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Denver Injectable Fillers Specialist – Dr. Nick Slenkovich
Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse, Artefill
Thanks to the super-effective, next-generation injectables now on the market,
you really don’t need plastic surgery to look years younger.
Below, you will find descriptions of the facial procedures commonly known as “injectables” or “dermal fillers.” These are highly-popular, very effective, minimally invasive procedures that give you fantastic results without plastic surgery.
However, even for non-invasive and non-surgical facial rejuvenation procedures, you should still choose a qualified plastic surgeon to perform any injections to your face, especially around your eyes, nose and mouth.
When considering injectables, do not risk your face with anyone other than a highly-skilled and qualified plastic surgeon who specializes in the full spectrum of facial rejuvenation procedures. Be sure to check the credentials and make sure the surgeon you choose actually specializes in plastic surgery and facial plastic surgeries.
Another reason it’s important to choose a highly qualified Denver plastic surgeon for your consultation or procedure is because he or she will be best able to advise you as to the variety of options for your desired outcome. There is a broad spectrum of facial rejuvenation techniques available today, from simple injections with temporary results to complete surgical face lifts and fat grafting. Within the minimally invasive category itself, there is also a spectrum, from temporary and more superficial (meaning closer to the surface) procedures to the deeper and more lasting.
Below, you will find brief explanations of the procedures that fall into the minimally invasive injectcables/dermal fillers category. After reading this overview, please feel free to call our office for more information. We are always happy to take the time to talk to you.
Injectable Dermal Filler Options
Dermal fillers act by filling depressed, depleted, wrinkled or creased areas of the skin or lips with a substance that plumps and fills the depleted area. Different fillers are made of different biological materials and are explained below.
Collagen
Wildly popular for many years, collagen has recently been overshadowed by some of the newer facial rejuvenation techniques, though many of our patients are still big fans of collagen.
What Does It Do?
Collagen acts as a “plumper” that fills in fine lines, wrinkles and creases, especially lines along the corner of the mouth, between the eyebrows, across the forehead, and around the lips. Collagen injections can also provide fuller or more defined lips, treat the deep folds between the nose and the corner of the mouth (called nasalabial folds), and improve the appearance of facial scars and acne scars.
Who’s it For?
If you have facial wrinkles or scars, or would like to have fuller lips, you may be a candidate for collagen injections. Collagen is considered ideal for superficial and fine lines and wrinkles, and is relatively short acting and short lasting.
What Is It and How Does it Work?
Collagen is a natural protein that is injected in small areas to help conceal facial lines and wrinkles.
How is this Procedure Performed?
Before having collagen injections, you may be instructed to apply a numbing cream for about an hour before arriving at our office. Or we may inject a numbing medication for you. Collagen will be then injected into the desired area.
What is Recovery Like?
You may experience some mild swelling after the procedure. Using ice will help decrease the swelling. Most patients look normal with make-up within 24 hours. Lip injections may require 48 hours for swelling to resolve. Occasionally, mild bruising may be seen or small dots may appear at the locations where the needles were inserted.
How Long Does It Last?
Usually less than 3 months.
Juvaderm & Restylane – Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
Although hyaluronic acid sounds scary, it is a completely safe and natural substance that is naturally occurring in our bodies. In general, this “next generation” category of filler goes deeper and lasts longer than collagen injections, and is effective for deeper lines and larger areas.
What Does It Do?
Ideal for nasolabial folds (the creases from the nose to the mouth), and useful for shaping the nose where there are divots or where minor surgical correction is needed, these fillers are also popular for the hollow area under the eye (medically known as the tear trough) as well as for the jaw line and other facial areas where the skin’s volume and fullness has been lost. Juvaderm and Restylane also work well for deep wrinkles, folds, creases and lines and for restoring lips.
Who Is It For?
Any man or woman with deep lines and creases in small areas of the face and/or the lips.
What’s the Difference Between Juvaderm and Restylane and When Do You Use Which?
