What happens as we age?
There are many reasons why our skin can begin to show signs of aging. Environmental factors, such as excessive sun exposure, can give our skin a more aged appearance. Natural aging (non-environment based) can happen due to a myriad of factors:
Skin-thinning and diminished elasticity
Fat loss and redistribution of fat creating a more hollowed-out look
Muscle acting on skin to produce lines and folds
Bone loss, leading to diminished volume
Top row shows what happens to our fat tissue as we age. Bottom panel shows what happens to our bones as we age. You can see progressive loss of fat and bone through the years. Source: Empire Medical Training
what are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are injectable substances that can be used to help restore volume in the face. Most of the fillers on the market are Hyaluronic Acid (HA) fillers and there are also some non-HA fillers.
The HA fillers that are offered at Alea are: Juvederm Ultra, Voluma, Restylane Regular, Restylane Kysse, and Restylane Lyft.
The most common non-HA filler that we use is Sculptra.
Hyaluronic acid fillers
There are over 300 different HA fillers on the market today. HA is a naturally occurring polysaccharide polymer that retains water. It is a natural component of the skin, giving the skin a natural look and feel. It is also non-allergenic. HA in the skin maintains volume and viscoelasticity of the skin and natural HA within the skin decreases with age.
The gel is slowly degraded over time and then the remaining HA fragments are metabolized.
HA fillers can be classified based on two main properties: Viscosity and Elasticity. The high viscosity/high elasticity fillers (such as Restylane) can give more tissue lifting, contour stability, and be more firm. The low viscosity/low elasticity fillers (such as Juvederm Ultra), can be softer and more flowing and are ideal for softer contouring.
One study showed that HA fillers can increase natural collagen production although results need to be replicated.
non-HA filler (Sculptra)
One of the most common non-HA fillers that we use at Alea is Sculptra. Sculptra is a polylactic acid and builds over time. It’s a semi-filler meaning that you don’t see the immediate effect that you would with an HA filler. Instead, Sculptra is used to build up collagen over the span of about 4 months and provides a much more subtle effect.
Common COSMETIC uses of HA fillers
- Nasolabial Folds (softening of the folds)
- Lip Volumization/Augmentation
-Under-eye trough/eye hollow treatment
-Cheek augmentation
-Hand rejuvenation
-Ear lobe correction
-Hollow temples
-Jawline contouring
-Chin augmentation
-Stubborn Glabellar lines
-Droopy eyebrows
-Non-surgical rhinoplasty: by injecting filler into the tip and along the ridge of the nose we can create a straighter appearance
What can you expect during treatment?
Treatment is performed in the privacy and comfort of Alea Aesthetics Medical Spa and administered by a Board Certified nurse practitioner.
No anesthesia required but we can provide topical lidocaine prior to treatment.
Procedure takes 30 minutes (or longer) depending on the area being injected and the amount of each product.
You will start to see results immediately.
The treated area may become swollen or red, which can persist for a couple of hours to a couple of days. If swelling occurs, icing the area is recommended
Downtime
You may experience swelling and redness from a couple of hours to a couple of days.
How long does the treatment last?
Depending on the type of filler used, the treatment can last up to 6-12 months. Results vary from patient to patient.
Cost
Juvederm Ultra: 1ml syringe $500
Voluma: 1ml syringe $650
Restylane regular: 1ml syringe $450
Restylane Kysse: 1ml syringe $500
Restylane Lyft: 1ml syringe $500
Sculptra: $1100 per vial
who is a candidate?
Both men and women over the age of 21 can be candidates for the treatments described above.
Dermal fillers are not for you if:
-You have an active infection near the site of injection
-You have an allergy/hypersensitivity to the filler or lidocaine(often injected with the filler)
-You have glabellar necrosis