Soft tissue augmentation has become increasingly popular as new fillers are able to plump up lines and scars due to aging, acne and trauma.
Some have even compared the use of fillers to a liquid face lift. Collagen injections were introduced in the 1970’s and though they gained popularity, many reported problems with allergic reactions and results that only lasted about four months. With new and better fillers, the use of injectable collagen has all but disappeared.
Use the links below to jump to a section or scroll down to learn more about the various cosmetic injectable options offered at many of our offices.
How skin fillers work
When it comes to skin fillers, many new exciting options exist to help diminish and fill smile line creases, marionette frown lines, thin and wrinkled lips, depressed scars, and hollowed out cheeks. Let us choose the appropriate injectable filler that may give temporary or long-lasting improvement. Our new line of fillers–Belotero®, Juvéderm®, Juvéderm Voluma®, Restylane Lift®, Restylane Silk®, Radiesse®, Restylane® and Sculptra®– offer many advantages over the old generation of collagen. See one of our professional skin experts to see which filler would work best for you!
Voluma
Specifically designed to correct volume-loss in the midface, Voluma® is the first FDA-approved dermal filler for creating volume in the cheek area. As the skin ages, the apples of your cheeks can take on a sunken or hollow appearance that can make you look older than you actually are. With Voluma®, a more youthful shape can be restored.
Juvéderm
Touted as the next generation of facial fillers, Juvéderm® injectable gels gently smooth wrinkles and folds around the mouth and nose and restore a youthful volume to the face. They are especially effective on smile lines and ‘parentheses’ (nasolabial folds) that run from the bottom of the nose to the sides of the mouth.
Recently approved by the FDA, Juvéderm® products are made with hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in the body that works with collagen and elastin to provide volume and support to the skin. They come in three formulas optimized for the depth of the area being treated. Juvéderm Ultra® and Juvéderm Ultra Plus® use a more advanced, cross-linked formula for the correction of moderate to severe wrinkles or folds in the mid-to-deep dermis.
Treatment takes only 15 minutes with immediate results and no downtime. Results typically last about 6-9 months and can be made to last even longer with a simple follow-up treatment a few weeks after the initial injection.
Sculptra
Sculptra® is an injectable acid used for the restoration of collagen and the correction of lipodystrophy. The benefits of Sculptra® are not immediately apparent; the body slowly responds to the injection by building up collagen around the area, producing fuller, younger-looking skin. After a series of injections (usually three treatment sessions), the effects can last up to two years before retreatment is needed.
The Sculptra® material is absorbed into the body once it has produced its regenerative effect and does not persist in the body. The active substance is poly-L-lactic acid, an extremely safe compound that has been used in dissolvable stitches for the past ten years. The cosmetic effects of Sculptra® are used for both smoothing out facial wrinkles of older patients, but also restoring normal facial firmness to patients who are victims of facial lipodystrophy (loss of fat). This condition commonly occurs in HIV patients as a side effect of their many medications.
Sculptra® is also an ideal choice for individuals who would like to have their skin rejuvenated but want to do so in a subtle manner. The extended time it takes for the dermis to build itself up allows for a slow transition as opposed to other methods which are apparent immediately after leaving the doctor’s office.
Kybella
Kybella® is a prescription medicine used in adults to improve the appearance and profile of moderate to severe fat below the chin (submental fat), also called “double chin”. If you’re bothered by the fullness beneath your chin, you’re not alone. According to a 2015 survey conducted by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, 67% of people said that they are bothered by the fat beneath their chin, or what your healthcare provider may refer to as “submental fullness associated with submental fat.”
Kybella® is the first and only FDA-approved injectable treatment to improve the appearance of moderate to severe fat beneath the chin by physically destroying fat cells. When injected into the fat beneath your chin, Kybella® destroys fat cells. Once destroyed, those cells cannot store or accumulate fat. The active ingredient in Kybella® is deoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring molecule in the body that aids in the breakdown and absorption of dietary fat.
You can learn more on our page dedicated to Kybella® here.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure done by your healthcare provider to treat uncomplicated spider veins. Using a fine needle, saline solutions, or Sotradecol solutions are injected into unwanted spider veins or legs and thighs leading to resolution of these veins in two-to-four weeks. A series of treatments is necessary for ideal results. The solution we most commonly use is Asclera® (polidocanol). We also require our patients to wear support stockings for at least seven days afterwards.
Spider veins are very small and very fine red, blue, or purple veins. They are closer to the surface of the skin than varicose veins. They can look like a thin red line, tree branches, or spider webs. Spider veins can be found on the legs and face (although spider veins on the face are only treated via laser), and may cover a small or large area. The treatment involves the injection of a solution into the affected veins. Blue spider veins feed the red spider veins, so you need to treat the blue or purple spider veins first with sclerotherapy and then treat the non-clearing ones after with laser. You may have laser treatment as soon as three weeks after the sclerotherapy.
Botox
Most expression-related wrinkles are due to repeated contractions of small muscles beneath the skin. Botox® (Onabotulinum Toxin Type A) temporarily weakens these muscles and the skin relaxes giving these areas a smoother, more rested appearance. Botox® is the preferred treatment for worry lines (between brows), forehead lines and crow’s feet. When appropriate, Botox® can lift the brows and diminish neck bands and smooth the upper lip and chin. You will see a noticeable improvement within four-to-14 days.
Visit our page dedicated to Botox® here to learn more.
Contact us today if you’re interested in learning more about soft tissue augmentation to create a younger, tighter appearance. Use the buttons below to find a clinician or location near you that offers cosmetic injectables. While not every office will offer all of the treatment options listed above, please schedule a consultation with a cosmetic dermatologist who can guide you to the treatment that will work best for you.