Fillers

UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS About Fillers

As you age, it’s not just about lines and wrinkles. Your cheeks begin to lose volume and skin loses collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid which leads to deeper folds, sagging and jowling around the jawline and deflation in the lips.  Dermal fillers are used to replace lost volume and smooth wrinkles and folds providing immediate results with very little downtime. They can plump thin lips, enhance shallow contours, soften facial creases, remove wrinkles and improve the appearance of recessed scars providing an immediate, and long-lasting result.  Many times dermal fillers are combined with other treatments like Botox and microneedling. Dr. Geerlings can teach you about all of your options and develop a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs to achieve your best results!

What Are JUVÉDERM Fillers?

Juvéderm fillers are smooth consistency gels made of hyaluronic acid—a naturally occurring substance in your skin that helps to add volume and hydration. Juvéderm is placed under the skin with a fine needle or microcannula to instantly restore your skin’s volume and smooth away facial wrinkles and folds. Juvéderm provides a smooth, natural look and feel—so everyone will notice (but no one will know)! There are several different fillers in the Juvéderm collection which each have different characteristics making them more suitable for the different treatment areas. Dr. Geerlings will evaluate you and discuss your individual needs and desired goals.

The JUVÉDERM Collection Of Fillers

VOLUMA® XC

Used to lift and contour the cheeks to improve folds and sagging for up to 2 years. It is the first FDA-approved injectable gel filler to instantly add volume and structure to the cheek area cheek and mid-face to correct age-related volume loss in adults over the age of 21. It is one of the three new VyCross fillers from the company Allergan and is more dense and perfect for restoring mid-face volume.

When the face ages, important structures begin to lose volume, such as the bones and fat pads under the skin. This loss of volume to critical structural areas result in sagging and jowling in the lower face and also contributes to issues in the skin around the mouth.

JUVÉDERM Voluma® XC injections produce dramatic yet natural looking results. Results will be visible immediately, and there is no downtime with this safe, non-surgical procedure. This filler treatment works against gravity to lift and sculpt the face and add volume, roundness, and fullness to the cheeks. Voluma® XC has also recently been approved by the FDA as the first filler for use in sculpting and reshaping the chin. Results have been proven to last up to 2 years.

VOLUMA® XC Before & Afters

Vollure® XC

Used to soften and correct moderate to severe facial lines and wrinkles for up to 18 months. Vollure® XC is a VyCross filler from Allergan and is a particularly great gel filler to smooth lines in grooves in the lower face such as the nasolabial folds as well as other areas.

Vollure® XC - Before & Afters

VOLBELLA® XC

Used to subtly enhance and rehydrate the lips and to fill lip lines and wrinkles for up to 12-18 months. Volbella® XC is the newest long-lasting filler from Allergan, the makers of Juvederm. It is a smooth, clear, and very malleable gel and is meant to be placed very superficially. It is made with VyCross technology which helps it last longer. It also does not attract water, therefore leads to a soft and very natural result.

Volbella® XC - Before & Afters

Juvéderm ULTRA® XC and ULTRA PLUS® XC

Used to give a natural-looking plumpness to the lips or for even more dramatic results for lip enhancement, nasolabial folds, and facial shaping for over a year. The original Juvederm fillers still have their places in the treatment of lines and folds of the face, as well as lips. ULTRA® is the perfect choice for those who desire natural looking lips but with a plumped appearance. ULTRA PLUS® has many uses for deep grooves and folds where a more robust filler is desired.

Ultra® XC - Before & Afters

FAQ's

  • Nasolabial folds from the nose to the mouth
  • Marionette lines from the mouth to the chin
  • Vertical lines on the upper lip and lower lip
  • Loss of volume in the cheeks and mid-face
  • Sagging jowls
  • Chin
  • Other shallow to moderate lines and wrinkles

Candidates for JUVÉDERM are healthy adult individuals who are dissatisfied with the way their face is aging and want to eliminate facial lines, wrinkles, or grooves; restore volume to the mid-face to improve sagging and jowling; enhance the lips or smooth lip lines; or contour and improve the jawline or chin. 

JUVÉDERM fillers are made off biocompatible hyaluronic acid, which is naturally found in our skin and tissues. It has a minimal risk of allergic reaction or other negative side effects. In the hands of a knowledgable injector, the risk of serious outcomes are very rare. However, all procedures have risks, and with fillers of any kind it is important that your provider is very well trained and has expertise in the important anatomy of the face. In addition, there some important precautions that must be considered:

Be sure to tell your doctor if you:

  • Are pregnant or breastfeeding. The safety of these products for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding has not been studied.

  • Have had or are planning to have a dental or any other facial procedure including lasers within 3 weeks prior to or after dermal fillers.

  • Have any active sores or infections near the area of treatment with dermal fillers.

  • Are allergic to lidocaine or have had any adverse reaction to dermal fillers in the past.

  • Are prone to excessive scarring, such as keloids, or pigmentation issues.

  • are on immunosuppressive therapy used to decrease the body’s immune response because this can increase the risk of infection and other complications within the area where dermal filler is placed.

  • Are using medications or natural supplements that can prolong bleeding, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or other blood thinners.

Injections are performed in the office by Dr.Geerlings. After a numbing cream is applied, injections are performed using a small needle or Dermasculpt® microcannula. The difference between a needle and a microcannula is that a needle is sharp and a microcannula is dull which makes it much safer when injecting around or near delicate anatomical structures such as nerves or blood vessels. Also, the JUVÉDERM XC collection of fillers contains lidocaine which immediately begins to numb the tissues upon injection of filler. Most patients are comfortable to receive filler injections after numbing cream, Nitrous Oxide (“Laughing Gas”) is also available.

Filler results appear immediately, and you can return to your normal activities the same day. However, we advise that you avoid strenuous exercise for a couple of days after treatment. You can expect possible minor redness, bruising, swelling, and/or tenderness, but this should last no more than a few days. You can prevent swelling by applying ice to the injection areas for the first few hours and elevating your head with a pillow for the first two nights. Dr. Geerlings will give you detailed instructions about how to best care for your new treatment areas.

Keep in mind that while the effects of dermal fillers are long-lasting, they are not permanent. The duration of the effects of fillers depend on factors such as which particular filler is used, Your age and skin type, and lifestyle. There are some techniques you can use to extend the longevity of dermal fillers, including minimizing your ultraviolet UV exposure and maintaining a consistent skin care routine.

No. Dr. Geerlings will not perform filler injections on anyone who is pregnant or lactating as dermal fillers have not been studied in this population.

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“My primary goal in taking excellent care of my patients is to achieve the BEST aesthetic results possible…safely, effectively, and affordably.”

Dr. Susan Geerlings