Dermal Fillers

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Dermal Fillers Scottsdale AZ

The basics

Fillers (and other injectables) are some of the most popular cosmetic treatments in the US and the world. You’ve seen these treatments and their results on social media and TV – patients often get filler treatments for issues like wrinkles, discoloration, and fine lines due to aging, smoking, and sun exposure. Fillers can also add volume (thus the name!) to any area of the face – such as cheeks, lips, or the chin.

Read on below as we discuss the key points anyone considering a filler treatment should know. And remember – the most important point is to choose a provider that is well trained and can deliver the results you’re looking for safely and consistently! Even though these treatments are very popular, there are some important risks that we’ll discuss below that your provider has to avoid. Dr. Tessler and Dr. Turin are experienced in fillers and injectables having performed hundreds of these procedures and have the deep understanding of the facial anatomy that only years of surgical experience can give. We are happy to consult with you on whether a filler treatment would be right for you and can also explain and deliver any possible alternatives, such as fat grafting.

These aesthetic imperfections may leave you looking older than you are or even trigger self-consciousness during social interactions. Injectable dermal fillers are a safe and effective treatment for restoring lost volume particularly in hard-to-reach areas of the face. This treatment achieves some of the benefits of a facelift but without the downtime and risks associated with surgery. Patients who undergo this quick and inexpensive treatment feel and look more youthful with a rejuvenated facial appearance.

Scottsdale plastic surgeons Dr. Tessler and Dr. Turin offer injectable fillers to patients in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Glendale, and surrounding AZ cities. He has helped countless men and women patients achieve an attractive and youthful facial appearance with this treatment. Our surgeon understands that different patients have unique needs and creates an individualized dermal filler treatment plan to achieve your desired cosmetic outcome.

ABOUT

What are “Fillers”

Injectable fillers – also referred to as soft tissue fillers, or dermal fillers – are substances that are injected beneath the skin to add volume or into the deep layers of the skin to correct deep set wrinkles. There are many different kinds of fillers available on the market today, and it’s easiest to split them up into two categories: HA (hyaluronic acid) products and others. The HA fillers are products lines like Juvederm, Restylane, and Revance. The most popular non-HA fillers are Sculptra and Radiesse.

HA is a substance that is naturally in the soft tissues under our skin, so these products tend to be tolerated well by the body. These fillers have a huge advantage in that they are dissolvable – so if you don’t like the result, the treatment can usually be reversed. For these reasons, HA products are far more popular than the alternatives, even though the other kinds of fillers may last longer. The non-HA fillers tend to be used for less common indications, such as fat atrophy related to certain medications, augmentation of the facial bony skeleton, or buttock enhancement in patients who do not have adequate donor sites for fat transfer.

When injected deep to the skin, they work by replenishing the skin’s supply of hyaluronic acid, which plays a crucial role in providing skin moisture. When injected into the deep layers of the skin, When injected, dermal fillers also serve as an inflatable cushion that fills in the lines, wrinkles, and folds within the tissues of the face. Since dermal filler products are non-animal based, they are usually tolerated very well.

Who is a Candidate for DERMAL FILLERS?

There are in general two kinds of indications for fillers in the head and neck area: volumization and wrinkle treatment. Wrinkles that are deep set and visible even without animating the face can be significantly improved by injected a small amount of filler in just the right layer of the skin – this is a precision procedure and the wrinkles may not be completely erased, but the result is usually very dramatic. Volumization is by far the most popular filler treatment and the ideal candidate is a patient that desires more volume in a particular area of the face. For example, patients that have naturally thinner lips but desire a more pouty or full look are excellent candidates for filler placement. Filler placement can also enhance and improve the overall facial shape by volumizing the cheeks, creating a crisper jawline, erasing the nasolabial folds, as well as more subtle but powerful maneuvers like filling in the temples or even a liquid rhinoplasty to straighten and change the nasal contour.
In general, you may be an ideal candidate for HA fillers if:

  • You are in good overall health.
  • You have lost volume on areas of the face or feel like you are naturally deficient in certain areas.
  • You wish to alleviate creases and fine lines resulting from aging.
  • You desire cheeks that are more prominent or fuller lips.
  • You have realistic expectations about the outcome of this treatment.

Injectable facial fillers are not recommended for pregnant women and individuals who have suffered severe allergies in the past. During your consultation visit at Tessler Plastic Surgery, our surgeon will listen to your concerns, examine your problem areas, and let you know whether this treatment is for you.

