Dermal Fillers

Guide

We naturally lose volume in the face with aging, resulting in a saggy, wrinkly, sunken look. At Simply.Aesthetics we offer various dermal fillers that help restore volume and bring back your bright and youthful appearance. 

Fillers aren’t just for turning back the clock. While they’re great for smoothing wrinkles, their uses go way beyond anti-aging.

We regularly see people in their 20s using fillers for facial contouring. This can help define cheekbones, enhance jawlines, or balance out features.

What are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers are injectable treatments that fill in moderate wrinkles and fine lines, restore lost volume, and plump and hydrate lips. These products are typically made with a hyaluronic acid-based formula and are proven to be safe and effective. While many dermal fillers have similar formulas, slight adjustments in these formulas make them specially tailored to treat specific concerns on specific parts of the body.

How Do They Work?

Dermal fillers are a great option for people who want to achieve natural-looking improvements but aren’t ready for facial rejuvenation surgery. Made with hyaluronic acid, a substance that is naturally found in your skin, these injectables plump up areas that have lost volume. This helps to:

• Reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles such as laugh lines, frown lines, and those around your lips
• Add volume to areas that might look sunken in, like your cheeks, temples, or under your eyes
• Give your skin a plumper, smoother appearance for a more refreshed look

Types of Dermal Fillers

Understanding that every patient who walks through our doors has unique concerns, goals, and anatomy, we offer various dermal fillers here at Simply.Aesthetics, each developed to address specific needs.

JUVEDERM®

Want to add some volume and smooth out lines on your face? JUVÉDERM® is the #1 chosen dermal filler collection in the US, according to their website.

JUVÉDERM® fillers are designed for specific areas of your face. Whether you want to:

• Plump up your lips
• Add volume to your cheeks
• Soften those smile lines
• Define your jawline
• Improve the appearance of under-eye hollows

…there’s a JUVÉDERM® filler for that! They all work to add volume and leave you with a natural-looking result.

The JUVEDERM® family offers a variety of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers to target different concerns:

JUVEDERM® ULTRA/ULTRA PLUS XC: This filler tackles those stubborn lines around your nose and mouth such as nasolabial folds (parentheses lines) or marionette lines. It can last up to a year thanks to a special technology called HYLACROSS™, and it even has a little numbing agent to make the injections more comfortable.

JUVEDERM® VOLUMA: Want to add some lift and volume to your cheeks? JUVÉDERM® VOLUMA plumps out your cheeks for a subtle lift and a more youthful look.

JUVEDERM® VOLBELLA: This filler is perfect for fuller, smoother lips, and can also soften those tiny lines that creep up around your mouth known as perioral lines.

Restylane®

The Restylane® line of dermal fillers also uses the active ingredient hyaluronic acid to deliver natural-looking results. It is an FDA-approved dermal filler family used worldwide and admired for its safety and variety. The Restylane® family of fillers has indications to smooth away facial wrinkles and folds, enhance lips, volumize and lift cheeks, and help reverse signs of aging in the hands. 

At Simply.Aesthetics, we offer a range of Restylane fillers to address different concerns. Here’s a quick rundown:

Restylane: This one is a multi-tasker. It can plump up lips, smooth out stubborn wrinkles like those around your nose and mouth (called nasolabial folds and marionette lines), and add volume to areas that have lost it over time.

Refyne: This next-generation filler is all about natural beauty. It subtly smooths out laugh lines without making your expressions look frozen. You can think of it as added support for your skin from behind the scenes.

Defyne: Defyne tackles deeper lines while keeping your smile bright and your expressions natural. Your chin and jawline can lose definition as you age, and Defyne can help bring it back.

Silk: Looking for smoother, plumper lips? Silk adds volume and reduces those vertical lines above your lips while keeping your lips looking and feeling natural. 

Restylane-L: This all-in-one filler is perfect for tackling a variety of concerns. It can smooth wrinkles anywhere on your face, including those pesky under-eye hollows, and add definition to your lips.

Belotero Balance® (+)

Belotero Balance® (+) is FDA-approved in the US for smoothing out moderate to deep wrinkles including under-eye hollows for a refreshed look. Its soft, gel-like consistency with hyaluronic acid that binds with water in your skin subtly fills lines and wrinkles. This unique filler blends seamlessly into your skin, giving you a natural-looking glow without restricting expressions or feeling unnatural. The results of this dermal filler can last up to six months.

