Dermal/Lip Fillers
Fillers are currently one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed for non-surgical facial rejuvenation. Fillers are used for filling in small facial lines as well as deeper nasal labial folds, sculpting cheeks and adding volume to lips.
At Harbour Plastic Surgery in Houston Dr. Geppert personally performs 100% of all filler treatments.
Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane, Belotero and Voluma are dermal fillers made from hyaluronic acid, a natural sugar that enables skin to retain its shape and volume. Hyaluronic acid is a hydrophilic substance, meaning it attracts water. Once injected into the skin, the hyaluronic acid molecules in the filler bind to the body’s natural stores of water, gradually “plumping up” the skin giving it a smoother, more youthful appearance
Sculptra works as a catalyst action in the production of new collagen, stimulated by the injection of microfine particles of poly-lactic acid. This is the same material as dissolvable stitches, so there is long term knowledge of how long it stays in the body. Most patients require up to four treatments of Sculptra spaced four to six weeks apart. Sculptra is an excellent facial volumizing product that can be used to rebalance the face. It provides a lifting effect in the face. As collagen is built in the cheek area, the corresponding tissue below is lifted. So essentially, Sculptra used in the cheek region can have positive effect on jowls and nasolabial folds. While the results are gradual, they last 2 years or more.
Radiesse is particularly helpful for treating troublesome deep facial creases, such as the nasolabial folds that run from the corners of the nose to the corners of the mouth and the glabellar “frown” lines of the forehead. It can also be used to fill in depressions caused by scarring and to re-contour the chin and cheeks. Consisting of tiny calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) particles suspended in a smooth carboxymethyl cellulose gel, it is injected under the skin. It not only smoothes wrinkles, but also stimulates the skin’s own production of collagen, the protein essential for youthful-looking skin. Results are immediate and last about one year.
Voluma® is one of the newest FDA approved fillers to the Juvederm® family used to treat age-related volume loss in the cheeks. Voluma® uses hyaluronic acid to restore lost facial volume as well as collagen and elastin to improve skin structure and elasticity.
Voluma® has been proven to last up to 2 years with optimal treatment. Voluma® is made with Allergan’s proprietary VYCROSS® technology, which blends different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid contributing to the duration of the product.
Results are instant and natural looking. Patients may experience mild swelling or bruising, but most patients can resume normal activities immediately.
Vollure® has recently been approved by the FDA for the treatment of nasolabial folds, lines that appear around your nose and mouth.
Vollure® is the second Allergan filler that uses the patented VYCROSS® technology to increase the longevity of the filler, up to 18 months. This technology also improves the malleability making the filler easier to inject and the results incredibly smooth.
Although similar to Allergan’s other filler Voluma®, Vollure® is not weighted as heavily and is considered more elastic. Therefore, Vollure® is perfect for the laugh lines around your mouth since they require more frequent mobility.
Kybella® is the only FDA approved non-surgical injectable treatment that destroys fat cells under the chin. Kybella® uses a patented form of deoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring molecule that helps metabolize dietary fat. Once the fat cell wall is destroyed those cells cannot store or accumulate fat.
A consultation is required prior to treatment to determine if you are a good candidate and that the submental fullness (double chin) is actually fat. Most patients require multiple sessions and treatment is performed with minimal to no discomfort. Kybella® is a great alternative for those patients who do not wish to pursue Liposuction.
The most common side effects of Kybella® include swelling, bruising, pain, numbness and redness to the injection site. Any injection can carry certain risk and with Kybella® the injection depth is critical. Choose a highly trained and board certified plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Geppert, to perform the treatment.
As with any filler there are minimal side effects that generally only last a matter of days. Patients can return to work and resume normal activities immediately.
Restylane® Lyft, formerly known as Perlane, is an FDA approved injectable hyaluronic acid filler used to treat smile lines (nasolabial folds) in addition to providing lift to the cheek area.
The difference between Restylane® Lyft and Restylane® is that the gel particles in Lyft are larger than those in Restylane® allowing Lyft to more effectively correct volume loss in the cheeks and treat wrinkles in the face.
Introducing the two newest members to the Restylane® hyaluronic acid gel line. Restylane® Refyne and Defyne were both designed with next generation technology called XpresHAn to help provide additional flexibility and support to maintain a natural looking range of facial expression. These fillers are used to treat the lines that run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth (nasolabial folds).
The difference between Restylane® Refyne and Defyne is the size of the gel particle. Restylane® Refyne is more flexible with soft support perfect for smoothing moderate lines around the mouth. Restylane® Defyne has additional support and a little less flexibility for filling those deeper wrinkles around the mouth.
Along with age comes with the thinning of our lips, lost volume and shape, and an increase in vertical lines above the lip. Restylane® Silk was designed to specifically provide natural looking results to these areas rather than other Restylane® products.
By using smaller, smoother gel particles Restylane® Silk adds natural looking plumpness and smooths the fine lines that spread around the upper lip. As with other Restylane® fillers, Restylane® Silk is a hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring sugar found in the skin.
In clinical studies 98% of patients noticed visibly fuller lips only 14 days after injection. Almost all patients reported visible improvement in fullness 6 months after injection.
Once Dr. Geppert knows you’re a perfect candidate for Restylane® Silk topical numbing can be applied to the lips to make the injections more comfortable. Some patients may experience mild swelling or bruising at the injection site, but it usually only lasts anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
As with all injectable fillers there are side effects such as swelling or bruising. Talk with your doctor today to find out if you are a candidate for Restylane® Refyne or Defyne.
Patients will see noticeable results six months after the treatment and possibly even up to one year. Although a numbing cream is applied to the injection site prior to treatment, some patients may experience mild swelling or bruising for up to a few days.
Volbella® is Allergan’s newest answer for improving lip fullness and decreasing the appearance of fine lines around the mouth.
By using hyaluronic acid as well as the new Allergan VYCROSS® technology Volbella® can add subtle volume to lips and wrinkles as well as define the lip border. The hyaluronic acid provides the hydration necessary for increasing fullness and plumping lips back to a soft and natural look.
As we age we start to notice loss of volume in the hands as well as wrinkles and skin laxity. The veins and tendons in our hands become more pronounced due to the hollow appearance. Radiesse® is the first FDA approved gel filler for hand augmentation.
Radiesse® is injected just below the skin providing an immediate smooth and more youthful appearance. The unique Radiesse® formula adds volume over time by naturally stimulating your body’s own natural collagen. The results of Radiesse® can be seen for up to a year with some patients seeing results even longer.
Once it is determined that you are a candidate for Radiesse® to the hands numbing cream can be applied to minimize any discomfort. Some swelling or bruising may occur, but should subside after a few days.
Clinical trials revealed that Volbella® is proven to last up to 1 year with optimal treatment. Results are instant and patients can return to normal activity that day.