Fillers

To correct wrinkles and scars by temporarily plumping of filling out the skin depression. Conditions that respond well to collagen include marionette lines, frown lines, lines around the mouth, worry lines, crows feet, smile lines and facial scarring from acne or injury.

Benefits of fillers

Soft tissue augmentation involves injecting a substance into the skin to correct wrinkles, depressions and scarring.

How are fillers used for soft tissue augmentation?

Fillers are injected beneath the surface of the skin into the dermis, the second layer of skin, where it corrects the wrinkle or scar by temporarily plumping or filling out the skin depression. Conditions that respond well to filler treatment include frown lines, lines around the mouth, worry lines, crows feet, smile lines, and facial scarring from acne or injury.

How is the procedure performed?

The procedure is performed in an outpatient setting where Dr. Lawrence injects the filler just below the surface of the skin with a very fine needle. A topical anesthetic cream is used for comfort. Contemporary fillers require no pretesting. To decrease bruising, you should avoid using aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, fish Oil, St. John’s Worth, Ginkgo Balboa, and high doses of Vitamin E. If you suffer from cold sores on your face, the injection could stimulate a breakout. In this case you are given an oral medication to prevent a breakout before the injection.

What should I expect after collagen treatment?

There may be some swelling or minor bruising at the injection site. This usually fades in a matter of hours to days, revealing a new, smoother appearance to the skin.

How long will the improvement last?

The length of time the correction lasts depends on the product and location of injection. Typically, 3 to 9 months may go by before touch-up or maintenance treatments are required. In some people filler injections seem to stimulate the body's own production of collagen, and improvement can last more than a year.

Types of fillers

• Hyaluronic Acids - These include Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, and Juvederm Plus. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is FDA approved and is a natural complex sugar found in all living organisms. HA is one of the main components of the dermis connective tissue matrix. HA retains water like a sponge, absorbing more than 1000x its weight. This helps to attract and maintain water, hydrating your skin and increasing its volume and density. Hyaluronic Acids are mostly used to fill depressions under the eyes and smile lines. They can also be used to add volume to other areas of the face.
• Collagen - Collagen products are Evolence, Cosmoderm and Cosmoplast. All three products are synthetic collagen and are FDA approved. These products are injected just below the skin surface for finer lines around the lip area and to define the lip border. They are used in conjunction with the HA’s to produce a natural look to the mouth area.\
• Radiesse - Radiesse is calcium based filler that supports and stimulates collagen growth. Radiesse is FDA approved and will gradually break down and is safely absorbed by the body.

Fillers vs botox

Fillers are used in creases that are caused by loss of skin fullness as we age, such as nasolabial folds and marionette lines. Botox is a drug that blocks nerve transmission and relaxes the underlying muscles. It is used for wrinkles caused by muscle movement such as frown lines and crows feet. They are often used together.

Post-procedure expectations

Redness and swelling at injection sites, typically resolve within 2 days. Injection into the lip can result in swelling for 3-5 days. Bruising may occur. Cold compresses may be used immediately after treatments to reduce swelling.

Pre & post-operative photos

Pre-Collagen Treatment	Post-Collagen Treatment