What Are Facial Fillers?
Facial fillers, also known as injectable fillers, can plump thin lips, enhance shallow contours, soften facial creases and wrinkles, or improve the appearance of recessed scars. At the Cosmetic Surgery Center, we use Radiesse and Restylane, both Food and Drug Administration-approved facial injectable fillers.
For those wishing to avoid the injection of any foreign material, lipo transfer — the harvesting and reinjection of your own fat — may be an option.
Reasons for procedure | What to expect | Possible complications | Resources
Reasons for procedure
Facial fillers are used for cosmetic reasons. One of the earliest signs of aging is a loss of facial fullness and the development of wrinkles. Injectable fillers restore facial contours or reduce the appearance of lines and creases.
What to expect
Prior to procedure. During your consultation, you will discuss what your expectations are and any medical conditions you may have with your cosmetic surgeon. He/she will carefully evaluate your facial appearance and skin tone, and examine the areas of your face to be augmented with injectable fillers. Fillers derived from nonhuman sources may require a pretreatment allergy test.
Anesthesia. Icing or a topical numbing agent may be offered to make more sensitive patients comfortable. In some cases, the filler itself will contain an anesthetic agent. In other cases, local anesthetic may be administered to the treatment site.
Description of the procedure.
Strategic points on your face may be marked as guides to the appropriate injection sites for the filler. The injection sites will be cleansed with an antibacterial agent. Injection takes only a few moments per site and a few minutes for a course of treatment. Filling wrinkles or recessed scars involves multiple injections.
In most cases, you may return to work the next day.
Postprocedure care. The results of facial fillers are apparent immediately. Your initial appearance after treatment with any filler may include:
- Occasionally dramatic swelling, especially in the lips. If you are a first-time patient, you may want to schedule the initial injection on a Friday.
- Bruising can occur and can be covered with makeup. It is a good idea not to schedule filler injection right before a social function.
Facial injectable fillers are not permanent and, over time, lips will lose plumpness and wrinkles and creases will fully reappear.
Possible complications
Injectable fillers provided by a qualified experienced plastic surgeon are generally a safe procedure, but are not free of risk or complications. If you are planning to have an injectable filler cosmetic surgery procedure, your doctor will review a list of possible complications. Depending on the specific filler used, the risks will vary and may include:
- Infection at the injection site
- “Clumping” as a result of facial movement and the natural aging process can occur with fillers that are not completely fluid and contain microscopic granular substances; over time, these can result in lumps or nodules that may require surgery
- Acne-like skin eruptions
- Antibodies to filler material may reduce the effectiveness of future injections
- Asymmetry
- Bleeding, bruising and swelling
- Filler material may move from the original site and produce temporary paralysis of other muscle groups or other unintended effects
- Skin rash, itching and swelling
- Skin redness
- Skin sensitivity
- Under- or overcorrection of wrinkles
Resources
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/
VISIT the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) site for more information on facial fillers. more >>
Pricing
- $650 per syringe for Restalyne and Restalyne Lyft
- $825 per syringe for Radiesse and Juvederm
Schedule Your Consultation Today
If you’re interested in learning more about Injectable Facial Fillers, please contact us for a consultation at (508) 334-5990 or fill out our online contact form and our office will be in touch with you. We will be happy to discuss your needs and concerns, and determine your best course of action.