Improving Skin Texture with Injectable Facial Fillers
As we age, our faces begin to show the effects of gravity, sun exposure and years of facial muscle movement, such as smiling and chewing. The underlying tissues that keep our skin looking youthful and plumped up begin to break down, often leaving laugh lines, smile lines, and facial creases over the areas where this muscle movement occurs.
Soft-tissue fillers, such as Restylane, Perlane, JUVEDERM™ Injectable Gel or Radiesse can help fill in these lines and creases, temporarily restoring a smoother, more youthful-looking appearance. When injected beneath the skin, these fillers plump up creased and sunken areas of the face. They can also add fullness to the lips and cheeks. Injectable fillers may be used alone or in conjunction with a resurfacing procedure, JUVEDERM™ Injectable Gel or a recontouring procedure, such as a facelift. 
Know Your Options
Facial Fillers or Injectable Fillers are primarily used to improve the appearance of the skin’s texture. They can help fill out deep facial wrinkles, creases and furrows, “sunken” cheeks, skin depressions and some types of scars. They can also be used to add a fuller, more sensuous look to the lips and improve “lipstick lines”.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is used to help smooth creases caused by overactive muscles (such as forehead wrinkles, crow’s feet and frown lines). When excess facial or neck skin is present, this type of aging is more appropriately treated by face and neck lifts or forehead lifts.
What to Expect From Treatment
The most important fact to remember about injectable fillers is that the results are not permanent. Injected material is eventually metabolized by the body. You should not expect the same long-lasting results that may be gained from cosmetic surgery.
Depending on the type of facial filler used, the results may last anywhere from a few months to a year or more. Researchers believe that age, genetic background, skin quality and lifestyle as well as the injected body site may all play a role in the injected material’s “staying power.”
Risk Related to Injectables
When injectables are administered by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor in nature. Still, individuals vary greatly in their anatomy, their physical reactions and their healing abilities. The outcome of treatment with injectables is never completely predictable.
Redness and swelling are common for 2-5 days after treatment. Early lumpiness can be treated with finger pressure, later lumpiness generally resolves by itself. Nodules may require office treatment.
In contrast to collagen, prior testing is not required for Restylane, Perlane, JUVEDERM™ Injectable Gel or Radiesse. Risks not necessarily related to allergies include infection, abscesses, open sores, skin peeling, scarring and lumpiness, which may persist over the treated area. Reports of these problems are very rare.
Planning for Treatment
Facial rejuvenation is very individualized. That’s why it’s important to discuss your hopes and expectations during your consultation. In your initial consultation, we will evaluate your face — the skin, the muscles and the underlying bone — and discuss your goals for the surgery. We will help you select a treatment option based on your goals and concerns, your anatomy and your lifestyle.
We will ask you about your medical history, drug allergies, and check for conditions that could cause problems, such as active skin infections or non-healed sores from injuries. Facial fillers are generally off limits for pregnant women, patients who suffer from autoimmune diseases, and those who are allergic to the local anesthetic.
The Treatments
Injectables are administered in our office. After the areas are marked, the patient ices the area. Local anesthesia (Lidocaine) is injected followed by the facial filler. A treatment takes approximately 20-30 minutes. Lips take longer.
Icing is continued after the treatment. After the local wears off, you may notice some minor discomfort, stinging or throbbing in the injected area. Occasionally some bruising will occur, but it is usually minor. Swelling and redness in the injected site is common and usually disappears in 2-5 days. In some individuals, particularly fair-skinned patients, this redness may persist for a week or more. Tiny scabs may also form over the needle-stick areas; these generally heal quickly.
No bandaging is needed and you are free to eat, drink, and wear makeup with sunblock protection shortly thereafter.
It is best to be seen for a follow-up appointment and possible “touch-up” about 3-4 weeks after treatment.
Your New Look
If you’re like most of our patients, you’ll be satisfied with the results of your injectable treatments. You may be surprised at the pleasing results that can be gained from this procedure.
Fees for Injectables:
Facial Fillers:
Restylane®: $500 per 1 cc syringe (Includes local anesthesia)
Perlane®: $550 per 1 cc syringe (Includes local anesthesia)
JUVEDERM™ Injectable Gel: Ultra $500 per 0.8 cc syringe (Includes local anesthesia)
Ultra Plus $550 per 0.8 cc syringe (Includes local anesthesia)
Radiesse®: $800 per 1.3 cc syringe (Includes local anesthesia)
$400 per 0.3 cc syringe for touch-ups (Includes local anesthesia)
Fat Grafting: Varies, needs to be determined at time of consultation.
BOTOX® Cosmetic :
Forehead: About 8 to 10 injections at $35.00 per injection ($14 per unit — 2.5 units per .05cc injection)
Frown Lines: About 4 to 10 injections at $35.00 per injection ($14 per unit — 2.5 units per .05cc injection)
Crow’s Feet: About 3 to 4 injections per side at $35.00 per injection ($14 per unit — 2.5 units per .05cc injection)
Armpits (for sweating): About 10-12 injections per side at $35.00 per injection ($14 per unit — 2.5 units per .05cc injection).
Total view -1044- Daily view -0-