Facial Fillers

Some of the most popular facial rejuvenation techniques are dermal fillers, which our Marin, Napa, and Sonoma County patients use on a regular basis. These simple treatments are safer than surgical procedures and can be done over lunchtime with no downtime. The needle that delivers the filler is so small there is typically little discomfort, especially if topical numbing cream is applied. With a knowledgeable and artistic eye, results can be remarkable, especially to restore volume to the face(called the Liquid Lift) or plump lips and even reshape the nose. Fillers cost less than surgery, but are not permanent. Depending on the filler, they can last from six months to two years. They are a great alternative for someone who wants to look less gaunt and more youthful but is not ready for surgery. Virtually no downtime is an enormous plus for this solution in the battle against aging.

Men and women interested in dermal fillers come to our Greenbrae practice from Corte Madera, Mill Valley, San Rafael, and throughout Marin County. Request a consultation with one of our board certified plastic surgeons, or call our office at (415) 925-2880 to schedule an appointment.

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Facial Fillers, Including Fat Transfer

It is a cruel irony of aging; as we grow older, we seem to accumulate fat around our middles, but lose it from our face. Think of a youthful face, and you’ll most likely picture a face with full, rounded cheeks. That’s because fat plays a large part in filling out the skin and keeping our faces looking smooth and supple. Aging also results in a loss of collagen, which our bodies stop producing around age 25. To a lesser degree, our facial appearance is also affected by the loss of muscle and bone that accompanies the aging process. The combination of these factors add up to an overall decrease in facial fullness. More and more doctors and patients are seeking to improve the appearance of an aging face by restoring areas that have lost volume.

Dermal Fillers for Facial Rejuvenation

Fillers as a choice for facial rejuvenation techniques make sense for many reasons:

• Safer than surgical procedures
• They can be performed during an office visit
• Needles delivering the fillers are so small procedure often done without anesthetic
• Little or no recovery time
• Significantly less expensive than surgery

The only downside is that the effects of injectable fillers are not as long lasting as a surgical procedure. Men and women interested in dermal fillers come to our Greenbrae practice from Corte Madera, Mill Valley, San Rafael, and throughout Marin County. 

Best Candidates

Injectable fillers are especially popular with patients who are just beginning to show the signs of aging. Older patients often find that facial fillers in combination with other procedures (laser resurfacing or Microchanneling with PRP, for example) can dramatically reverse signs of aging with very little downtime.

As we age, gravity, and genetic and environmental factors cause the breakdown of the underlying tissue structure responsible for youthful-looking skin. Eventually, folds and wrinkles appear. By injecting fillers into these creased areas, the experts at Plastic Surgery Specialists can soften lines significantly, and restore volume.

For example, women and men whose cheeks have sagged and flattened with age are excellent candidates for JUVÉDERM VOLUMA™ XC, a filler designed to restore volume to the cheeks. The lift and volume this filler adds can last between 12 months and 18 months. This is just one example of how different fillers can be used in different areas of the face. Please see the diagram at the top of the page as a quick reference for filler placement, formulation, and duration.

Which Injectable Filler Is Right for You?

There are many injectable fillers available, and our staff at our beautiful, state-of-the-art surgery center in Marin County can help you determine which ones would work best for your needs. Your particular facial concerns will ultimately dictate the choice you and your doctor make together. 

The soft tissue fillers work not only to smooth out fine lines on the surface of the skin and to fill out deeper lines, but also to augment the lips, which often become thinner with age. Applied properly by skilled our skilled surgeons and aesthetic nurses with complete knowledge of facial anatomy, dermal fillers improve and augment facial structure for beautiful, natural-looking results.

A Liquid Facelift is the lifting, plumping, filling, smoothing and/or re-contouring of the face through the use of injectable dermal fillers, such as JUVÉDERM, JUVÉDERM Voluma™ XC, Radiesse, Sculptra or fat transfer. As the workhorses of facial fillers, JUVÉDERM Voluma and Volbella are popular in the San Francisco Bay Area. Skillfully injected by board-certified plastic surgeons, these fillers can minimize lines and add to facial volume, creating a more rested and youthful appearance.

The doctors will recommend the filler that best fits your needs for the effect you would like to achieve. For some it may be slightly fuller lips. For others it might be diminishing nasolabial folds, or rebuilding the cheek plane to look less deflated. Please see the diagram below for a quick overview of filler choices and duration of the product. With the exception of Sculptra (a Poly-l-lactic acid base, and Radiesse which acts differently from Hyaluronic acid) all the fillers are formulations of hyaluronic acid. Sculptra and Radiesse work somewhat differently by building collagen from the inside out, and therefore it takes longer to see results.

FILLER CHOICES

Juvéderm Voluma™ XC

One of the most exciting fillers to come on the market in recent years is JUVÉDERM VOLUMA XC. At our San Francisco Bay Area practice, we are excited to offer this remarkable product to patients who want to restore volume and lift to the mid-face for a younger appearance.

VOLUMA XC is the first filler approved specifically for the cheeks and is an excellent alternative to surgical procedures like a facelift. Marin County residents are quickly discovering the benefits of JUVÉDERM VOLUMA XC.

