Dermal Fillers
Erase lines and rebuild facial contours instantly with Restylane, Radiesse or Juvederm.
Before and after photos of dermal filler patients
Fast and effective dermal fillers can replace the volume your skin used to have in a matter of minutes! Say bye-bye to laugh lines, sagging and wrinkles, with practically no downtime.
Watch the video : What are dermal fillers?
As we age, not only does our skin produce progressively less collagen, we also lose some of the fat that lies under the skin. Bottom line, we lose volume, and our weaker older skin simply sags.
What are Dermal Fillers?
With today’s fast and effective dermal fillers, such as Restylane, Radiesse and Juvederm, it’s never been easier to replace missing volume, and erase wrinkles or sculpt sagging skin. Fill in those laugh lines, or give your jaw or cheekbones a more youthful look. All in a matter or minutes, and with practically no downtime. Pick your perfect dermal filler, and let AMA Regenerative Medicine & Skincare work the magic!
How Dermal Fillers Help Aging Skin
As people age, the skin progressively continues to produce less and less collagen, causing their skin to thin. Ideally, the patient’s own natural physiological processes can stimulate the production of new collagen to reverse thinning. Additionally, the remaining collagen continues to deteriorate due to age and sun damage. This contributes to the loss of elasticity and structural integrity of the collagen and causes sagging and wrinkling.
Dermal fillers are carefully injected under the skin to correct the lines and wrinkles
How Dermal Fillers Help Loss of Volume
With age many people also lose fat under the skin, (subcutaneous fat). This causes the face to lose volume, which changes the shape and contour of the face. Even when the SpectraLift Non-Surgical FaceLift has repaired the collagen, thereby regenerating it, the changes of shape and contour due to the loss of fat will persist.
As we age our faces lose volume due to loss of subcutaneous fat under the skin
AMA Regenerative Medicine & Skincare has a variety of dermal fillers designed to specifically and effectively address this loss of volume. They bring about the youthful and healthy facial contours that each patient desires.
Benefits of Dermal Fillers
Dermal Fillers have been shown to be safe and effective when compared to collagen skin implants and related products for treatment of the skin on the face. Dermal fillers work by stimulating the body to build its own collagen in the matrix of gel that carries Dermal Fillers. This augmentation can last for extended periods and some clients report satisfaction with the cosmetic result for periods of up to two years.
The Different Types of Dermal Fillers
There are a number of different kinds of fillers now available on the market, all approved for use in the skin. Each of them utilizes a different naturally occurring substance found in the skin, scientifically modified to last longer than the naturally occurring substance.
Different formulas are specifically engineered to be used in different parts of the face and each of the substances will last a characteristic length of time before the body dissolves it away.
Some of the fillers are designed to create “scaffolding” in the skin to encourage the growth of new collagen. Ideally, after a number of applications sufficient collagen will have grown into the scaffolding to eliminate the need for any further fillers.
Restylane®
Restylane is a synthetic dermal filler
Restylane is a synthetically manufactured injectable dermal filler gel. This FDA-approved dermal filler is capable of restoring facial volume, creating a softer facial look, and revitalizing the face’s overall appearance.
Restylane is synthetic which minimizes the risk of animal-based disease transmissions and/or the development of allergic reactions to animal proteins. Nevertheless, Restylane still has the ability to directly enhance your skin’s natural reserve of hyaluronic acid – adding volume, removing wrinkles, and re-sculpting facial features.
A typical Restylane procedure takes about 45 minutes to complete and is associated with having only minimal downtime. Although results may vary, the patient can instantly see facial appearance improvement, and will usually last for about 6 months.
What Is Restylane Used For?
Restylane dermal products are fillers designed to fight the signs of aging by reducing the appearance of wrinkles as well as providing fullness and volume in the face and lips. The products are specially formulated to enhance your natural beauty and serve as a conservative alternative to more invasive treatments to help you achieve natural-looking, long-lasting results.
Restylane can be used in a variety of ways and is most often tailored to:
- Augmenting downturned corners of the lips and mouth.
- Reducing the appearance of marionette lines around the mouth.
- Correcting and smoothing deep nasolabial folds.
- Increasing volume and fullness in the cheeks and other hollows of the face.
- Plumping the lips and filling in any vertical lip lines.
With its versatility, Restylane can generally be used in combination with other treatments to achieve the desired results. As such, it is an ideal alternative to more invasive treatments, including surgery, laser treatments, and face lifts.
What Are the Risks of Restylane?
While the risks associated with Restylane are generally minimal and can be further diminished by receiving treatment from a certified professional, there is always the potential for side effects with cosmetic treatments. Most patients who undergo Restylane experience very minimal reaction site pain and limited recovery time; however, some patients do experience minor discomfort at the site of the injection, including:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Irritation
- Tenderness
- Bruising
Although uncommon, injections can cause more significant concerns should the treatment be performed incorrectly or the patient to have a reaction. These concerns include:
- Infection
- Hematoma
- Asymmetry
- Muscle drooping
- Allergic reaction
- Severe swelling
Radiesse®
Radiesse is considered a “sub-dermal” filler
Radiesse is an injectable “sub-dermal” filler gel formulated from a naturally occurring substance – calcium hydroxylapatite – that is FDA-approved. It is capable of diminishing the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles around the nose, mouth, and eyes. Calcium hydroxylapatite is completely natural. This means that it does not carry the risk of allergic reactions. Additionally, it does not need to undergo testing for animal-based disease transmissions.
