Dermal filler is a gel substance, made of either Hyaluronic Acid or Calcium Hydroxyapetite (Radiesse). These gels are injected beneath the skin to plump, soften, and contour. Each filler type is made of different concentrations, filtered using different methods to create a desired effect. The thickest fillers usually make the most impact, which is good for areas that are naturally fuller, such as the cheeks, chin, and jawline. Other facial characteristics are more delicate and would require a thinner filler, such as under your eyes. Having the correct filler injected, using the correct techniques for your skin, is essential for excellent results. Post care is essential as well, if you don’t follow the instructions you might end up with undesired side effects.
At San Diego Eyelid Specialists, we offer:
- Juvederm (1ml syringes)
- Voluma
- Ultra Plus
- Ultra
- Vollure
- Volbella
- Restylane (1ml syringes)
- Lyft
- Restylane-L
- Defyne
- Refyne
- Kysse
- Silk
- Belotero (1ml syringe)
- Radiesse (1.5ml syringe)
- Revanesse (1.2ml syringe)
- Versa
How Do I Know Which Filler To Buy?
Leave that to the pros! Just because you know someone who had a specific filler injected, doesn’t mean that you’ll require the same one, and it almost never means that you’ll have equal results. Everyone’s anatomy and goals are different. This is why it’s imperative that you see a provider with years of experience who picks the right filler, uses the right technique(s) to deliver the product in the right location(s), with your safety as the upmost priority.
How Long Does Filler Last?
A typical Hyaluronic Acid based filler lasts anywhere between 4 months – 2+ years. Location injected, thickness/concentration of the product, your metabolism, and your age play key roles in determining the longevity of a product. Collagen begins to decline at around age 25, so for every decade after that your collagen decreases by a significant percentage. Environmental factors can further decrease your collagen, such as history of sun exposure, smoking, history of disease, and alcohol/drug usage. Less collagen = more filler is needed to achieve and maintain results.
What Do I Look Like Immediately Following My Appointment?
The lucky ones leave with a small ice pack and little pin point redness where the needle was inserted. Depending on recent alcohol and blood thinner consumption, also age which defines how strong your vessels are, and many other factors, you could leave with the beginning of a small or extensive bruise and swelling/redness. Usually this doesn’t happen, but if it does, its temporary and well worth the longer lasting results. This is why you should always plan to receive filler at least a week or two before any big events.
What Are The Side Effects?
Swelling, bruising, and soreness are very common and expected. Sometimes you can feel small lumps under your skin where the product was deposited. These small lumps are usually felt vs. seen by the naked eye, and they usually go away on their own as the body integrates the substance, which usually results in a smooth feel and appearance after 2 weeks. After 3 days you are allowed to gently massage any small lumps to help the process. Drinking alcohol within a week or receiving filler can be detrimental to your results as it makes you swell more than normal, and this can make the filler cells absorb more water than they should. This will often result in lumps and asymmetric results.
Is It Safe?
Relatively, yes, it is safe. However, no procedure comes without risk. The major risk involved with filler is if the product is deposited into a main vessel, leading to blood flow issues. If this happens, there is a reversal agent which is injected to dissolve the filler and restore blood flow. Cases of this are rare, however. The worst possible outcome is if the filler gets in the vessel that feeds blood to your eye. Again, the treatment would be the same, and the benefit to having this happen in our office, is that Dr. Iyengar is an Oculoplastic Surgeon who specializes in reversing filler stuck behind the eye. You are in the best possible hands at our office. We understand that hearing this risk is unsettling, but please realize that you deserve to know everything before making your decision.
How Much Filler Is In A Syringe?
Most fillers come with 1ml of product. The syringe is long skinny, so many people are surprised to realize that this means it only takes up 1/5th of a teaspoon.
There are some filler syringes that come, by default, with 1.2ml (Versa) and 1.5ml (Radiesse).
