Serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and surrounding areas
FACIAL FILLERS
Facial filler injections are another popular alternative for non-surgical facial rejuvenation. Administered alone or used in conjunction with Botox, they can help safely restore lost volume under the skin especially around the lips and mouth area. Dr. Moradzadeh uses the most popular and well-regarded brands, including Radiesse®, Juvederm®, Restylane®/Perlane® and Belotero®
Facial Filler Injection Benefits and Applications
Despite how they are often portrayed, facial fillers are not only intended to increase lip volume. This treatment has a wide range of applications that apply throughout many areas of the face and neck. For example, dermal filler injectables help patients of various skin types and tones with these common issues:
- Smoothing Fine Lines: While dermal fillers tend to have different strengths based on their unique formulations (more on this below), they all tend to be effective wrinkle reducers. This is because fillers directly counteract the aging-related loss of elasticity and collagen that cause the skin’s structure to begin breaking down.
- Redefine Facial Contours: First-time patients especially are often surprised by just how much a dermal filler treatment plan can enhance their natural facial contours. For a more sculpted appearance, for example, dermal fillers can be used to accentuate the cheekbones. Strategically placed dermal filler injections can also enhance jawline definition, among other aesthetically important contours of the face.
- Decrease Asymmetry: Whether due to anatomy, an injury and/or surgery, or a number of other factors, the vast majority of people display multiple mild to moderate asymmetries, including the alignment of the nose, an uneven jawline, one corner of the mouth being higher than the other, and many others.
- Reduce the Appearance of Scars: Most scars, including acne scars, tend to create small depressions in the skin. This makes the scar look more pronounced while giving the surrounding skin a rough texture. In the hands of a skilled practitioner, dermal filler injectables can help the scar appear more flush with the skin by filling in these depressions.
Finally, as mentioned, the most well-known benefit is the ability of dermal fillers to significantly mitigate volume loss. This commonly occurs in or around the cheeks, eyes (especially the under-eye areas), and lips with age. Restoring volume in these areas and others lends a restored and naturally youthful appearance.
Explore Our Full Suite of Leading Facial Filler Treatments
RADIESSE®
RADIESSE®, calcium hydroxyapatite, is the heaviest of facial dermal fillers. This substance, found naturally in human bones, is a mineral-line compound that’s used to fill moderate-to-severe volume loss in the nasolabial folds, marionette lines and frown lines. It’s also used to enhance fullness of the cheeks and other facial contours. FDA-approved as a collagen simulator, RADIESSE is biosynthetically produced, which means that no animals or animal products are used. This lowers your risk of an allergic reaction and no skin testing is required.
RADIESSE contains tiny microspheres of calcium-based material (calcium hydroxyapatite, which is naturally found in bone) that provide a “scaffolding” into which the body’s own collagen can grow and maintain the material in place.
One new area where RADIESSE is being used successfully is in reshaping the nose, including fixing bends, bumps, divots and flat nasal bridge areas. Since results can be literally achieved in minutes, RADIESSE is often referred to as the “15 Minute Nose Job.”
Dr. Moradzadeh has a customized multi-step approach to acne scars. One of the steps uses Radiesse to lift the depressed scars and prevent re-attachment of the skin to the deeper tissues. A consultation with Dr. Moradzadeh will help determine the best protocol for treating your specific needs.
Dr. Moradzadeh has a customized multi-step approach to acne scars. One of the steps uses Radiesse to lift the depressed scars and prevent re-attachment of the skin to the deeper tissues. A consultation with Dr. Moradzadeh will help determine the best protocol for treating your specific needs.
JUVEDERM®
Juvederm®, the softest of the hyaluronic acid fillers, is derived from a natural substance that is found throughout the human body. Since it is so similar to a person’s own tissue, there is no need to test for sensitivity or concern about an allergic reaction.
Juvederm Ultar Plus XCJuvederm Ultar XC
An injection of Juvederm helps to ‘fill out’ and smooth away lines or wrinkles, acne scars and enhance the size and shape of the lips. Results are immediate with minimal recovery time. Juvederm is the most frequently chosen injectable filler for the lips because of its smooth, soft gel formula. It is also used to lift drooping corners of the mouth and to treat deep folds on the sides of the mouth (nasolabial folds) as well as marionette lines.
RESTYLANE® & PERLANE
Restylane®products are dermal fillers that are used to restore volume and fullness to the skin to correct facial wrinkles. Made of a substance called hyaluronic acid (a natural and very important part of skin structure), Restylane replaces the natural hyaluronic acid that diminishes with age — or was insufficient to begin with, as is the case with thin lips.
Since hyaluronic acid helps to bind water, the ability of the skin to retain water also declines with age. As a result, the skin becomes drier, thinner and less able to restore itself. The loss of skin fullness also means that the skin becomes looser. This leads to wrinkling and an older appearance.
