Facial Fillers

Cosmetic Facial Fillers

As we age, the effects of time appear on our face in the form of wrinkles, creases, folds, loss of volume, and sagging skin. Facial fillers are an effective way to counteract the influence of aging by restoring lost volume and bringing back a youthful appearance to your face. At The Virginia Institute, located in Chantilly Virginia, Dr. Trang Vo-Nguyen (Dr. V) uses facial fillers as a minimally invasive option for facial rejuvenation. During your consultation, Dr. V will evaluate you to determine the individual needs of your specific skin before selecting the best facial filler for you. She will thoroughly explain the differences between the facial fillers offered at The Virginia Institute and let you know what to expect during and following your treatment. Dr. V is known for her compassion and she always encourages her patients to ask any questions and discuss any concerns you might have. There are many facial filler options available at The Virginia Institute and these fillers can be used on your hands as well as your face.

The facial fillers available at The Virginia Institute include:

Aging causes the descent of all tissues including muscle, skin, and fat. This breakdown produces wrinkles that can be classified into two main types: fine and deep. Fine wrinkles are the result of aging or excessive sun damage while deeper wrinkles are a result of gravity, reduced skin elasticity, and dynamic forces from underlying muscles. When muscles contract, they shorten in length and because they are attached to your outer skin layer, wrinkles occur. The naso-labial fold is a natural fold extending from the sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth and this is accentuated when you smile. When you are young, these folds are not noticeable but as you age they get deeper and more prominent due to years of muscle contraction. Other areas that exhibit progressive wrinkling are your brow and the outer corners of your eyes known as “crow’s feet”. Jowling and neck sagging are also a result of gravity effects.

Facial fillers are used to augment the deeper layers of your facial skin to address contour defects and to instantly fill in and smooth out wrinkles and folds. While these products will not stop the natural aging process, they are used to restore volume in your face to create a more youthful look. Since facial fillers do not affect or improve your skin tone nor do they improve age spots, Dr. V may advise that you undergo laser skin resurfacing or have a chemical peel instead. Because the goal is to return your dermis to its original youthful state, facial fillers will give you a more natural appearance. If you are ready to restore youthful fullness to your face, enjoy plump lips, enhance shallow contours or soften those facial creases and wrinkles, facial fillers may be the answer for you. Facial fillers have been called “liquid facelifts” because they offer many of the benefits of a surgical facelift without the downtime. It is important to note that facial fillers are not permanent and for optimal results they must be repeated and maintained.

Thanks to advances in science and technology, there are a multitude of solutions to meet your cosmetic goals. Today, more and more patients are seeking non-surgical solutions and Dr. V is an expert in this field. At The Virginia Institute, Dr. V is constantly evaluating new fillers that become available on the market. We welcome patients from all over Virginia and around the globe so please call today if you are interested in any of the facial fillers listed below or any other cosmetic procedure we offer.

 

Contact The Virginia Institute of Surgical Arts by clicking here or calling 703-327-8200.

 

Juvederm, Restylane and Perlane

Depending on the type of dermal filler Dr. V feels is best for you, the length of benefits may vary. While most dermal fillers provide identical or similar advantages, their ingredients are different and their FDA approved uses are not identical. Dermal fillers are injected under your epidermis, or top skin layer, to increase volume in the dermis, or your lower skin layers. When your skin ages, your dermis gradually loses its major components, which are collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Collagen acts as the major support protein for your skin, elastin allows your skin to stay firm, and Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a natural substance found in your body that helps to hydrate and add volume and shape to your skin. When used in dermal fillers, HA is a synthetically made compound (not an animal product) that is similar to the natural substance found in your joints and soft tissues so it does not require allergy testing. Examples of hyaluronic acid products include Restylane®, Perlane®, and Juvéderm®. Hyaluronic acid fillers are manufactured by many different companies and depending on which product is used, the results last 6 to 12 months. HA fillers come in a variety of molecule size and the larger molecules claim to provide increased longevity.

Dermal fillers can be used to:

• Soften facial folds, lines, and wrinkles
• Improve the appearance of depressed scars from acne or injuries
• Replace the loss of soft tissue volume
• Increase the fullness of your lips
• Eliminate frown lines between your eyes
• Fill facial creases

Sculptra

Sculptra® Aesthetic is a new type of facial injectable made from poly-L-lactic acid, which helps to replace lost collagen. The main ingredient is a biocompatible, biodegradable synthetic material that has been used by physicians for decades. It gradually increases facial volume over a series of several treatments, and results can last up to two years.

Sculptra Aesthetic is suitable for:

• Deep folds between your nose and mouth (nasolabial folds) also called smile lines
• The lines framing your mouth (marionette lines)
• Chin wrinkles

Radiesse

Radiesse® is a composite filler made up of microspheres of calcium-hydroxy-apatite (CHA) and methylcellulose gel. CHA is the main material in dental enamel and it is commonly used as a bone filler and nutritional supplement and methylcellulose is a common food thickener. When Radiesse is used, the gel is absorbed quickly while the CHA is absorbed slowly. Your body naturally fills in around the CHA with collagen so the treated area remains filled as long as the CHA is in place. As a result of this, Radiesse® has a longer lifespan than other fillers lasting 1-2 years. Radiesse® is used for cheek and chin augmentation.

Dermal Fillers Procedure

The process for administering dermal fillers may take 15-60 minutes per session, depending on the desired outcome and number of injection sites.

After the procedure is completed, you may experience mild:

• Redness
• Stinging
• Swelling
• Bruising

Contact The Virginia Institute of Surgical Arts by clicking here or calling 703-327-8200.