Facial Fillers

treatments for wrinkles in Novato, Restylane injectionsHyaluronic Acid Fillers: Restylane, Juvederm, and RHA Fillers

Restylane, Juvederm, and RHA Collection are hyaluronic acid fillers to correct facial lines and restore youthful volume to the contours of the face. These products are all made of hyaluronic acid (HA), which is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies. HA surrounds the collagen and elastin in our skin providing firm, supple connective tissue. HA binds water, making skin appear fuller and more youthful. With increasing age, the HA content of the skin drops markedly. Lines and wrinkles begin to form when volume is lost, which results in making us look older and more tired.

Since HA is a naturally occurring substance in our body, allergic reactions do not occur. Skin testing is not necessary. HA can be injected directly beneath facial lines or wrinkles resulting in softening and correction of these wrinkles. Lines on the face that respond well to these HA fillers include the nasolabial folds (lines that extend from the nose to the side of the mouth), marionette lines (lines that make the corners of the mouth look down turned), and lip lines. When injected more deeply, HA fillers can add volume to areas in which the youthful fuller appearance of the face has been lost. When injected, HA even stimulates our skin to produce more of its own natural collagen leading to a fuller, more youthful appearance. Deep circles under the eyes, sunken cheeks, and “jowls” can be diminished. Our natural and more youthful contours can be accentuated so that our faces look more like they did when we were younger.

Injection of HA fillers results in immediate smoothing of lines and wrinkles and replacement of youthful fullness which has been lost with age. There is little or no recovery time. Our bodies have a natural mechanism to break down HA, and it slowly disappears over time. In general the results last for 6 to 18 months, depending on where the filler was injected.

Before Procedure

To better understand your overall health, we will carefully evaluate your medical history prior to treatment. In addition, a complete examination of your face is made in order to decide the most effective injection sites. All issues and concerns will be addressed.

The areas that will be treated may be marked and photographs may be taken in order to follow the improvement after the procedure. To avoid bruising and bleeding, drugs, vitamins and herbs that thin your blood or prevent platelets from clotting should be avoided.

The Procedure

These injections are performed very comfortably in the office under local anesthesia. At most, only a very slight sting may be felt when injections are made. Injection procedures usually take only 10-20 minutes. Because this is a substance that is also naturally-occurring in the body, results are not permanent. Initial results typically last 6-12 months; however, with repeated injections on regular intervals, the results can become progressive.

Post-Procedure Information

After the procedure, patients may experience slight bruising around the area that quickly fades. Swelling, redness and tenderness after the injections is minimal and also resolves quickly. Normal activities can be resumed almost immediately. One of the benefits of a reversible injectable filler such as Restylane® is that the effects will dissipate and disappear over months, such that should a patient desire their pre-procedure appearance, they can achieve it once more.

What are the differences between neurotoxins and facial fillers?

There is a synergistic relationship between neurotoxins, like Botox ®, and wrinkle fillers, such as Restylane ®. When restricting muscle activity with neurotoxins, and filling wrinkles with facial fillers, the effects achieved may last longer. Hand-in-hand they are ideal companion treatments as each boosts the effect of the other. One can seemingly take years off your life in the matter of minutes with the two products, thus giving rise to such names as the “15 minute face lift”

Are You Ready to Enjoy Healthier Skin?

Contact us with any questions or to schedule an appointment to reclaim your radiance today!

Call us: 415-892-0754