SKINVIVE™

SKINVIVE™ by JUVÉDERM® is the first FDA-approved microdroplet HA injectable in the US designed to smooth cheeks. It hydrates skin, retains natural moisture, and gives a glow lasting up to six months. Unlike other injectables that add volume, SKINVIVE™ focuses on increasing skin hydration. Hyaluronic acid, a moisture magnet in your skin, decreases with age and sun exposure. SKINVIVE™ helps restore this and includes lidocaine for comfort during the procedure.

Revanesse® Versa™+

Revanesse® Versa™+ is an FDA-approved dermal filler that uses hyaluronic acid (HA) to smooth lines and wrinkles and enhance facial volume. It’s especially effective for treating nasolabial folds, oral commissures (the creases at the corners of your mouth), marionette lines, and mental creases (chin wrinkles), giving you a fresh, youthful look.

Versa™+ stands out from other dermal fillers due to its advanced technology. It uses wet milling technology, which makes it easier to manipulate and fill specific facial areas. This paired with its uniquely spherical, uniform hyaluronic acid particles ensures more precise and natural-looking results. Versa™+’s unique formula makes it unmatched in delivering smooth, consistent enhancements compared to other fillers.

Which Dermal Filler is Right for Me?

With such a broad range of dermal fillers, you may feel overwhelmed when deciding which is best for your aesthetic needs. Fortunately, you don’t have to make this decision on your own. Our trained medical team will work with you during your consultation and discuss your cosmetic goals, medical history, and current state of health to decide which is best for you.

How To Prepare for a Treatment

Ready for your filler appointment? Here’s how to be prepared:

Don’t smoke – Smoking can slow healing, so avoid it at all costs.

Easy on the alcohol – Alcohol can thin your blood and make bruising more likely, so it’s best to keep it light or cut it out completely for a few days beforehand.

Skip the blood thinners – Certain medications and supplements can thin your blood and increase your risk of bleeding during the procedure. Talk to your injector about what to avoid.

Give your skin care regimen a break – Put those harsh scrubs and retinoids on hold for a while. Your aesthetic professional will advise you regarding what products to avoid to keep your skin prepped for filler.

Avoid the sun – Too much sun exposure can make your skin more sensitive. Take a break from tanning and avoid strong sun before your appointment.

Be gentle with your skin – Avoid irritants like waxing, tweezing, or harsh exfoliants. You want your skin calm and relaxed before the fillers.

What is a Treatment Like?

The injection itself is a quick outpatient procedure done here at our office. One of our experienced injectors will first numb the area for comfort, and then use a thin needle to inject small amounts of filler. It might pinch a bit, but most people tolerate it well. The whole thing usually takes less than an hour so you can return to your day in no time.

How Long is Recovery?

Recovery time varies depending on the areas treated, the filler used, and your overall health. Most people can resume their normal activities immediately, but your injector might recommend taking a break from strenuous exercise for a day or two.

After the injections, you might experience some bruising, swelling, or discomfort, but these are usually mild and fade away within a few days.

When Will I See the Results and How Long Will They Last?

Everyone is different but many people see results almost immediately. Cleveland Clinic says, how long it takes to see full results and how long they last depends on your skin type and the specific treatment you choose.

Am I a Candidate?

If you’re looking to do any of the following, dermal fillers may help you achieve your goals:

• Smooth out wrinkles and fine lines
• Plump up thin lips
• Add volume and definition
• Enhance facial contours

It’s important to know that fillers aren’t a replacement for surgery. They can’t achieve the same dramatic results as a facelift or eyelid surgery, but they’re a great option for a natural-looking improvement for early aging changes.

Generally, you’re a good candidate for dermal fillers if you:

• Are in good health
• Do not have any serious medical conditions that could impact healing
• Are a non-smoker 
• Do not have deep wrinkles or concerns that might be better addressed with surgery

Safety & Risks

While dermal fillers are generally safe, it’s important to be aware of some potential side effects. Just like any medical procedure, there are risks involved, though serious complications are rare. Here’s a breakdown of what to keep in mind:

• Temporary swelling, bruising, or redness
• Asymmetrical results
• Infection 
• Lumps or bumps
• Numbness
• itchiness

Although extremely rare, dermal fillers can cause a blockage in a blood vessel. This is called vascular occlusion. It’s important to note that this is uncommon, but it’s still good to be aware of the signs, which can include:

• Sudden, severe pain in the treated area
• Pale skin around the injection site
• Loss of vision

If you experience any of the above symptoms after getting dermal fillers, seek immediate medical attention.

If you want to learn more about how dermal fillers can improve your appearance and increase your confidence, contact the experienced aesthetic professionals at Simply.Aesthetics today.