RHA®

If you want to look less tired, reduce wrinkles or improve the shape of your face, you may benefit from filler treatment. Fillers improve the cosmetic appearance of smile lines, frown lines, cheek wrinkles, thin or wrinkled lips, under-eye hollows or dark circles, and scars. It can also result in a more lifted look, and reduce the appearance of jowls and sagging.

Pregnant women or persons with allergies to filler ingredients should not receive injectable fillers.

When injected, these fillers enhance volume, erase wrinkles, and augment lips. The active ingredient in each of these products is hyaluronic acid, a protein prepared from a similar protein that occurs naturally in our skin. In its natural state, hyaluronic acid surrounds collagen, a structural protein that resembles a rope in length, flexibility, and hardness. By coating collagen and other structural proteins, hyaluronic acid acts as a cushion for our skin.

The natural occurrence of hyaluronic acid is one of the reasons this substance is used as a filler. In fact, hyaluronic acid is used worldwide more often than any other material. It seldom causes allergic reactions and can be molded into place like putty or clay. It looks natural after injection and its effect can be reversed by simply injecting hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid.

Although uncomfortable, we find most of our patients find the procedure to be much more tolerable than they imagined. The hyaluronic acid filler contains anesthetic and most of our patients tolerate the procedure well. The filler is injected slowly into each of the treated areas. For additional comfort, we blow cold air onto the target area during injection. We often use cannulas (blunt-tipped applicators) to minimize discomfort and bruising. If we treat your lips, which may be more sensitive, we may use additional anesthetic.

Achieving improvement that looks natural is an important part of our mission at Advanced Dermatology. You can expect a more youthful facial appearance that is consistent with the way you look now and your age range, as the lost volumes of key areas described above are filled with hyaluronic acid. The transformation may be profound or subtle, but looks natural and is safe. Family and friends often notice a change but may not be able to identify it.

The benefits of hyaluronic acid fillers are temporary. You can expect your improvements to last 4 to 12 months with Restylane and Juvederm. Maintenance usually consists of one to two visits per year for touch-ups.

Bruising, swelling, and some discomfort are expected. We tell people to prepare for 2-3 days of downtime but occasionally that can stretch to 2 weeks and very rarely beyond. We do have a laser treatment we offer if bruising is significant which reduces the downtime. Occasionally the material clumps in one place, resulting in a lumpy feel in that area. The provider can usually correct this by massaging the lumpy area, although sometimes this corrects without any intervention naturally within 2 weeks. If this does not work it may be necessary to inject hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down the injected hyaluronic acid. The target area must be treated again when the lump is resolved. This is why we recommend a 2-week follow-up visit so we can smooth out such irregularities if they are present, as well as to make sure you are satisfied with the aesthetic result.

Prior to treatment all potential risks and side effects will be discussed with you by your medical provider and cosmetic coordinator.

Advanced Dermatology offers complimentary same day, post-procedure mineral makeup application, after your cosmetic procedure at its skincare boutique, skinfo® Specialty Skincare Boutique.

The treated area will be swollen, red, and bruised. We recommend applying ice to the treated area regularly after the procedure. You may put on makeup immediately, although swelling and redness last 2 to 5 days and possibly 1 week or longer. Numbness from the anesthetic may persist for 1 to 2 hours. We ask you to return in 2 weeks to evaluate your improvement and satisfaction.

To minimize bruising, we suggest that you avoid aspirin, vitamin E, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen) for 7 to 10 days before the procedure. The use of arnica (topical, oral, or both) before and after the procedure also seems to help. No other special preparation is necessary. If you have a history of cold sores on your face, let us know so that we may pretreat you with anti-viral medication.

Yes. Although no other hyaluronic fillers are currently approved by the FDA. Another, injectable filler available at Advanced Dermatology is Sculptra. This unique filler contains a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer that stimulates the growth of your own collagen over time. Fat injections and Radiesse are other filler options not available at Advanced Dermatology.

To improve wrinkles, other options include botulinum toxin, carbon dioxide laser resurfacing, treatment with the Fraxel laser or the Sublime device, and surgical facelift. Facial sagging may also be improved with the Thermage, Profound, Apollo and Pan G.

Yes. For example, botulinum toxins may be injected during your visit filler injection.

Botox Cosmetic helps to correct the upper one-third of your face while fillers help with the lower two-thirds. This combination is widely used because it provides a considerable aesthetic improvement in only 1 to 2 weeks. If filler injection is combined with high-intensity laser treatment, we must wait 1 month after filler infection to use the laser to prevent overheating the filler-treated area.

The cost depends on how much filler is used.