Dermal fillers are FDA-approved products that may be created from substances that naturally occur in the body, such as poly-l-lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, and collagen. Plastic surgeons use these injections to improve the appearance of wrinkles and creases, add volume to the lips and cheeks, and raise depressed scars.

Injectable Filler Treatment Areas

Dr. Tessler and Dr. Turin use facial fillers for a wide range of cosmetic indications:

  • Facial or acne scars
    many scars can end up indented or depressed and a filler is a fast and easy way to improve and smooth out the contour)
  • Aging hands
  • Loss of fat in the soft tissues of the hands can leave the backs of the hands looking very gaunt as we age, and well defined tendons and veins can sometimes be unsightly – injected a layer of soft filler under the skin can restore the naturally soft and smooth hand appearance
  • Frown lines
  • Flattened cheeks
  • Facial wasting
  • Marionette lines
  • Small lips
  • Soft creases
  • Nasolabial folds
  • Fine wrinkles, lipstick lines or smoker’s lines
  • These can be treated with a very precise injection of filler right under the line to smooth out the skin surface
  • Hollowed-out temples
  • This is an often overlooked but important area for treatment – loss of volume in the temples can create a gaunt, emaciated appearance, and replacing this lost volume can significantly improve the overall appearance of the face
  • Dark circles

TYPES

Types of Injectable Fillers

Juvéderm
The Juvéderm line of dermal fillers are based on hyaluronic acid and are available as smooth consistency gels. Most of the Juvéderm fillers also contain lidocaine – a local anesthetic that is blended to make the injection more comfortable. The different products in the Juvederm line are formulated with specific properties for particular applications.

For example – Juvéderm Voluma XC is meant for adding larger amounts of volume and is usually placed deep, right on the bone. This filler is most commonly used to plump up cheeks, smooth out lines around the mouth or nose, or change facial or jawline contours. Juvéderm Ultra or Ultra Plus XC is firmer and has the ideal structure for plumping out the lips whereas Juvéderm Volbella XC is a thin, fine filler that is used for injection into the skin to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.

Sculptra
This is a dermal ‘volumizer’ that is based on poly-L-lactic acid. It works by triggering the body to produce more collagen – the protein responsible for maintaining the skin’s strength, suppleness, and elasticity. Sculptra injectable fillers are ideal for adding volume to the cheeks, temples, and lower facial areas. It is not reversible like HA fillers, but it does provide a longer-lasting result. It can also be used in a diluted form for larger volume treatments, such as buttock augmentation.

Restylane
This is a gentle FDA-approved dermal filler that is ideal for correcting nasolabial folds, laugh lines, and inner eye tear troughs. It can also help plump up hard-to-reach facial areas to achieve a youthful glow. Restylane is based on hyaluronic acid, an all-natural compound that is produced in the human body and that is responsible for rejuvenating, replenishing, and hydrating skin. Restylane is administered with local anesthesia. Results may be available right away and can stay in place for up to 12 months. There are also multiple products available within the Restylane family for specific indications – such a Lyft for cheek or jawline enhancement or Kysse for lip enhancement.

Revance RHA Fillers
Revance’s new line of Resilient Hyaluronic Acid (RHA) fillers helps correct moderate to severe folds and dynamic facial wrinkles. Approved by the FDA, these are created via a gentle manufacturing process that has few chemical modifications. This in turn helps conserve the structure of the hyaluronic acid so that it mimics the natural hyaluronic acid found in the skin. These RHA dermal fillers actively respond to your facial expressions and maintain integrity during dynamic facial movements. Revance’s RHA 2, RHA 3, and RHA 4 dermal fillers can be used on patients aged 22 years and above.

How are Injectable Fillers Administered?

Dr. Tessler and Dr Turin always start with the most important question – what will make you happy? Sometimes patients have specific desires in mind (such as “I’ve always wanted fuller lips”) or sometimes they feel like they want to improve their general appearance but don’t have a single specific concern. Years of training in all types of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the face are important in understanding how the shape of the face and subtle changes in contours can create the appearance of tiredness, and how to modify them to instead project health and youthfulness.

Prior to any treatment, we’ll always discuss the risks and benefits of the treatment, the specific product, the changes you should expect to see and the projected amount of filler we’d use. The surgeons can also discuss with you other options that may be available to achieve your goals – such as fat transfer, skin resurfacing or surgery. Our goal is not to make a sale on filler – our goal is to have a patient that will be happy with their appearance and have a natural, long-lasting result.

The filler treatment itself may take 5-30 minutes, depending on the areas of the face being treated. Some areas, such as the lips, can be more sensitive and so the treatment may be performed after administering an numbing injection (known as a “block”) that completely numbs the lips for a few hours.

