Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
What are Hyaluronic Acid Fillers and how are they used?
Hyaluronic acid fillers include a large variety of products that can be used in most areas of the face to treat lines and wrinkles, replace lost volume and to plump the lips, cheeks and other areas of the face for a more youthful look. We currently carry Restylane, Juvederm and RHA fillers. All filler products are made of hyaluronic acid, which naturally occurs in your skin and connective tissue. We are dedicated to enhancing our patient’s natural beauty and use a conservative treatment approach to achieve long-lasting, flattering results.
Is the treatment painful?
To make our clients comfortable during filler injections, we use a potent topical numbing agent to numb the skin prior to the injections. The filler products also have lidocaine in the syringe with the filler agent, so you get more numb as we are working. Most people are surprised at how comfortable the treatments are.
How long do the effects last?
Typical skin-plumping results last around 6-12 months after the initial treatment; there is some variance depending on the individual and area being treated. If you repeat your treatment as the effects are beginning to fade, you will likely require a smaller amount of product to maintain your results for a longer period of time in between treatments. Areas which are less mobile (such as around the eye area or upper face) require treatment less frequently as the results are longer lasting.
Are there any specific instructions to follow around the time of my treatment?
To minimize bruising you should avoid taking the following medications for at least 7 days prior to your injections: Any type of anti-inflammatory medication – including Aspirin, Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Aleve, any type of Omega-3 supplements such as fish oil/flax seed oil and Vitamin E. Tylenol does not contribute to bruising and is safe to use prior to your injections.
We also recommend Arnica to help prevent bruising. Start taking Arnica pills 2-3 days before your treatment. After treatment, continue taking the Arnica pills and use an Arnica topical cream until any bruising is gone. Arnica can be purchased in oral pill and topical gel or cream form – we recommend you use both. T-Relief is a specific brand we prefer as the dosing frequency is easier to comply with. Take one pill 3 times daily – allowing the tablet to dissolve in your mouth rather than swallowing it whole.
Several of our injectors are trained to inject filler using a cannula. This is a blunt tipped device that greatly reduces the risk of bruising and increases safety when injecting delicate and more vascular areas of the face. Please ask about this when scheduling your appointment if you want a cannula to be used.
We will send you home with an ice pack. We recommend that you ice the treatment area immediately after treatment to help minimize bruising. You can continue to use ice at home if you have swelling or bruising.
Be aware that the lips are particularly prone to swelling after treatment. This usually resolves in about 48 hours. We offer prednisone to be taken after lip injections to help reduce the inflammatory response and swelling that most patients experience. If you are prone to cold sores, an oral antiviral medication may be prescribed for you.
Any other things to consider in timing my filler treatment?
We recommend that you only undergo filler injections if you have been healthy recently. Prior to your treatment, we will review a list of screening questions with you to be sure the timing is right for doing filler. We avoid treatment if you have had a recent infection of any kind, including recent flu or viral illness, sinus or bladder infection, etc. We avoid treating soon before or after dental work or dental cleaning. We avoid treating within a month of medical procedures/surgery or immunizations. If you are scheduled for a treatment and are unsure if you can safely proceed, feel free to call our office and we can discuss the best timing with you.
Are fillers reversible?
All hyaluronic acid fillers are reversible with an enzyme injection called hyaluronidase. This is reassuring as it is one of the few treatments that we have an eraser for. We carry this enzyme and can use it to dissolve filler if needed.