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Dermal Fillers in Torrance, CA

Sometimes we need a little help to preserve our skin’s youthful appearance and age more gracefully. At South Bay Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery, we understand how the signs of aging can impact your facial features. Dermal fillers can help with those areas that have started to show age and can impact areas that have lost volume or developed wrinkles.

We serve our patients in Torrance, CA, by offering a large range of dermal fillers that can help refresh your facial features. By carefully selecting the dermal fillers that will be the best for you, we aim to achieve natural-looking results that highlight your features while combating the effects of aging.

What Are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers consist of gel-like compounds designed for injection under the skin, aimed at replenishing diminished volume, easing wrinkles, and diminishing folds. These cosmetic fillers are a non-surgical approach to revitalizing the look of the face. They have remarkable efficacy in facial regions that typically show early signs of aging, including the mouth, eye, and cheek areas, delivering swift outcomes while requiring little to no recovery time.

How Do Dermal Fillers Work?

Facial fillers work by mimicking the body’s natural hyaluronic acid, which helps fill in wrinkles and add volume to soft tissue. When injectable fillers are introduced under the skin, they fill it right away and also attract water to the area, enhancing facial contours and reducing the appearance of lines. The process is quick, typically taking less than an hour, which allows patients to return to their day without interruption.

Dermal Fillers Vs Botox

Especially if you’ve never had either treatment before, it’s easy to get dermal fillers and Botox confused. While both of these treatments are minimally invasive injectables with plenty of overlap in terms of their benefits (i.e., as a fine lines treatment), each is unique in both the mechanism and the overall treatment experience.

Where dermal fillers restore a smooth, hydrated, and plump appearance to the skin by replacing hyaluronic acid and other key proteins the skin is lacking in, Botox belongs to a class of injectables called “neuromodulators” that reduce wrinkles by relaxing the muscle. Once injected into the target muscle(s), neuromodulators inhibit the transmission of nerve signals, effectively paralyzing the muscle. Hence, Botox is very effective at reducing the appearance of dynamic wrinkles, or those that appear with certain facial expressions.

What Are the Benefits of Dermal Fillers?

Improves Volume and Fullness: Aging can lead to volume loss in the face, making you appear older than you feel. Dermal fillers counter this by replenishing volume and bringing back youthful fullness to areas like the cheeks and lips.

Enhances Facial Contours: A well-defined facial structure is associated with youth and beauty. By strategically placing facial fillers, we can sculpt and enhance natural contours, giving a more defined and attractive facial profile.

Extreme Precision: The nature of this treatment allows us to place just as much filler exactly where it is needed for incredibly precise and natural-looking results. This level of precision allows dermal fillers the ability to correct both subtle and dramatic facial asymmetries.

Reduces the Appearance of Lines and Wrinkles: As the skin ages, it loses elasticity, resulting in lines and wrinkles. The application of dermal fillers can smooth out these signs of aging, leading to a fresher, more rejuvenated appearance.

Immediate Results with Minimal Downtime: Treatment with cosmetic fillers provides instant improvement. Patients appreciate the quick results and recovery.

Customizable Treatment to Meet Individual Goals: Everyone’s facial structure and aesthetic goals are unique. Injectable fillers offer versatile solutions that can fit many different goals, skin types, and concerns whether it’s enhancing lips, smoothing out lines, or restoring lost volume.

Types of Dermal Fillers

JUVÉDERM®

The JUVÉDERM Collection is a popular line of injectable fillers made by the same company that produces Botox, SkinMedica, CoolSculpting, and other cosmetic products and devices. This line has fillers that can target every area of the middle and lower half of the face to create a well-rested and younger-looking appearance.

This type of facial filler is made of a crystal-clear gel formula containing lidocaine, a numbing agent that enhances patient comfort during and after the injection process. These fillers can fill hollow areas, lift sagging skin, augment the lips, improve the chin profile, and help patients achieve a younger-looking appearance.

Restylane®

The Restylane Collection has become a popular go-to for patients who want to use dermal fillers to target aging or aesthetic concerns and achieve natural-looking results. This line of fillers includes six options that patients can use on their own or combine to reach their aesthetic goals.

The RHA® Collection

The RHA collection is growing in popularity because it provides patients with an alternative to neuromodulators for treating expression lines. The RHA collection is the first-ever FDA-approved line of dermal fillers that can effectively smooth the expression lines on the upper half of the face and target volume loss. These cosmetic fillers also treat dynamic lines and other signs of aging resulting from volume loss on the lower and middle half of the face.

Sculptra®

Sculptra is a collagen-stimulating product known as a biostimulator. This injectable works differently than our hyaluronic acid-based facial fillers because it contains an active ingredient called poly-L-lactic acid that stimulates the body to grow new collagen upon injection. The active ingredient is suspended in a gel formula, which delivers some initial results. However, the best and longest-lasting result will appear in the weeks following treatment as your body responds to the presence of poly-L-lactic acid below the skin’s surface and grows new collagen in the area.