Best Candidates for VOLUMA XC

Plastic surgeons have known for years that the appearance of facial aging is accentuated by the loss of volume in the cheeks. VOLUMA XC is formulated to not only restore smooth, plump cheeks, but to also provide a lifted appearance to the mid-face. As a non-surgical treatment, VOLUMA XC is suitable for virtually anyone whose mid-face area is starting to appear flattened, saggy, or gaunt. Since it is made using hyaluronic acid – a substance found naturally in the body – it does not require allergy pre-testing. When performed by skilled aesthetic surgeons, VOLUMA injections result in a youthful, refreshed appearance.

VOLUMA XC Procedure

At the beginning of the treatment, a special topical numbing cream is used to enhance your comfort. VOLUMA is formulated with a local anesthetic, which means you should be comfortable during and after the injections. The treatment itself takes between 15 and 30 minutes, but may take longer if you choose to add BOTOX® Cosmetic or other dermal fillers to enhance your facial rejuvenation.

After Your VOLUMA XC Procedure

Most of our patients can return to work after the treatment and to their routine daily activities the following day. If you experience any side effects, they are typically mild and include tenderness at the treatment site, swelling, redness and bruising. VOLUMA XC instantly adds volume where it’s injected and you’ll notice a subtle, lifted appearance right away. The results are clinically proven to last up to 18 months although maintenance treatments with additional Voluma XC at 8-9 months helps keep you looking good and avoids the inflate/deflate appearance of waiting too long to replace filler that has been metabolized by your body and is no longer present.

JUVEDERM

Many women in Marin County get Juvederm lip Injections to restore fullness, Juvederm can be used successfully to reduce nasolabial folds, improve the lip fullness, reduce hollowness around the eyes, brows and cheekbones, and improve the contour of the jaw and chin. It can also improve depressions that are the result of acne or other skin irritations. The medical team at Plastic Surgery Specialists’ beautiful Marin County surgery center will help you decide which product is likely to work best for you.

Best Candidates

Even though the Juvederm family of fillers presents a low risk for allergic reactions, candidates will want to consult with PSS staff before receiving treatment. Likewise, those seeking filler should be aware that the effects of Juvederm are temporary, lasting between 4 -18 months depending on the area treated, the individual filler used, and the rate at which your body metabolizes the filler. Therefore, it is important to recognize that you will need to undergo additional treatments to maintain a youthful appearance. People who frequently get cold sores around their mouths should know that cold sore outbreaks are possible after Juvederm injections. Women who are pregnant or nursing should wait for treatments. Those who bruise extremely easily should let the staff at PSS know in advance; they will be asked to stop using aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, and asked about a few foods to avoid before receiving treatment.

The Treatment

A Juvederm treatment takes about 15 minutes. However, most people opt to have a topical anesthetic applied to their skin about a half hour before their treatment time, especially for lip injections. Topical numbing cream can both ease discomfort and decrease the chance of bruising. Many patients also enjoy our ProNox system. This minor anesthetic is patient controlled inhaled nitrous-oxide (laughing gas). To ensure safety, each patient receives a new, sterile breathing tube. After treatment you will be able to resume normal activities. You may want to avoid sunlight and any vigorous exercise that day. An ice pack should be sufficient to subdue swelling. Some patients experience temporary redness or lumpiness in the area of the injection.

How long does Juvederm last?

There is great variation among patients but generally 4-6 months. An on going treatment plan of 2-3 injections per year will be required to maintain this results, and PSS offers several Beauty Plans to help patients maintain beauty on a budget with a low monthly payment. Rarely a patient will develop a nodule under the skin, which can be dissolved with an agent called hyaluronidase.

JUVÉDERM Volbella

New Treatment! – Juvederm Volbella

• New long-lasting filler for subtle volume & fine lines
• Volbella is thin and flexible, allowing a subtle transformation of fullness, and reduction of peri-orbital lines, and more.
• Contact Us to learn more!

Now there is another Juvederm product specially formulated for more subtle, softer improvements for the lip area: Juvederm Volbella. Volbella is a thinner formulation to be used for reduction in fine peri-orbital lines, and a more subtle fullness.

BELOTERO BALANCE®

BELOTERO BALANCE® is similar to Volbella in that it is thinner than most other dermal fillers and is often used for very fine lines around the mouth and eyes. The results last about 6 to 9 months.

Radiesse

RADIESSE® is a dermal filler clinically proven to last more than a year and often up to 18 months. It is similar to JUVÉDERM and the choice is best made after consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can assess your specific needs. Feel free to contact our Bay Area office today to see if Radiesse is the right filler for you.

Sculptra® Aesthetic

Sculptra® Aesthetic is a longer-lasting filler that provides subtle but long-term results, and helps gradually replace lost collagen—an underlying cause of facial aging over time. It is made of poly-L-lactic acid and is designed for shallow and deep folds and wrinkles, such as the nasolabial folds. The results are more gradual, but profound. The best part is the appearance of aging seems to stop and reverse itself, and it’s hard to pinpoint exactly why the face looks so refreshed. This is a great choice for women who want a more subtle but completely natural-looking transformation to looking rested and younger.

What is the PSS Beauty Plan?

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