Dermal fillers help restore a youthful appearance to your face by enhancing, contouring, and softening areas of concern such as nasolabial folds and lips.  They can replace volume where volume has been lost due to the aging process. Injectable fillers offer an immediate result without the downtime associated with a surgical procedure. If placed correctly, fillers can look very natural and complement a person's appearance. However, each of us knows or has seen someone who had fillers, and just the opposite occurred.  An unnatural appearance, and "they don't even look like themselves anymore".  How does this happen?

I cannot overstate the importance that the person performing the injection of the filler should have an absolute and thorough knowledge of facial anatomy. They must understand how the facial muscles influence the appearance of the overlying skin. This information is absolutely necessary to achieve consistent, natural-looking results. Fillers have their limitations and should be used to complement the structure of your face. It is all about balance and proper proportion.

The FDA presently approves several dermal fillers for use in the United States. Just as I selected the medical skin care products used in my practice, I also chose the dermal fillers. My decision was based on the clinical history of each product, my experience with the product, and the results I attained.

In my practice, injectable dermal fillers play an important role in facial rejuvenation. They are used alone to forestall the need for more invasive treatment, and in combination with surgical procedures to enhance and complement the overall result.

JUVÉDERM XC™

Hyaluronic Acid is naturally occurring, hydrating substance in your skin. With the aging process you lose hyaluronic acid which causes the skin to lose structure and volume. Juvederm XC is a smooth hyaluronic acid (HA) gel filler used to soften wrinkles or deep lines and is indicated to treat the "parentheses" lines on the sides of your nose and mouth and can last up to one year.

JUVÉDERM VOLUMA™ XC

JUVÉDERM VOLUMA™ XC injectable gel is the first hyaluronic acid (HA) that has been FDA-approved to instantly add volume to the cheek area. It gives you a subtle lift, helping to restore contour and a more youthful profile, for up to 2 years, in clients over the age of 21.

With the use of dermal fillers, side effects can be mild to moderate and generally last 2 to 4 weeks. Common side effects include temporary reactions at the treatment site such as tenderness, swelling, firmness, lumps/bumps, bruising, pain, redness, discoloration, and itching.

As with any of our surgical or non-surgical options, during your consultation, Dr. Franks will educate you on why you are seeing what you are seeing and how it relates to your anatomy. Just as in building a home, you have to have the proper support and structure to create a stable foundation. This relates to the aging process as well. It is not a "one-size-fits-all" treatment. Dr. Franks will customize your treatment based on the concerns you express during your consultation, as well as goals and particular needs.

ArteFill®

ArteFill is an injectable, long-lasting non-surgical alternative that restores the youthful appearance to areas of the face and body where volume and support of soft tissues have been lost due to the natural aging process.

Each ArteFill injection is a mixture of bovine collagen, which provides immediate support, and biocompatible microspheres, which provide lasting support. These microspheres create a microscopic "matrix" to support your body's own natural collagen and ultimately strengthen the layers that support the skin. This provides the support your skin needs for wrinkle correction and younger looking skin.

ArteFill is one of the longest studied dermal fillers in the world with a five-year clinical evaluation following initial treatment. ArteFill is approved by the FDA.

To learn more about ArteFill and how it offers long-term, aesthetic improvements, please contact our office to schedule your consultation