Specialists consider Radiesse a “sub-dermal” filler that works to remove wrinkles from below the skin’s surface. This does not only replace lost volume creating a “plumped up” appearance of the face, but also encourages the production of new collagen. When injected, Radiesse is “laid-down” in a manner resembling a scaffold. This promotes collagen cells to naturally and optimally grow around it.
Although results may vary, a typical Radiesse procedure will provide an immediately noticeable younger appearance of the patient’s face. Results usually lasts for 12 to 18 months.
What Is Radiesse Used For?
Radiesse is intended for use by anyone wanting to improve the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles around the mouth and cheeks. The cosmetic filler can also be utilized for individuals who have scarring or deep skin depressions as well as those desiring to augment the size and appearance of the lips.
With its versatility and functionality, Radiesse can be used for:
- Filling in deep nasolabial folds.
- Reducing the appearance of marionette lines.
- Correcting smile and frown lines.
- Adding volume to the lips.
- Augmenting the shape of the nose.
- Enhancing the appearance of the cheeks.
- Reshaping the chin and jawline.
You can typically begin to see the results of this treatment almost immediately. They can last up to a year or more. In fact, compared to other fillers, Radiesse generally requires less frequent injections and touchups.
What Are the Risks of Radiesse?
Like other dermal products, Radiesse has undergone years of study and research through which it has been proven to be safe and effective. Like Restylane, Radiesse does not require an allergy test prior to injection because it is made of a substance naturally found in the body. Nonetheless, there is the potential for some injection site discomfort, including:
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Tenderness
In some cases, individuals have developed small scars, known as keloids or hypertophic scars at the injection site. This condition is rare and can typically be avoided by consulting with your doctor prior to treatment.
Juvederm™
Juvederm is made of all natural hyaluronic acid
Juvederm is an injectable dermal filler gel formulated from a substance that naturally occurs within your skin – hyaluronic acid – that is FDA-approved. It is capable of effectively removing wrinkles as well as hydrating and replenishing volume to the patient’s face.
Because hyaluronic acid is all-natural, meaning that it is neither derived from animals sources nor tested on animals, no allergy or animal-based disease transmission tests need to be performed prior to injection with this dermal filler.
Makers of Juvéderm manufacture it through a unique process. This process gives the injectable gel the highest concentration of cross-linked hyaluronic acid amongst the available FDA-approved dermal fillers. (Unlike Juvéderm, other dermal fillers are made through a process which creates granular consistency gels). This means that not only will it provide the longest lasting results, but it was also create an incredibly smooth and natural look and feel to your face.
What Is Juvederm Used For?
As with Restylane, there is an entire line of Juvederm products each with its own intended use and purpose. Nonetheless, Juvederm can be used to achieve a variety of goals, including:
- Filling in the lips.
- Firming up the under eye area.
- Improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Reducing the appearance of acne scarring.
- Adding volume to the cheeks.
- Filling in the “parentheses” around the nose and mouth.
Again, it is important to work with your provider to determine which Juvederm product is right for you; there are several option to choose from.
If you’re starting to see age lines you don’t like, the above dermal fillers can help you in your quest to fight the aging process.
Before and after dermal fillers under the eyes
Treatment with Dermal Fillers
After the proper filler has been selected to match the patient’s needs, the most critical elements in a successful dermal filling procedure are the technique and artistry of the doctor who is doing the procedure. How gently and accurately the filler is injected into the skin is all about technique. Where and how much filler is injected to achieve the best esthetic results is all about the artistry.
Bottom line: you want a doctor who has mastered both disciplines.
Preparing for Treatment
Getting an injectable treatment isn’t as simple as showing up, laying down, closing your eyes and waiting for results. Like all treatments, it is important to prepare and know that there are a few simple steps you should take before having your injectable treatments.
1. Avoid vitamin E, St. John’s wort, ibuprofen, aspirin and other anti-inflammatories for 10 days to two weeks before your injections, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Avoiding these will reduce swelling and bruising.
2. If you are seeing a new physician, it’s important to notify your injector of the last time you had any injections, what was injected and specifically where. Not all injectables mix well, so be thorough.
3. Do not undergo injections if you are intoxicated or under the influence of any controlled substance.
4. If you are prone to cold sores, notify your doctor in advance. A prescription of anti-herpes medication can prevent a post-injection outbreak.
5. Don’t plan your treatment within a day or two of an important event. You may have visible swelling and bruising that not even a great concealer can hide.
What to Expect During Treatment
Dr. Pien injecting fillers into a patients marionette lines
This product is administered via a syringe injection into the area of the face where the appearance is to be filled or augmented with dermal fillers. An anesthesia (numbing medicine) may be used to reduce the discomfort of these injections or may be iced prior to injection to reduce the risk of swelling with treatment.
The area being treated will be first cleansed with an antiseptic.
Dermal Fillers are a substance that will be injected under the skin using a small gauge needle. The depth of each injection will vary depending on the area and severity of wrinkle being treated or feature being augmented. Multiple injections may be required to achieve the desired cosmetic result.
Following injection, the injector will massage the areas treated to even the contour of the treated area with the surrounding tissues. Ice may be applied after injection to reduce any swelling that may result from the treatment. After the initial treatment, repeat injections may be required desired cosmetic results. Periodic touch-up injections may help sustain the desired level of correction.
Learn More About Other Anti-Aging Treatments
Page originally published on October 27, 2014. Last reviewed on February 9, 2021 by Alice Pien, MD and Asher Milgrom, PhD.