek is filled, it will draw the fold up. Other areas may be a concern as well for the patient, such as the lips, but this is the most common area for patients to see.
How much Juvederm filler or other filler will I need?
This is a very difficult question to answer. Dr. Twigg can usually give an estimation of what she'd recommend beginning with after a consultation is done, but until placing the product and visualizing the effects, this may not be entirely accurate. In addition, touch-ups or adding more filler in 4-6 weeks after the initial placement of the dermal filler may be desired or required, so planning for this ahead of time should be done. Usually by the age of 40 to the 50s, to fully restore the cheek volume that has been lost, most women need 4-5 syringes of Voluma XC, to give an example. This is often done in a couple of stages, as opposed to all at once.
Do Juvederm fillers or other filler procedures hurt?
You may feel some discomfort, but this is minimal. I use the latest techniques when placing the filler to minimize discomfort, bruising, and trauma to the tissue. In addition, anesthetic topical cream and injectable anesthetics are utilized and the Juvederm fillers have an anesthetic agent within them to minimize discomfort.
I don’t want anyone to know I’ve had anything done. Will my Juvederm treatment be obvious?
Usually, no one will be aware that you have had anything done unless you disclose this information to them yourself. Lips are the exception in the first two days, as they tend to swell, so plan on getting lip filler done near the weekend if you are wary and take a long weekend off work. Otherwise, usually no one has any clue what you’ve done to look so great. Just tell them you’ve been working out, eating healthy, using new skin care, and taking care of yourself.
Can I wear makeup after a Juvederm appointment?
Absolutely, after the initial 24 hours, there are no restrictions whatsoever. And don’t forget the best medical grade skincare and broad spectrum sunscreen every day. You are trying to maintain a youthful appearance.
Can I go to work the next day?
Yes. But, again, if you’ve had your lips filled, they will likely be swollen for a couple of days. This is up to you.
Will Juvederm fillers or other fillers cause bruising?
It is a possibility that a bruise can develop. Dr. Twigg uses techniques that minimize the possibility of bruising, but it can still happen. To minimize bruising yourself follow these rules:
- Start using Bruise Cream 2-3 times per day for a couple of weeks before your planned procedure. These are available from my office.
- Do not take aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or other NSAIDs for at least 5-7 days before your planned procedure. Also avoid oral Vitamin E, and St. John’s Wort.
- If you are on anticoagulation therapy, you may not be a candidate for this treatment.
I have had a cold sore in the past, but it was when I was 5 years old and I’ve never had one again. Should I be worried at all that I will get one again if I get my lips done with Juvederm filler?
Unfortunately, you still can get a cold sore. That pesky virus remains within the body for life, basically sleeping until it is reactivated by a stressor, such as me placing something irritating near it and waking it up. So if you’ve ever had a cold sore, then you need to let me know. You would need to start a prophylactic medication before your procedure around the mouth area to prevent a cold sore from developing. I will provide you with a prescription for this medication.
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