What is a FILLER and how is it different then BOTOX?
Filler is a god sent product (Hyaluronic acid or calcium based) that goes under the skin increasing volume, helps with wrinkles, and allows contouring and projection of different areas. Botox another miracle in a bottle relaxes muscle decreasing fine lines and wrinkles. These 2 products are used in harmony. They are used to balance each other ultimately causing a beautiful outcome.
What are the different types of fillers?
Ok people there are many different types. There are 3 main brands that have multiple products; Allergan (Volluma, Juvaderm ultra plus, Vobella, Volure) Galderma (Restylne products such as Lyft, Refine, Defyne, Classic, Kysse) Merz (Radiesse – this is the one that is calcium based, meaning it causes collagen production as well as the other good stuff)
To be honest, I do have personal fav products but it varies depending on each person. What? Yes I never generalize, I look at each person and asses what would work best. (BUT Voluma is hands down one of my ultimate fav products for cheeks, jawline, and chin, my liquid gold)
All you need to know all the brands are Hyaluronic acid (HA) except for radiesse that is calcium based. Why is this important? Ok here it is, all HA’s are reversable (with Hylenex an enzyme, sorry nerd is coming out) and calcium is NOT reversable. Got to educate my patients and be real with you. Side note the calcium is the ONLY filler that aids your body to produce collagen (via calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres) which is a huge bonus. Oh, and all the brands are 1CC and radiesse is 1.5 CC. What does that mean? Well, you have to be in the right hands to use any filler especially collagen filer and guess what you are so there is no need to worry.
How do we pick the right filler?
Ok here it is so there are some products that are specific to certain areas. For example, classic, lyft, radiesse (also used in the bum for cellulite and contouring) is only used for cheeks, jawline and chin, temples. Then lips we have Juvaderm ultra plus, vollure, vobella, Kysse, classic, refine. The list goes on… What is the process for deciding what filler to use? I asses your anatomy, skin, volume loss, goals and then from there we pick the best suited product/products.
Common misconception:
Let me say this… people come in all the time saying I want my smile lines gone, my nasal labial folds, or I want my lips done because they got smaller as I age….. here it is sis an analogy, our face is like a house, we need proper foundation (cheeks, jawline) in order to be able to address all these concerns. Chavi what are you saying???? Easy answer, as we age thing droop/fall/sag… all the fun things, so we need to FIRST lift things back up and then address other concerns.
People ask me all the time about tear trough filler (under eyes) Spoiler alert, we never start with this because if we do cheeks that helps lift and build our foundation and then we have the ability to address the other areas which honestly most of the time are fixed after some good cheek and jawline work. Not to say we will not need to address those areas but they are improved greatly after foundation is formed.
How does this go down and does it hurt to get fillers done?
All filler has lidocaine in it so… it helps with the pain and its normal to feel numb after getting filler. Next there are 2 injection options I either use a needle or cannula:
That is with a needle….
Ok here is the deal, we talk, make a plan, we ice before for pain, I clean your face, I show you the product and expiration date, then I inject.
It feels like a pinch, then some pressure and some weird cracking sound. It doesn’t hurt as much as it feels weird.
That is with a cannula….
Some people and or some areas require a cannula, that is a long straw that is safer to use in certain areas. Same beginning difference is I will inject an entry site with lidocaine with epi ( this numbs the area) then I make a whole and place my cannula in. The only pain with that is the initial injection with numbing medication otherwise it just feels like weird pressure during the procedure.
Then after for a few days it can be sore in the areas that were injected (did I get punched in the face??) Swelling will be there also and the peak of swelling is 72 hours. Knock on wood Humsa humsa, poo poo poo, whatever religion u believe in (or if not all good) I have a soft hand so bruising happened, but I keep that to a minimum.
Real talk about fillers!!!
Right after fillers there is swelling, totally normal, the thing is when the swelling comes down the outcome looks less… lets understand why. Each 1 CC of filler is 1/5 of a teaspoon. Let’s digest that together, many people hear 2-3 syringes and are like oh my.. No people 1CC is such a small amount. That is why we usually start with 2 syringe and then I tell you there is swelling that will come down and you will want more. Hence, I try to make a plan so we are on the same page with how many syringe I think it will take to get you to the natural refreshed look and we do this in a systematic process. Basically, we start with 2-3 syringe and then we come back in about 4 weeks add more until we are at the place that is desired. Then the goal is to maintain this happy place every 6 moths to a year. This is the stacking approach letting me be able to give you a symmetrical, natural and refreshed look.
Everyone is different and I love that. I assess each person tell them our game plan and feel great during the whole process.
Remember, be you. be unique, beBold.