The denser version of the product, Perlane® is used for deeper-planed injections where sub-dermal support is required and in areas where surface injections might be noticeable. Perlane is sometimes used as”base filler” which is then topped with a less dense filler such as Restylane or Juvederm.
When Restylane is injected directly into areas where the body’s support structures have been weakened, depressions can be raised to the level of surrounding skin. This smoothes and minimizes facial lines and most types of scars. In addition, Restylane treatments give the skin an improved texture and a softer, more even tone. Results last anywhere between six and nine months. With a timed program of injections, patients see effects for up to 18 months.
Restylane is an excellent filler for restoring volume in the upper eyelid, lifting the hollows and camouflaging dark circles that form in the lower eyelid. These injections are a quick way to refresh the eye area and eliminate that tired appearance.
BELOTERO BALANCE
Dr. Moradzadeh now uses the dermal filler called BELOTERO BALANCE, the very latest on the market. Specially designed to integrate into the patient’s skin and mold to his/her distinct facial contours, BELOTERO is proving very effective.
BELOTERO BALANCE® Dermal Filler is made of hyaluronic acid or HA, a substance that naturally exists as a component of the skin. By binding to water, it fills in wrinkles and folds, allowing immediate and smooth correction. BELOTERO can be injected directly and very superficially into fine lines so the patient does not experience any bumps or Tyndall effect (the blue discoloration under the skin that can occur with superficial filler placement). By adapting to the individuality and unique characteristics of a person’s skin, BELOTERO softens lines and wrinkles around the nose, mouth, and eyes for smooth,natural-looking results.
BELOTERO BALANCE® Dermal Filler has unique properties that allow it to adapt within the skin for subtle, and even correction. (No filler has been able to accomplish this since Collagen was removed from the market due to its high cost and the need for allergy testing.) BELOTERO’s versatility makes it gentle enough to treat more delicate facial areas such as vertical lip lines, lower eyelid lines and hollows, and even the “11” lines and crows feet.
As with all hyaluronic acid fillers, BELOTERO may cause some minor swelling, which should disappear in 1 to 2 days. Like most filler injections, the patient may experience some discomfort, and there’s the potential for slight bruising.
In patients who have deep lines in the forehead and brow region, using botox to relax the muscles in conjunction with BELOTERO to fill the deep lines is very synergistic. For a complimentary consultation to see if BELOTERO BALANCE is right for you, contact our office.
Understanding the Filler Injection Procedure
The first step in a successful dermal filler injection procedure is undergoing a consultation with a well-qualified provider. In an initial consultation appointment, Dr. Moradzadeh will perform a comprehensive evaluation to ensure you’re an ideal candidate for facial filler treatment. This includes assessing your aesthetic concerns, medical history, current medications and supplements, and more. The consultation appointment is also an important opportunity for Dr. Moradzadeh to assess your unique anatomy and facial proportions, which will help him work with you to formulate an approach that best serves your unique needs and expectations.
When it’s time for treatment, we will first make sure you are comfortably positioned and ready to go. Then, the facial fillers are injected with a tiny needle or blunt cannula directly into the areas that need correction. Many dermal fillers, including those we offer, contain anesthetics like lidocaine to make the procedure as comfortable as possible. The procedure is simple and takes only a few minutes, and results are practically immediate.
Prior to the treatment, Dr. Moradzadeh will recommend avoiding aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication or vitamin E supplements unless prescribed by the patient’s primary care physician.
Results, Recovery, and Aftercare: What to Expect After Your Treatment
With facial fillers, the effects are visible immediately, but mild local swelling and redness can occur and last for approximately 24 hours. Hence, this after-effect may partially cloud your results until it is resolved, meaning your full results may not be achieved until 1-2 days following your treatment. Patients are advised not to rub or massage the area for 24 hours after the treatment.
As for how long you can expect your dermal filler results to last, there are several factors that come into play. The brand and formulation, the area of the face treated, your age and metabolism, skin condition, overall health, and the injector’s technique can all significantly impact how long your results last. To provide a broad range, filler injections can last as little as six months or as long as two or more years. Consistently maintaining your skincare routine, protecting your skin from the sun, and following general wellness practices will help to prolong your results even further.
Dermal Filler Costs
Cost is another factor that can vary significantly based on the kind of filler you use. In addition, the number of injections you receive, your provider’s experience, and standard costs for your area all influence your total costs—as do facility fees, copays, and other costs. This makes it very difficult to provide an accurate projection of your total costs without first conducting a consultation and starting a treatment plan. When it comes to insurance, the majority of policies do not cover facial fillers, as this is typically classified as an elective cosmetic procedure. However, there are some instances in which facial fillers are more likely to be covered—when they are deemed medically necessary. For example, if a facial filler treatment is used to supplement the aesthetic effects of facial reconstruction surgery, there is a higher chance of achieving coverage. In either case, it’s always the best practice to check with your policy first and work with your provider to fulfill any pre-authorization or other requirements necessary to qualify.
