Fillers

COST: $750/syringe
TIME: 1 hour

What Are Fillers?

Soft tissue fillers are instant volume replacement solutions for the aging face or serve as an enhancement for areas such as the lips or under the eyes. Historically, the concept of volume replacement originated with the injection of collagen and silicone to replace lost volume. As skin sags, volume replacement in the area where the skin has fallen can mask the effects of gravity. Fillers can be used to rebuild a full cheek mound, soften deep folds, fill out the hollowness below the eyes and even plump the lips.

How Much Do Fillers Cost?

According to RealSelf, the average cost is $1025 with a range of $75 to $3100. The prices of fillers can vary greatly by where you are, the expertise of the provider and the brand of filler injected. Typically filler is charged by the syringe and the amount you need will vary based upon injector choice and needs.

Who Can Inject Them?

Though laws vary by state, there are no regulations that only particular specialties or professions can inject. You can find nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, and even pharmacists that will inject fillers. Any physician, regardless of specialty, can inject fillers.

Getting an evaluation with an appropriately board-certified physician who understands anatomy, and more importantly understands treatment options is what I recommend. Ask your injector how they manage complications and make sure that they are appropriately covered by malpractice insurance. Technically, anyone who takes a weekend course can perform injections: do your homework.

Where Can You Use Them?

Fillers are most commonly used for lip injections (lip fillers), under-eye fillers, and cheek fillers. Different areas require varying expertise and downtime. Fillers can be used to lift, smooth, and fill any part of your face.

Are Fillers Safe?

I want my patients to understand that there are risks involved with the injection of fillers. I have published landmark research into the subject and take the utmost care in ensuring each of my patients is well informed and safe prior to injection. Common complications include bruising, swelling, and pain; however, skin necrosis and blindness are rare but possible complications.

What Are The Different Types Of Filler?

The most popular brands of HA injectables in the United States are Restalyne and Juvederm. Each of these companies has its own product line, where each has a varying thickness that allows placement at different depths and for different purposes.

Under Juvederm, there is Vollure, Volbella, Voluma, Ultra, and Ultra Plus whereas with Restalyne there is Silk, Plain, Refyne, Defyne, and Lyft.

Other commonly used fillers include Revance Versa, Belotero RHA Teoxane.

The average filler lasts for about 1 year. RHA is approved to last 15 months.

Do Fillers Hurt?

Most injectables come with pre-mixed lidocaine. The use of topical numbing medication and/or a regional anesthetic injection can be used to make the procedure more comfortable. I have found that discussing and planning for the discomfort prior to injection is the most valuable tool in managing pain.