Once the filler is in, your provider may choose to do some manipulation or massage to make sure it’s in exactly the right place. After the treatment, we recommend an ice pack to reduce swelling and bruising.

Recovery

Recovery after Dermal Fillers

Recovery after dermal filler injections is a fairly quick process that requires no downtime. This is a procedure that can be done during your lunch hour and you can return to work right away! No downtime is a key reason for the popularity of filler treatments when compared to surgery. After filler treatment, patients may experience minor swelling and bruising which should fade within the first few days. Some areas, such as the lips will swell significantly for up to a week before returning to their goal size. Mild pain can be alleviated using ice packs or over-the-counter pain relievers. It is important to avoid heavy salt or alcohol intake for the first 2-3 days after filler injection to reduce the swelling and to not massage the filler once it’s in place. Results of a dermal filler treatment can last anywhere between 6 to 18 months depending on the type of filler used. You may need to undergo a booster treatment after this duration in order to maintain the outcome of this non-surgical treatment.

Expected Procedure Cost

The cost of injectable fillers depends on the amount of soft tissue filler required. Patients coming to our practice from Phoenix, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Glendale, Paradise Valley, and nearby Arizona areas can expect to pay between $500 to $1500 per 1ml of dermal filler. Health insurers typically do not pay for this non-surgical treatment because it is considered to be an elective cosmetic procedure.

The amount of filler needed varies widely – for example, a treatment for lip volumization or to improve your nose contour will usually be 1 syringe of filler or less, versus a full-face treatment can be more than 10 syringes when treating the cheeks and temples (these can often need 2-3 syringes per side for a dramatic effect), jawline, nasolabial folds, chin, and lips. During your visit to Tessler Plastic Surgery, we will provide an individualized cost estimate based on the specifics of your treatment before you commit.

Book Your Dermal Filler Treatment Today

Dr. Oren Tessler is at the forefront of the latest technology and research in the field of plastic surgery. He has authored more than 30 papers in leading plastic surgery journals and earned national acclaim for his work and contributions to this area of medicine. Our surgeon believes that each patient’s body is unique and pursues an individualized approach to yield the best possible outcome with every treatment. Get in touch with Tessler Plastic Surgery to learn more about the best dermal fillers in AZ.

Average Cost

$500 – $1,000 per dermal filler

Recovery Time

Same Day

Procedure Time

Same Day

Insurance

Not covered

F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dermal Filler FAQ

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Injectable fillers vs BOTOX

Some patients have a hard time choosing between BOTOX and dermal filler for non-invasive facial plastic surgery. There are fundamental differences in how either of these techniques works. BOTOX uses a neuromuscular protein that relaxes facial muscles to loosen lines, folds, and wrinkles. Patients may need to receive a number of BOTOX injections before they can see tangible results from the treatment. Dermal fillers – on the other hand – are natural soft tissue substances that are injected to cushion out folds and other imperfections in facial skin. The right procedure choice should be influenced by your problem areas and desired cosmetic outcome – a simplified explanation is that Botox can help prevent wrinkles, and fillers can fill them in once they’re formed.
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What are the risks of facial fillers?

Injectable fillers are one of the safest facial rejuvenation treatments available today. The substances used to create dermal fillers are skin-friendly and do not cause infections or allergies. While it is common for patients to experience swelling and slight bruising after dermal filler injection, this disappears on its own within a few hours. Pain can easily be alleviated using a cool pack after the injection . The most common risk of having a dermal filler injectable is asymmetry or a result that does not meet their expectations. Patients can however minimize this risk by working with a seasoned plastic surgeon or injection specialist who has a keen eye for detail and has completed numerous other injection procedures before. One very important risk of fillers is intravascular injection – this can happen if the provider injects filler into a blood vessel, and this can cause significant problems, which is why it again is so important to make sure your injector is someone who is familiar with the anatomy and can carry out filler injections safely. Dr. Tessler and Dr. Turin have performed many hundreds of facial surgeries directly working with the blood vessels in the face, and their filler injection technique benefits from this experience.
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Can dermal fillers be reversed?

Some types of dermal fillers that are based on hyaluronic acid (such as Juvederm, Restylane, Revance and Belotero) can be dissolved with an enzyme if the patient is not happy with the outcome. Other types of fillers (Sculptra, Radiesse) may not be reversible. The key for patients is to work with a highly seasoned plastic surgeon, or injection specialist in order to minimize the risk of attaining an unpleasant outcome.