Fillers: Juvéderm,® Restylane,® Versa,® Bellafill® & Sculptra®
Juvéderm,® Restylane,® and Revanesse® fillers all contain hyaluronic acid (HA) mixed in a smooth gel with lidocaine. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule in the body, but we unfortunately produce less of it as we age. In skin cells, HA attracts and holds onto moisture which allows skin to feel plump and hydrated. This helps skin to stretch, flex, and reduces wrinkles. In other parts of the body HA is responsible for lubricating joints and has even been found to increase wound healing!
At Renew Medical Aesthetics, we offer a wide variety of HA fillers so every patient can obtain their perfect result. We offer Juvéderm®, Restylane®, and Revanesse® products. Juvéderm fillers include Juvéderm XC, Vollure XC, and Volbella XC. Restylane produces Refyne, Defyne, Kysse, and Lyft. And Revanesse manufactures both Versa and Lips+. We also offer both Bellafill® and Sculptra® which stimulate collagen, providing even longer results. While it may seem excessive, each filler has a different texture and thickness, making them all suitable for different patient expectations and regions of the body. Luckily, your provider will narrow down options with you as you talk through your desired outcomes together.
What is Filler Used For?
- Plump lips
- Add volume and lift to cheeks
- Diminish moderate to severe wrinkles and folds, such as smile lines
- Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around your nose and mouth
- Provide facial contouring and balancing (liquid rhinoplasty, accentuation of jawline, etc.)
How Long Does a Treatment Take?
A treatment can take anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the area(s) that you would like treated. When you come into the office for your appointment, your practitioner will apply a topical numbing cream. We then leave the cream on for 30 to 60 minutes to ensure that you will be as comfortable as possible throughout the procedure. The fillers used in our office also come mixed with numbing medication (lidocaine) for enhanced patient comfort.
When Will I See Results?
Many patients will notice results immediately after treatment, but outcomes will continue to improve with time, as the product integrates with your tissues. Clinical studies have found that dermal fillers reach their peak effect at 4 weeks after injection. Hyaluronic acid is water-binding, so we recommend that patients stay well hydrated after treatment to maximize results.
How Long Will Results Last?
Typically, benefits from hyaluronic acid dermal fillers can last between 6 to 12 months, but some collagen-stimulating products, such as Bellafill® and Sculptra®, can provide results for up to 5 years. In addition to the type of filler used, several other factors can influence their longevity, including your body’s unique metabolism and the location in which the filler was placed. Individual results will vary and you should discuss this with us when you come in for your treatment. You may need “touch-up” treatments to maintain optimal correction of wrinkles.
Do I Need to Avoid Any Medications Before Getting Filler?
It is typically recommended to avoid Aspirin, Motrin, Ginkgo Biloba, Garlic, Flax Oil, Cod Liver Oil, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and any other blood thinners 3 to 5 days prior to your procedure to minimize any bruising or bleeding. Be sure to discuss all medications that you are currently taking with us and your primary care provider prior to discontinuing any medications.
Are There Any Side Effects?
The best decision that you can make to ensure your safety during a filler procedure is choosing an injector who is dedicated to continuing their education and has a myriad of experience in the field. Although risk of complications is decreased by the technique of an expert injector, there is always risk of localized redness, tenderness, swelling, firmness, bumps, discoloration, bruising, and a very rare possibility of infection. However, if you would ever like to get rid of filler, including any that you currently have, it is possible to get it dissolved quickly and easily in the office using an enzymatic solution called Hylanex.
Other Considerations
- Avoid alcoholic drinks for at least 24 hours prior to treatment. Alcohol can thin the blood and increase the risk of bruising.
- You may take Arnica tablets starting up to a week prior to your appointment to help with bruising and swelling. Arnica is a homeopathic herb which can be purchased at your local health food store in both oral and topical forms.
- It is ideal to schedule your filler appointment at least 2 weeks before a big event. At this point any bruising or swelling should have subsided.
- Be sure to have a good breakfast, including food and drink before your treatment.
- You are not a candidate if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Bellafill®
(Stimulates Collagen)
Bellafill® is the only dermal filler that stimulates collagen growth long-term to help maintain your youthful appearance for up to 5 years.
Bellafill’s tiny, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microspheres are suspended within a base of smooth collagen gel. Once injected, the collagen gel immediately reduces the look of smile lines. Over time, your body uses the microspheres in Bellafill® to create a “scaffold” onto which your own natural collagen can develop. This collagen forms a foundation that adds volume to wrinkles, reducing their appearance and giving you natural-looking results that feel soft and smooth for up to 5 years.
Medications to Avoid
Similar to HA fillers, it is reccomended that you discontinue the use of medications that thin the blood 3 to 5 days before your injections to minimize the risk of bleeding and bruising. This includes Aspirin, Motrin, Ginkgo Biloba, Garlic, Flax Oil, Cod Liver Oil, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and any other blood thinners. However, be sure to discuss all medications that you are currently taking with us and your primary care provider prior to discontinuing any medications.
Possible Side Effects
Localized redness, tenderness, swelling, firmness, bumps, discoloration, bruising; very rare possibility of an infection.
Prior to Bellafill® injections you will need to get a skin test to make sure that you don’t have any allergies to the Bellafill® contents.
Sculptra®
(Stimulates Collagen)
Sculptra® is an injectable filler that activates your skin’s natural power to produce collagen for a more youthful appearance. Sculptra is a unique aesthetic treatment due to its ability to stimulate collagen, restoring facial volume that has been lost due to aging or illness. The ingredient that stimulates collagen production is poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a biocompatible synthetic substance. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved Sculptra® in 2004 for restoration following lipoatrophy (fat loss) experienced by patients with HIV. In 2009, the FDA approved it under the brand name Sculptra® Aesthetic for the treatment of deep facial wrinkles and folds to create a more youthful appearance in people with healthy immune systems.
Medications to Avoid
Similar to HA fillers, it is reccomended that you discontinue the use of medications that thin the blood 3 to 5 days before your injections to minimize the risk of bleeding and bruising. This includes Aspirin, Motrin, Ginkgo Biloba, Garlic, Flax Oil, Cod Liver Oil, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and any other blood thinners. However, be sure to discuss all medications that you are currently taking with us and your primary care provider prior to discontinuing any medications.
Possible Side Effects
Localized redness, tenderness, swelling; firmness, bumps; discoloration, bruising; very rare possibility of infection.
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