Stage 3 of Facial Sculpting: Dermal Fillers
And now on to Stage 3 of Facial Sculpting: Dermal Fillers! If you read my previous post, “The 4 Stages of Facial Sculpting,” you know my approach to sculpting; I do it in stages, instead of jumping right in and going to town on your face 💉. These stages can take anywhere from 6-12 months!
I have a couple of very specific reasons for this method, 1. It is much easier on the wallet 💰. Wouldn’t you rather pay in smaller increments if it’s more beneficial to space out your treatments anyway 🤷🏻♀️? 2. This approach also gives your body the necessary time it needs to recover. You will have more time in between treatments to get used to your new look and get a better idea of what needs to be done next 🧐.
Feel free to open another tab and catch up on the blog posts where I delve into stage 1 (Kybella) and stage 2 (BOTOX®).
What are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are also known as soft tissue fillers. The main goal in using fillers is to minimize any wrinkles and creases, decrease scarring, and add volume/definition. While dermal fillers are most commonly used on the lips and cheeks, that is by no means the only area that we apply them (see below).
The fillers that we administer in our office, actually consist of naturally-occurring ingredients such as hyaluronic acid. This means that hyaluronic acid can actually be found in your body, naturally. Hyaluronic acid attaches itself to water. The benefit to this water bonding effect is that when this acid is injected, it will also moisturize, soften the appearance of fine lines/wrinkles, and add fullness under the skin for a healthier, more youthful appearance. We primarily use Restylane®, Radiesse®, Belotero®, and the Juvederm® family of HA (hyaluronic acid) fillers. Not to mention that all of these are FDA approved fillers 👌.
At the end of the day, fillers are great for maintaining your youthful appearance, and providing projection in areas of the face that might need a little TLC. A boost in self esteem is just the cherry 🍒 on top!
How long is the recovery time for dermal fillers?
Great question, but you won’t even have to worry about this! Dermal Fillers are made to work immediately with little to no recovery time. That’s right! You can head right back to work or to the mall. There’s a reason why dermal fillers are called the “lunchtime facelift” 😉. Some areas like the lips are more sensitive to swelling due to the soft tissue of the lips. It usually takes 2-3 days for this swelling to subside.
Any side effects you may have during the next day or two should be monitored closely. Some of our patients notice just a bit of soreness or redness near the injection site. Most of the time, the redness can be covered up very easily. If the skin begins to darken, please contact your injector immediately. Necrosis is a rare, but potential side effect of filler injections that must be taken seriously.
Facial treatment areas:
Cheeks
Mid-face filler
Tear troughs
Jawline
Chin
Marionette lines
Nasolabial folds
Lips
Temples
Nose (liquid rhinoplasty)
Why are dermal fillers stage 3 of facial sculpting?
Fillers are stage 3 because we needed to address two other issues first. For one, that stubborn fat under the chin and jowls 🙄. That’s why we have the KYBELLA® injections first! The wrinkles are then addressed in stage 2 with Botox®. This is especially helpful for the neck area; it targets tight platysmal bands on the neck.
The reason for the fillers being stage 3 could best be summed up in three words: “Clear the Way.” Fat and wrinkles need to be out of the way before we can further sculpt your beautiful face.
Are dermal fillers always stage 3 of facial sculpting?
Not necessarily! In fact, you may not even need steps 1 & 2. If you are on the younger side, you probably have very little (if any) wrinkles on your neck. Also, if you have a lower body fat percentage, it’s highly unlikely that you will have a double chin! These are just a few common examples of instances where we proceed straight to the fillers. We typically decide on our exact plan of attack after a consultation 🤓.
How long do dermal filler treatments last?
Dermal fillers typically last 6-12 months. There are many factors that may affect the longevity of your filler injections such as diet, exercise, body metabolism, area treated. Some women have been known to hang onto lip filler for up to 2 years, but chin and jawline filler will dissipate at a faster rate. It varies from patient to patient, but most people will need about 2 touch-ups per year.
Where can I get dermal fillers?
Jennifer Perry is a Registered Nurse, RN First Assistant, and top Aesthetic Nurse Injector treating patients at Art of Injection®. You can book an appointment to see Jennifer at one of her convenient locations in Philadelphia or Villanova, Pennsylvania. If you are curious about the 4 Stages of Facial Sculpting, then do not hesitate to reach out. Jennifer is excited to chat with you about your goals for facial sculpting! Book your FREE consultation, today!