Facial Filler

Integrative Aesthetics and Wellness is dedicated to providing exceptional care with the goal of providing natural and safe results. Facial fillers are injection treatments used to diminish wrinkles, restore fullness, or make subtle changes. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring substance in your skin that helps provide hydration, fullness, and elasticity. It diminishes as we age, causing skin to lose volume while increasing the chances for wrinkles and folds to appear.

What is Restylane?

There are several types of dermal fillers, one being hyaluronic acid (HA). Restylane dermal fillers use clear gel formulations of HA. All Restylane fillers use HA gel technology made of transparent hyaluronic acids, which are sugars naturally found in the skin that help provide hydration, fullness, and elasticity. As the original non-animal stabilized HA filler, Restylane was designed to be closest to the body's own hyaluronic acid with minimal crosslinking and was the first to be approved by the US FDA. The Restylane portfolio has now been used in over 65 million treatments worldwide.

Picking out which filler is best for your concern is the most important part of the consultation. Depending on the filler and its placement, the duration of action will be from 6 months to 2 years typically with the body slowly breaking down the product. Hyaluronic acid is something that your body naturally produces and "turns over" as part of normal physiology.

Complications are very limited with this product and typically limited to minor bruising or swelling. If need be, there is a reversal agent for the filler called hyaluronidase, but this is very seldom needed. Typically, this procedure can be done the same day of your consultation with a topical anesthetic and routine follow-up 2 weeks later.

What causes wrinkles?

As we age, our skin changes, becoming thinner, losing fat, and no longer looking as plump or smooth as it once did. Facial aging begins in your 20s, when skin firmness starts decreasing as a result of both internal factors (i.e., genetics and natural aging) and external factors (e.g., sun exposure, smoking, stress).

Hyaluronic acid (HA), collagen, and elastin diminish as we age, causing skin to lose volume and increasing the chances for wrinkles and folds to appear. Restylane dermal fillers use a clear gel formulation of HA.

How long do Restylane treatments last?

Results will vary depending on the product, your individual body chemistry (your metabolism) and the amount of product used, but these products can vary from one year to 18months.

Pre-Treatment Instructions:

Dermal fillers must not be administered if you have had any vaccines, immunizations, procedures, illnesses, or dental work in the past two weeks and for an additional two weeks after fillers.

Do not use dermal fillers if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, are allergic to any of the ingredients, suffer from any neurological or autoimmune disorders, are experiencing any cold or flu-like symptoms, or have any active inflammatory processes (cysts, pimples, rashes, hives).

For optimal results, and to minimize the chance of bleeding or bruising at the injection site, please avoid all blood-thinning medications and supplements for one week prior to your appointment. This includes over-the-counter medication such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Also avoid herbal supplements such as garlic, vitamin E, ginko biloba, St. John's Wort and omega-3 capsules. If you have a cardiovascular history, please check with your doctor prior to stopping use of aspirin. Do not drink alcoholic beverages 24 hours before or after your treatment to avoid extra bruising.

Inform your provider if you have a history of Perioral Herpes to receive advice on antiviral therapy prior to treatment. (Valtrex 500 mg BID, 5 days, start 2 days prior to treatment).

Avoid topical products such as Tretinoin (Retin-A) retinols, retinoids, glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, or any "anti-aging" products for two days before and after treatment.

Post-Treatment Instructions:

Avoid significant movement or massage of the treated area unless instructed by provider.

Avoid strenuous exercise or anything that increases your heart rate for 24 hours. •

Avoid extensive sun or heat for 72 hours (no sauna, hot tub).

Avoid consuming excess amounts of alcohol or salts to avoid excessive swelling.

You may apply a cool compress or ice pack for 15 minutes each hour while awake to reduce swelling.

Use Tylenol (acetaminophen) for discomfort. No NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin) for 24 hours as they can increase bleeding.

Try to sleep face up and slightly elevated if you experience swelling.

You may want to consider taking Arnica (found in health food stores) to help with the bruising and swelling.

Avoid wearing makeup the day of procedure.

Sanitize your phone before putting it to your face and try to talk on speaker phone as much as you can day of treatment.

Wait a minimum of two weeks before dental work, immunizations, or laser treatments. Dermal fillers last, on average, 6-12 months with some lasting 24 months.

It is recommended at the time of your treatment to schedule your next appointment to maximize your benefit. Typically, this is best done two weeks post-treatment. The most typical side effects are bruising, swelling, and redness. These are temporary and will resolve. However, please call the office at 331.551.8808 to notify us if you experience any additional side effects

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