What are Dermal Fillers?
Often referred to as a liquid facelift, dermal fillers can provide many of the benefits of a surgical facelift but at a fraction of the cost and with almost no downtime. Dermal fillers avoid the often painful and extensive recovery period associated with traditional facelifts Torrance & Los Angeles patients are accustomed to.
The majority of dermal fillers are composed of a substance called hyaluronic acid—a basic element occurring naturally in our connective skin tissue. Hyaluronic acid has the unique capability to draw water to the surface of the skin, helping to plump and add volume to areas where there has been a loss of volume or elasticity due to the normal course of aging. Unlike BOTOX, which relaxes the muscles below the wrinkles, dermal fillers actually fill in the lines, creases and wrinkles creating a smoother, lifted appearance.
There are little to no side effects with the use of hyaluronic acid fillers due to their natural compatibility with the human body. This makes them a top choice among most plastic surgeons today. In fact, as one of the premier plastic surgeons delivering among the best facial fillers Manhattan Beach has available, Dr. Marcus often suggests the use of dermal fillers over a traditional facelift for those patients not quite ready for surgery. There are also other products that can fill or stimulate collagen in the dermis such as Sculptra (poly-l-lactic acid) or Radiesse (hydroxyl apatite).
Dr. Marcus has taught hundreds of physicians, physician assistants, and nurses throughout the nation. He is on the expert faculty of PALETTE, teaches advanced injectable courses for Allergan and has been on product advisory boards.
Hyaluronic Acid Fillers Can Be Used To:
- Enhance and augment thin lips
- Fill fine lines on the upper and lower lips
- Restore loss of facial volume
- Lift tissues, especially cheeks and jowls
- Correct, soften, and smooth out deep folds and facial lines
- Correct wrinkles and smile lines
- Contour and shape the cheeks and face
- Fill temple hollows
- Define the jawline
- Augment the chin
- Fill the hollows under the eyes, eliminating dark circles
- Improve the appearance of indentations from scars
Types Of Fillers
Juvederm
JUVEDERM is the first smooth consistency injectable gel made of hyaluronic acid. With just a few small injections, patients can see immediate results. JUVEDERM can last up to one year from initial treatment, and is the preferred dermal filler for lip augmentation. It is a safe and effective treatment for all patients wishing to turn back the hands of time and achieve a more youthful appearance.
Restylane / Restylane Silk
Restylane is a clear, non-animal-based biodegradable gel composed of hyaluronic acid, specifically designed to mimic your body's own hyaluronic acid. Restylane is a popular choice among patients for lip augmentation and filling the hollow under the eyes.
Virtually any area of the face can be treated with Restylane or one of its products, increasing volume in the face, reducing moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, eliminating dark circles under the eyes and adding fullness to your lips.
Perlane is a member of the Restylane family, and provides similar results to Restylane, differing only in the size of the gel particles and the depth of the injection. Perlane's gel particles are larger than those in Restylane, making Perlane an optimum choice for deep-set wrinkles that benefit from a deeper injection into the skin. This product is great for lifting and helping efface sagging jowls.
Restylane or Perlane treatment can last six to eighteen months, depending upon the individual patient.
Belotero Balance
Belotero Balance is a newer-generation hyaluronic acid — based dermal filler that is specifically designed to integrate into your skin and mold to your unique facial features, softening fine lines and wrinkles, and creating a smooth, youthful-looking appearance. While some fillers are designed to rebuild facial volume and structure, Belotero Balance specifically targets the fine lines and creases. Belotero Balance is versatile enough to treat the vertical lip lines above and around the lips, smile lines in the cheeks, and the look of tired eyes. Belotero Balance may last up to 6 months or more.
Sculptra
Sculptra (Poly-L-Lactic Acid) is a bio stimulator that will help volumize and refine your facial features through your own collagen production. It is a natural way of augmenting facial characteristics and even eliminating wrinkles on the décolletage. Sculptra begins to work within several weeks but takes several months to see the final results.
Dr. Marcus will assess each patient carefully to deem the appropriate number of vials needed over time and to plan the areas and depths of treatment for each patient. Sculptra differs from all other fillers in that the patient has an important role in the aftercare. Dr. Marcus requests each patient massage the area treated for 5 minutes, 5 times per day, for 5 days; he calls this the "rule of 5's".
Sculptra is used to treat temple hollows, hollowing in front of the ears, sagging cheeks, poor jawlines and jowls. After the injections, the results will usually last 2-3 years, which trumps the longevity of most other fillers.
Radiesse
As we begin to age, one of the first things we notice is facial volume loss. Radiesse is a dermal filler used to correct and add volume to the face-particularly the cheeks and temples-thus creating a rejuvenation and more youthful appearance. Although this filler is similar in purpose to others, Radiesse is composed of calcium hydroxylapatite (a natural material found in human bone tissue).
Radiesse has been applied to nearly every part of the face; it has been used to enhance the volume in the cheeks, fill in laugh lines, augment the chin, contour the jaw line, and even rejuvenate the appearance of aged hands.
A considerable benefit of Raddiesse is that it can actually help stimulate the production of your own body's collagen, thus needing less and less filler each time you are due for the next set of injections. Radiesse lasts up to one year.
Photo Gallery
Within our photo gallery, you will discover the true meaning of Dr. Marcus’ results, helping you understand what may be in store for you.
View GalleryRecovery Time
With most hyaluronic acid based fillers, there is little to no downtime. It is common for some patients to experience mild swelling and bruising at the injection site. However, this often subsides after the first 24 to 48 hours. Keeping the head elevated and cold compresses can help minimize swelling. On the other hand, there are some patients who experience no swelling or bruising at all, and immediately return to the their daily activities.
Consultation
While the information in this website may be helpful, it will never fully relate facial plastic surgery to you. If you are interested in a facial procedure, please call our office and one of our representatives will schedule your consultation.
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