Juvaderm is a more recent formulation and can last as long as 9-12 months. Restylane is another version of a hyaluronic acid filler, with results that typically last from 6-9 months. For new patients, we recommend Juvaderm because it is considered “next generation” and lasts longer. For any patient who has had success with Restylane and wants to continue to use this product because of their comfort level with it, then we simply use Restylane.
How Long Does It Last?
Restylane typically lasts 6-9 months; Juvaderm can last as long as 9-12 months.
Advantages
In addition to working quite well on facial lines, folds and wrinkles, a nice feature of both Restylane and Juvaderm is that if there is every any problem or reaction, both products can be instantly melted away with a simple in injection. We have never seen a problem in our practice, but it’s very comforting for patients to know that the material can be instantly dissolved. This feature is unique to the hyaluronic acid fillers.
Radiesse - Hydroxyl Appetite Filler
Radiesse is in the category of dermal fillers known as hydroxyl appetite fillers. Another odd- sounding substance, these fillers go deeper and last longer than Juvaderm and Restylane.
What Does Radiesse Do?
Radiesse is excellent for shaping the upper cheek, the lower cheek and jaw line as well as shaping the nose (divots, surgical correction). It is not recommended for lips. In general, Radiesse is ideal when we know we want a long-lasting correction in these areas.
What Is It and How Does It Work?
Radiesse is a calcium-based, completely safe, natural biological substance that we already have in our bodies. Known as a hydroxyl appetite compound, it has been used for decades in bone repair and bone surgeries. The substance is injected into problem areas to fill creases, line, wrinkles and folds.
How Long Does It Last?
Radiesse is considered semi-permanent and commonly lasts from 18-24 months.
What Are Treatment and Recovery Like?
Injections are deeper than with Restylane and Juvaderm. There may be slightly more discomfort and there’s more likely to be noticeable bruising. Recovery can take a week. Because of the possibility of bruising, we require our patients to discontinue all vitamins, minerals, supplements, aspirin, ibuprofen, all NSAIDS, and all medications (especially blood thinners) for at least two weeks prior to treatment in order to minimize bruising.
Artifill
At Colorado Plastic Surgery, we rarely use Artifill. In contrast to the natural substances of the other fillers, Artifill is made of a combination of bovine collagen and acrylic. Although it has been approved by the FDA, a number of people have some concerns about Artifill and are trying to get the FDA to withdraw its approval.
Thread Lifts/Contour Threads©
Considered by some to be minimally invasive, Thread Lifts are another procedure that we do not perform or recommend. We feel that the results are so temporary that the procedure is a waste of the client’s money, time and recovery. We believe there are far better solutions for longer term and more satisfying results.
Fat Grafting
Although fat grafting is not considered minimally invasive, many people investigating injectable dermal fillers want to know about this option. Fat grafting results are excellent for a fuller brow, for volumizing the upper or lower check, for the lips, for the nasolabial folds and for the jaw line. Your own fat, is of course, a completely natural substance to inject, and produces a very natural – as well as permanent – result. And fat grafting looks beautiful.
Depending on how many areas of the face need attention, fat grafting can be a cost effective solution because the cost of dermal fillers for large areas and the cost of repeating them on a regular basis can become significant. Fat grafting is, however, plastic surgery, and involves significantly more swelling (particularly with the lips) and longer recovery. Still, depending on how many facial areas you are considering filling, fat grafting may be an option worth considering. Please click here to learn more about fat grafting.
A word about lips: Dermal fillers work great in restoring or enhancing lips, but there is an art to this cosmetic procedure. Volumizing is only one part of lip enhancement and is a part that is often overdone. At Colorado Plastic Surgery, we focus on enhancing the shape of the lip, restoring the natural fullness and pout of the lips, enhancing the cupid’s bow and feminine shape of the lips. We also spend time balancing the upper and lower lips’ proportions in relation to each other, the mouth and the whole face. Injecting or over injecting fillers just to make the lips bigger often produces an unattractive, imbalanced and artificial-looking result, which is the exact opposite of what you want.