SCHEDULE A CONSULTATIONFillers (Juvederm / Restylane / Belotero)
WHAT ARE DERMAL FILLERS?
Dermal fillers like Juvederm, Restylane, and Belotero work by replacing the collagen our skin naturally loses with age. Collagen is the protein responsible for our skin’s pliancy and firmness, and it contributes quite a bit to the shape of our skin.
Most modern dermal fillers offer additional benefits. For example, most are based on hyaluronic acid, a compound with extraordinary water-retention qualities, which allows them to provide long-term hydration benefits. Below, we’ll take a look at three of the most popular dermal fillers and see what makes them effective.
HOW DO DERMAL FILLERS HELP THE EYE AREA?
Dermal fillers restore fullness, firmness, and pliancy to skin after it has begun to lose collagen and other supporting tissue from its deeper layers. They also happen to be highly effective against eye bags and darkened areas under the eyes.
Some care should be used when choosing a dermal filler for areas around the eye. Many modern dermal fillers contain hydrating and/or collagen-stimulating agents. When these are used in thicker-skinned areas of the face, such as the cheeks, they tend to function very well. When used in thinner-skinned areas, including anywhere near the eye, their ability to retain moisture and to generate new collagen often appears as unwelcome swelling.
WHAT IS JUVEDERM?
Juvederm is a relatively light, easily administered, long-lasting dermal filler based on hyaluronic acid. Because each injection of Juvederm tends to sit less heavily under the skin than some other dermal fillers, it may take many injections over the course of nearly an hour to complete a single treatment. This same factor makes Juvederm a popular choice for delicate areas of the skin such as the area immediately under the eyes.
Juvederm also comes in two specialized formulas. Volbella is an even lighter-weight compound used to achieve a smooth look in critical areas, especially the lips. Vollure XT is a heavier formulation designed to provide extra structural support and hydration to more deeply lined areas of the face such as those around the mouth and nose.
In most cases, the results of Juvederm injections are immediately apparent, and last for 18 to 24 months.
WHAT IS RESTYLANE?
Restylane, like the other fillers on this list, is based on hyaluronic acid. Its formula is a bit heavier than that of Juvederm’s line, allowing it to provide more support to deeply wrinkled areas than Juvederm products. Some Restylane products contain lidocaine, a gentle numbing agent that provides some of the benefits of Botox.
Applications of Restylane typically take 30 to 60 minutes, and results may only be apparent after a day or two worth of downtime. In exchange for its greater impact, Restylane tends to be a bit shorter-lived than Juvederm: results typically last for 12-18 months.
WHAT IS BELOTERO?
Belotero is a family of dermal fillers of firmer consistency than Juvederm or Restylane. Like those others, it is based on hyaluronic acid for excellent hydration, but Belotero’s line is used primarily to sculpt parts of the face that require significant additional support.
An especially firm Belotero formulation, Belotero Balance, has proven to be effective against deep lines and wrinkles. Unlike most other dermal fillers, which are injected into carefully selected sites and flow outward a bit from the injection site as they integrate with the skin, Belotero Balance is designed to bond with underlying skin layers, and is administered in direct relation to the surface imperfections it is meant to correct.
Belotero injections typically take 45 to 60 minutes, and depending on the nature of the application may involve a week or so of downtime. Full results begin to appear within a week or two, and can last for up to 18 months.
HOW IS THE PROCEDURE PERFORMED?
The procedure itself is quick and largely painless. A topical anesthetic numbs the skin to be treated, and the filler is injected soon thereafter. Patients may need to wait two or three days before the filler completely settles into place and swelling subsides.
I AM INTERESTED. HOW SHOULD I PROCEED?
Dr. Stout’s goal during the consultation is to provide the patient with information and teach them as much as possible. He begins by listening and will ask the patient what they would like to discuss and what their goals are. The patient’s input is very important. This allows Dr. Stout to work together with the patient through the decision-making process and establish a plan based upon their goals. He believes that knowledge is empowering as it enables his patients to make decisions with confidence and makes them a better partner in the entire process.
Our treatments are designed to provide patients with rejuvenated looks, using a common-sense philosophy that always focuses on what’s best for the individual patient first.
If you are considering this procedure, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with us through our website, or simply pick up the phone and give us a call to schedule an appointment.