Dr. Steven Fagien & Dr. Elbert Vaca

Fillers

Fillers

Dermal fillers are extremely popular and effective non-surgical treatments that can help improve the appearance of facial lines, wrinkles and contours, resulting in an improved and more youthful appearance.

These cosmetic injectables can actually do much more than simply temporarily reduce/eliminate or smooth wrinkles. In fact, these fillers, when appropriately administered, are designed to create a natural and youthful appearance that can encompass and revitalize the entire face. This includes adding lift to the cheeks and mid-face, enhancing the volume of the lips, adding definition to the contours of the face, diminishing the appearance of deep facial lines and acne scars, and much more. Cosmetic fillers more often significantly improve facial appearance without the downtime of surgery performed at the office in a single session with long-lasting results. When the appropriate filling agent and technique is used, the results are not only dramatic but are natural in appearance.

Dr. Fagien has been involved and continues to participate in FDA dermal filler clinical trials and is recognized as one of the world’s foremost experts in cosmetic injectables.

Types of Dermal Fillers

There are two main categories of injectable fillers: temporary injectable fillers and semi-permanent/permanent injectable fillers. In most situations, however, temporary injectable fillers are preferred with the most popular and effective of these being hyaluronic acid gels.

Hyaluronic acids are naturally produced by the body. In the skin, hyaluronic acids serve the important function of helping maintain volume and a youthful appearance of the skin.

Interestingly, hyaluronic acid gel fillers have many short and long-term benefits. In fact, some of these discoveries are due to the research collaborations between Dr. Fagien and the cosmetic industry. Among these many benefits, Dr. Fagien and his collaborators discovered that hyaluronic acid increases the body’s production of collagen and perhaps more importantly, elastin. These studies have resulted in temporary effects that can last from several months to years after treatment.

Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

There are several FDA approved brands of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers. Dr. Fagien & Dr. Vaca offer several different brands including: Juvéderm, Restylane and RHA. Each of these brands have several unique varieties that differ significantly that relates to how these particular products are manufactured for performance. These individual formulations exhibit unique properties that are selected to provide the best solution to a patient’s unique presentation. Depending on your individual concerns, Dr. Fagien & Dr. Vaca can help recommend a treatment plan and filler selection to best address your cosmetic concerns.

Juvéderm

Juvéderm Ultra: A versatile hyaluronic acid filler, Juvéderm Ultra is typically used to soften superficial and intermediate depth lines, enhance the lips, and more. Results are visible instantly, and last from 6 to more than 12 months depending on where and how it is injected.

Juvéderm Ultra Plus: A slight variation of Juvéderm Ultra that is typically used to smooth out deeper laugh lines (nasolabial folds and marionette lines) and can provide a more sculpted enhancement to the lips.

Juvéderm Voluma: A denser, more robust version of Juvéderm, Voluma is ideal for restoring facial fullness and adding definition to the cheeks, chin and jawline. Voluma results can last a year or more.

Restylane

Restylane: Restylane is another multipurpose hyaluronic acid filler that is used to improve lines, furrows, and to improve lower facial contours such as the nasolabial folds, jowls, jawline contour and more. Results last from 6 to 12 months and are visible immediately after treatment.

Restylane Refyne: Designed to help soften superficial and intermediate depth lines. Refyne can help you restore a more natural look to your face while maintaining your facial expressions.

Restylane Silk: Specifically designed for the lips, Restylane Silk can add volume and fills vertical lines around the mouth.

Restylane Kysse: Also specifically designed for the lips. Restylane Kysse tends to result in a softer appearing enhancement of the lips.

Restylane Defyne: Used to smooth out deep laugh lines (nasolabial folds and marionette lines), Defyne is a hyaluronic acid dermal filler that is able to help restore a more youthful, natural-looking appearance.

Restylane Lyft: This more robust version of Restylane works well for deeper creases and can be used in many of the same ways as Restylane® as well as to add lift to the cheeks, eyebrows, and lower face as well as enhance the definition of facial contours.

RHA

RHA 2: This filler is designed for treatment of superficial lines while maintaining a natural looking appearance with facial expressions.

RHA 3: RHA 3 is a multipurpose hyaluronic acid filler for intermediate depth lines. It can also be used to add volume to facial contours while remaining flexible, allowing patients to maintain a natural appearance with facial expressions.

RHA 4: Used to soften deep laugh lines (nasolabial folds and marionette lines) and to add volume to improve facial contours.

Benefits of Injectable Fillers and What to Expect

One of the top benefits of cosmetic injectables is that there is essentially no down-time after you receive an injection, and in most situations, you can resume your normal daily activities immediately. The office visit usually takes about 30 – 60 minutes, and you can be on your way. If desired, Dr. Fagien and Dr. Vaca can administer relatively painless local anesthetic injections prior to your treatment to make these treatments with dermal fillers nearly pain-free. Initial and final results vary with each type of filler, so you may experience some minor temporary effects occurring immediately after the injection such as an “over-filled” concern in the treated areas mostly due to swelling/edema, minor bruising, redness or numbness around the treatment area. However, these side effects are temporary and mild and will go away quickly – usually within the first hour or so after treatment.

From a timeline perspective, the natural aging process and the amount of filler your body requires and absorbs will determine the length of your results, so you may require several treatments to achieve your desired smoothness and restoration. But you can rest assured knowing that under the care of Dr. Fagien and Dr. Vaca, your treatments will result in that youthful and rejuvenated appearance you’ve always wanted.

Our Expertise with Injectable Dermal Fillers

When it comes to fillers, Dr. Fagien and Dr. Vaca take an artistic approach, treating filler each one as though it were its own unique paintbrush to address each patient’s individual needs. From restoring lost facial volume to smoothing the appearance of lines and furrows, the doctors will customize treatments to meet each patient’s goals with natural looking results. For over three decades, Dr. Fagien has been helping both women and men replenish their natural volume and smooth out their skin, giving them a youthful and vibrant appearance.

In addition to just utilizing fillers on their own, Dr. Fagien and Dr. Vaca will also commonly recommend using them in conjunction with cosmetic plastic surgery. Fillers have proven to be a wonderful complement to cosmetic facial surgery and many other procedures as they provide a comprehensive rejuvenation for the entire face.

Whether you are noticing the very first signs of aging or if you just want fuller lips and cheeks, dermal fillers may be just what you need to freshen up your face. To revitalize the healthy and energetic look of your youth, contact our office today to find out more about facial fillers and if they are right for you.

Meet Dr. Fagien

Dr. Fagien

Dr. Steven Fagien is one of the foremost oculoplastic surgeons in the United States and the world. He completed his medical training at the University of Florida and a fellowship in oculoplastic surgery at the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary.
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Meet Dr. Vaca

Dr. Vaca

Dr. Elbert E. Vaca is a Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon who completed his medical training at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
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