Dermal Filler Procedure Steps: What to Expect

While treatment approaches with dermal fillers can vary slightly depending on several factors, including the type of filler used, the issue(s) being treated, skin type, and more, the treatment process generally follows a set blueprint that can be divided into four steps.

First is the assessment phase. Your treatment provider will take various measurements and/or photographs of the areas of face you intend to have treated. A skilled surgeon will note not only the dimensions of the area to be treated, but your overall facial geometry to ensure that your results are as natural-looking as possible.

Next, when it’s time for treatment, the treatment area will first be cleaned, and local anesthetics will be applied as necessary. Common anesthetics include numbing the skin with cold or using a topical agent.

Then, the treatment provider will administer the injections. Depending on how many injections your treatment entails, this may take as little as 20 minutes or up to an hour.

Finally, after all of the injections have been administered, you will be monitored for a short period of time, and ice packs may be provided on your request. You may need to have any markings made by the provider (denoting the injection sites) washed off.

Who Is Eligible for Dermal Fillers?

Generally, patients in reasonably good health and with reasonable expectations of treatment are good candidates for anti-aging fillers. However, as dermal fillers are not a surgical procedure, more advanced aesthetics issues may not be effectively treated by dermal fillers. There are also a number of medical, lifestyle, and other factors that may negatively impact your eligibility for dermal filler injections.

These include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Smoking
  • Bleeding disorders
  • Certain medications
  • Allergies
  • Immune disorders
  • Some skin conditions
  • Keloid scarring tendency
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Ongoing infections near the area

The best way to determine whether or not dermal fillers are appropriate for your particular case is to consult with a well-qualified surgeon. In a consultation with South Bay Aesthetics, Dr. Verbin will comprehensively evaluate your health status, aesthetic concerns, and other factors to ensure your treatment is a safe and effective one.
Side Effects and Risks
Potential side effects of dermal fillers can vary depending on the content of the filler itself. Generally, dermal fillers are well-tolerated, and carry a low risk of infection, though it is still possible. Only seeking treatment from licensed and experienced professionals is highly recommended to reduce the risk of side effects occurring.

In addition to a (rare) possibility of infection, more common side effects of dermal fillers include swelling around the injection site, tenderness, itching, bruising, redness, and discomfort. In the majority of cases, these more common side effects resolve on their own within days or a few weeks.

Rare side effects include raised bumps surrounding the injection site (and possibly under the skin), open wounds, and allergic reactions.

In addition to carefully vetting any and all providers from whom you intend to receive dermal filler treatment, it’s also helpful to research the specific product and familiarize yourself with the safety data. Never buy anti-aging fillers and/or inject yourself with dermal fillers, as these may be contaminated.

Tips for Maximizing Your Results

Inevitably, your body will break down and absorb the filler over time. However, this doesn’t mean there are no steps you can take to keep your skin looking rejuvenated for as long as possible. The type of filler and your unique genetics can both influence how quickly it is metabolized by the body. But there are also several factors within your control that can be manipulated in order to prolong your results.

For example, it’s very important to avoid subjecting the injection sites to any direct pressure for several days following your most recent dermal filler treatment. The filler needs time to settle into the tissues, and even rubbing or itching the area can potentially affect your results.

As you might expect, using sunblock on a long-term basis is always a good idea – not just to preserve your dermal filler results, but to keep various skin concerns at bay.

Additional aftercare and ongoing maintenance practices that can safeguard your results include coming in for follow-up appointments, staying hydrated and rested, and avoiding strenuous physical activity until the filler has settled and your final results appear.

Once again, your particular case may vary, which is one reason why deferring to your provider’s prep and aftercare instructions is always the best practice.

Dermal Filler FAQs

How long dermal fillers last varies depending on the type of filler used, the area treated, and the patient’s skin type and lifestyle. Generally, fillers can last from six months to two years. However, factors like metabolism, filler consistency, and facial movement can affect longevity.
Dermal fillers are versatile and can be used in various facial areas. Some common applications include using lip fillers to add volume and improve lip shape, as well as under-eye fillers to address hollows and shadows for a more refreshed appearance. Additionally, dermal fillers can be used in areas such as the cheeks, nasolabial folds, chin, and jawline to provide rejuvenation and enhance facial contouring.
Choosing the right types of dermal fillers involves understanding the specific concerns and desired outcomes. Factors to consider include the area of treatment, desired longevity, and the filler’s properties. A professional consultation will help determine the most suitable type for each individual’s goals.
During the consultation, expect a thorough evaluation of your facial structure and skin condition. We will discuss your aesthetic goals, review your medical history, and explain treatment options. This is an opportunity to ask questions and understand the proposed treatment plan, helping you make the most informed decisions.

Enjoy the Benefits of Dermal Fillers in Torrance, CA

Dermal fillers offer a versatile solution for those looking to refresh and enhance their appearance with minimal downtime. At South Bay Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery in Torrance, CA, we provide a range of filler options, so every patient can get the results they are looking for. If you’re ready to explore how fillers can benefit you, reach out to us or call (310) 539-6500 to schedule your consultation.

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