Dermal fillers, soft tissue fillers, cosmetic injectables and facial fillers.  All names used to describe one of the most popular nonsurgical facial rejuvenation treatments on the skincare market today.  If you’re interested in adding volume, contouring the face, filling wrinkles (or all the above!), facial fillers may be the next addition to your skincare arsenal!  Most notably known for helping men and women attain a smoother, younger looking appearance, facial fillers carry immediate rejuvenation results that can last anywhere from four months up to years, depending on the specific one you choose.  To help any first-time facial filler patients, or as a refresher for seasoned veterans, we wanted to share some helpful guide to facial fillers so you can make the most of your facial filler results!

When to Consider Facial Fillers

• If you have deep lines/wrinkles on the face – like around the nose, cheeks or mouth
• If you have lost collagen and volume in the face – think lips, cheeks and around the nose/mouth
• If you want youthful-looking skin without having to undergo plastic surgery to achieve results

Before Facial Filler Treatment

This may very well be one of the most important steps to successful facial filler results: do your research!  Sure finding deals on services are amazing, but cheaper does not always mean safer/better results, especially when dealing with facial fillers.  Facial fillers are essentially pharmaceutical products meaning they are only sold to qualified providers and are only allowed to be administered by trained, licensed cosmetic injectable professionals.  The last thing you want to do is risk being injected by someone who doesn’t actually know what they’re doing, or worse are using illegal products that could contain harmful substances (anyone watch the show Botched?).  Schedule a consultation with the provider first and make sure that the facility is legitimate, meaning make sure the location where the injections are being administered is clean and up to safety standards – using only sterile instruments.

Preparing for Facial Filler Treatments

Now you’ve picked your medical spa and know exactly who will be administering your facial fillers.  When your cosmetic injector examines your face prior to treatment, they’ll pair your concerns and goals together to determine the best possible facial filler to help achieve those results.  At AYA^™ Medical Spa we have a wide selection including Sculptra^® Aesthetic, Juvéderm^® XC, Juvéderm Voluma^™ and Radiesse^® in our menu of fillers.  Each one has their own unique abilities and uses, but it’s our job to help you figure out how much is needed and where.  In the weeks before your treatment, if possible or depending on your doctor’s recommendation, refrain from taking aspirin, ibuprofen or any other medication or vitamins that thin the blood and could cause bruising to the injection sites.  We also like to tell patients to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate (technically we recommend you do this daily, not just before filler treatment, but we’ll talk about those benefits another time)!

During & After Injections

Typically a patient will have several different locations on their face injected with the facial filler solution.  Certain fillers contain lidocaine (a local anesthetic) to give patients added comfort, or we may recommend using ice or numbing cream to help while you’re freshening up your look.  Injections are quick and you’ll be able to see the filler work its magic immediately.  Some patients may experience slight swelling or minimal bruising on the areas where the injections were administered, but it’s likely not to last very long.  What makes this treatment so appealing to many is the fact that it requires virtually little to no downtime, so you’re back to business as usual.  As facial fillers do not provide permanent results, routine maintenance is recommended to maintain the results for longer.  If you like the filler you tried, then stick with it.  If you don’t, no harm in that – just try another brand that you may find you like better.  Each patient has their own preferences and some even enjoy just testing different ones then picking the one they like best.

If you’re interested in learning more about facial fillers we offer or want to get started on anti-aging skincare treatments with cosmetic injectables, contact AYA^™ Medical Spa to schedule your complimentary skin analysis today or to check out our skincare specials and upcoming events.  Be sure to follow the #AYAgirls on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and Pinterest for more on the latest skincare news and updates.