FILLER AGENTS

 

 Filler agents can be used to fill in wrinkles, scars, depressed areas, and to fill out thinning areas, such as the aging lip or cheeks. These agents can be divided into those agents that are:

 

Permanent (non-absorbable) – Silicone, Gortex

Temporary (absorbable) – hyaluronic acid, collagen

Autologous (come from the patient themselves-fat)

 

The hyaluronic acid  which is manufactured by the Allergan Corporation is very popular nowadays. Hyaluronic acid, lasts up to 10 – 12 months, is lab derived, and feels very natural.

 

Hyaluronic acid injections are performed under a topical anesthetic. The entire procedure, including application of the anesthetic and injection, is performed in a 45-minute office visit. The results are almost immediate, although there is occasionally some swelling that can last overnight. Patients are advised to avoid aspirin or pills such as Motrin, Advil, and Naprosyn for a week prior to the treatment to avoid bruising

 

Injecting our own fat in the face is an excellent option to recover the volume lost and generally it is used in the check bones, cheeks, eyebrows edge, naso-genians wrinkles, lips, and chin. A small percentage of injected fat can be reabsorbed which depends on each patient and also in a proper fat infiltration technique (for this technique exist a special lipo-injection equipment and a centrifugation equipment that would assure a more purified technique).

 

Lipo-injection can be performed in a procedure’s room in an ambulatory way and with local anesthesia, or with a rejuvenating surgery with general anesthesia.

 

 

BOTOX

 

Frown lines between the eyebrows, wrinkles along the forehead, and crow's feet next to the eyes can be significantly lessened with BOTOX®. The treatment takes minutes and lasts months. It is an effective, low risk procedure that remarkably rejuvenates the aging face. Unlike the popular misconception, when performed properly, a frozen or unnatural look should not be the result of BOTOX® injections.

 

BOTOX® is best used to treat dynamic wrinkles (those as a result of the action of the underlying muscles), examples of which are noted above. BOTOX® treatments do not require an anesthetic to be performed and the results are seen 4-7 days after the injections.

 

After repeated injections, however, the results last longer and can extend up to 8 – 10 months or more.