Cosmetic injectables are a very useful anti-aging treatment. Since the discovery that collagen was responsible for the skin’s elasticity, and that people lose collagen as they grow older, dermatologists have sought to either replenish collagen by injecting bovine collagen into folds and wrinkles, or find artificial substances that emulate this amazing skin protein.

Perhaps the most ubiquitous cosmetic injectable is Botulinum Toxin Type A, better known to the world as Botox. Botox is helpful in treating what are known as dynamic wrinkles – wrinkles caused by squinting or frowning, which require muscle contraction. Botox works by paralyzing the muscles responsible, and therefore reducing the appearance of the wrinkles.

To defeat static wrinkles (as opposed to the dynamic wrinkles described above), Botox is not effective, because it is not muscle contraction that results in these wrinkles, but rather the loss of collagen caused by factors such as sun damage, aging, and cigarette smoking. A highly efficient method of addressing this problem is to replace the lost volume and elasticity with dermal fillers. The term has become so accepted that a character in the TV program Desperate Housewives explained her youthful appearance by revealing, “That’s just my new dermal filler!”

Dermal Fillers:

There are many different dermal fillers on the market, with collagen being the prototype. However, as explained below, collagen is falling out of favor due to the possibility of allergic reactions, and the longer-lasting properties and better results of artificial dermal fillers. These are some of the most popular dermal fillers at our practice:

RESTYLANE™, Made in Sweden, Restylane™ is a hyaluronic acid dermal filler product that lasts much longer than collagen when injected into folds around the mouth. Hyaluronic acid is a natural product that works to increase volume by binding to moisture in the skin.

JUVEDERM is the newest cosmetic injectable hyaluronic acid product, and it has been embraced by physicians and patients alike. Juvederm has the highest available concentration of hyaluronic acid, and it also has a special formulation method which makes it a smooth gel instead of a particle suspension. This provides for less discomfort on injection and an even more favorable result than other similar products. Juvederm is the favorite hyaluronic acid filler of TopSurgeons’ dermatologists.

RADIESSE™is one of the newest tissue fillers on the market, popular for patients who are bothered by lines near the mouth or “jowling” at the sides of the nose and mouth. Radiesse is made of a natural material found in the human body (calcium hydroxylapatite), and delivers long-lasting results.

SCULPTRA™ is a dermal filler comprised of poly-L-lactic acid, which has proven particularly useful at filling facial depressions such as sunken cheeks.

FAT - Your body’s own fat makes a very good dermal filler, particularly for applications such as lip enhancement. Read about Fat Transfer here.

Indications for Using Cosmetic Injectables:

• Wrinkles
• Smile lines (Nasolabial folds)
• Frown lines (between the eyebrows)
• Marionette lines (at the sides of the mouth)
• Vertical lip lines (common in smokers)
• Scars or skin depressions
• Keloids
• Acne scars
• Lip enhancement

Best Candidates for Cosmetic Injectables

The best candidates for cosmetic injectables are patients with mild to moderate lines and wrinkles. Very deep facial wrinkles do not respond sufficiently to dermal fillers, and the indicated treatment is a non-surgical facelift such as the LaserLift, or actual facelift surgery.

What is the Procedure for Administration of Cosmetic Injectables?

Collagen, which contains local anesthesia, is injected with a tiny needle into the skin depressions being treated. The procedure is much the same for other cosmetic injectables. Several injections may be needed, depending on the length and depth of the wrinkle. The procedure for both injections and implants takes less than an hour. Implantation procedures for the lips and nasolabial areas are done with a local anesthetic. A tiny incision is placed at either end of the site. Then the implant is inserted and positioned. Incisions are closed with a suture.

With collagen injections, there is the risk of an allergic reaction. The collagen used is derived from purified bovine collagen. When purified, it is similar to human collagen. An allergy skin test is performed a month before the first injection is even administered in order to determine the possibility of any allergic reaction. For this reason, many dermatologists and patients have largely elected to replace collagen with the newer dermal fillers available.

What Are The Advantages of Cosmetic Injectables?

• Safe, effective treatment that provides immediate results.
• No downtime
• No need to harvest tissue from another part of the body.

How Long Do the Procedures Take?

Procedures range from 10 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on product used and size of area treated.

How Many Treatments Are Required?

The number of treatments varies depending on the particular treatment modality employed. Re-treatment is always required, as the effect of cosmetic injectables lasts for only a limited time.

Will I Have Pain?

There is only a small amount of pain on initial injection. We can apply a topical anesthetic to reduce this. As every person has a different threshold for pain, for those especially sensitive patients, we have developed other protocols to ensure that the treatment is extremely comfortable and tolerable allowing you to fully enjoy the results without pain.

When Can I Go Back to School or Work?

After you have had your cosmetic injectable treatment, you can return to work or school immediately. There is no downtime whatsoever!

Is This Treatment OK to Use on Dark Skin?

Cosmetic injectables can be used safely and effectively on dark skin. You may be given a special skin treatment regimen by our office.

Who Will Perform My Treatment?

Treatments are performed by our fully licensed and trained staff, consisting of registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and board certified dermatologists and plastic surgeons.

Alternatives

• LaserLift non-surgical facelift
• Facelift
• Brow lift

Cost

The cost for this procedure may vary from patient to patient depending on various factors; however, we guarantee that our pricing will always be competitive with that of other local providers furnishing equivalent services.
We provide excellent financing options, and discounts for multiple procedures are available.
Call 1-800-506-8084 for more details.

Please call TopSurgeons at 800-506-8084 for more information about cosmetic injectables and a free consultation.

FDA Approved

All cosmetic injectables used at TopSurgeons are state-of-the-art and FDA approved.