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(803) 733-5881
Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas
1301 Taylor Street
Suite 10A
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 733-5881
Injectable Fillers
Injectable dermal fillers are different from BOTOX® injections, but offer even more ways of enhancing and rejuvenating your facial appearance. At Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas, Dr. Ram Kalus offers a variety of popular dermal fillers that can help you achieve your aesthetic goals. Many of our treatments can not only fill in lines and wrinkles along the face, including deep creases and nasolabial folds (lines between the nose and mouth), but also add volume to your cheeks, and even camouflage the jowls. Lip augmentation can give your lips a more youthful, sensual appearance, but care must be taken to avoid an artificial and unnatural appearance. Injectable dermal filler procedures are minimally invasive and usually take less than 30 minutes to complete. Patients typically start seeing results before they even leave our office! The dermal fillers available at our practice include:
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Restylane®
Restylane® is approved by the FDA and is known to have results lasting up to 6-12 months or even longer, depending on injection site. This dermal filler is very effective at filling in deep creases and wrinkles in the face, including those that occur between the nose and mouth. Restylane® is also used for lip augmentation, giving the lips a fuller, more sensual aesthetic. Made from hyaluronic acid, a natural human substance, Restylane® does not require allergy testing. Treatment with Restylane® typically takes 15-20 minutes to complete, and patients are often able to get back to their normal routines right after the procedure. Results from Restylane® usually last at least six months, and, in many cases, up to a year. Lip injections can be associated with swelling or bruising for a day or two.
Juvéderm™
Another very popular hyaluronic acid injectable dermal fillers similar to Restylane is Juvéderm™, which adds volume to facial features such as the lips and cheeks, in addition to filling in lines and wrinkles and giving the face a smoother, more youthful appearance. Juvéderm™ requires no allergy testing. Using an ultra-thin needle, Dr. Kalus will inject Juvéderm™ into the areas of the face targeted for rejuvenation in a procedure that takes 15-20 minutes. Results from Juvéderm™ are typically immediately apparent, and will continue to improve in the days following treatment. The effects of Juvéderm™ often last from six to nine months, and can be maintained with occasional touch-up treatments.
Perlane®
Mild to severe wrinkles and facial folds can be smoothed out and rejuvenated with Perlane®, also consisting of a preparation of hyaluronic acid. One of the newer dermal fillers available, Perlane® can also reduce the appearance of scarring, and add volume to depressions in the face. There is no allergy testing required for Perlane® injections, and results typically last up to six to twelve months. Perlane® works by binding water molecules to maintain volume and renew the skin. The procedure usually takes 15-20 minutes to complete and the effects are immediately noticeable. The effects of Perlane® can be maintained with follow-up treatments.
Radiesse®
One of the longer acting fillers is Radiesse® which consists of calcium hydroxyapatite and has a microstructure similar to sea coral. The results from Radiesse® usually last about 18 months. This FDA-approved injectable dermal filler can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and depressed scars, rejuvenate nasolabial folds (creases between the nose and mouth), and add facial volume for those affected by hollowness in the cheeks (lipoatrophy). There is little risk of allergic reaction with Radiesse® because it is composed of a substance made from the same minerals found in human bones. The solution stimulates the production of human collagen, helping the skin to renew itself and increasing the chances of more long-lasting results. Radiesse® treatments usually last from 15 to 20 minutes and the effects are often immediately apparent. Radiesse® can improve a number of facial contour deficiencies and give you a more youthful appearance.
Evolence
The newest injectable filler available is Evolence, which is a bovine collagen preparation designed to eradicate fine lines and wrinkles. Evolence is an FDA-approved treatment that mimics human collagen and can smooth out a variety of facial skin creases. It is specifically designed for injection into the dermis as opposed to the subcutaneous tissues underneath the skin where most injectables are placed. The entire procedure typically takes 15-20 minutes to perform, and results are instantaneous. The effects of Evolence are known to last at least three to six months, and some studies have shown that patients have experienced sustained results for up to a year.
Results from many of our injectable dermal fillers can also be maintained with follow-up treatments.
Artefill®
Artefill® is unique among dermal fillers because it is known to have near-permanent results. This injectable treatment is ideal for filling in facial wrinkles and folds, and can smooth out deep lines between the nose and mouth. Artefill® is composed of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microspheres suspended in bovine collagen, and one of the reasons the effects of Artefill® can last so long is because its injectable solution is designed to stimulate the production of new human collagen. So, while Artefill® itself provides significant cosmetic enhancement, it also promotes the growth of the body’s own resources to maintain results. Artefill does require skin testing one month prior to treatment to insure that there are no allergic reactions.
Recovery from Injectable Treatments
The recovery process from treatment with injectables is typically mild and quick. Patients can expect a small degree of bruising, swelling, and/or redness after the procedure; however this should fade quickly. Aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, high-dose vitamin E supplements, and St. John’s Wort should be avoided before treatment because they may cause increased bruising and bleeding. Dr. Ram Kalus will explain all the risks and benefits to you during an initial consultation, and provide you with detailed instructions for your recovery.
All of our injectable cosmetic enhancements are administered by Dr. Kalus personally. If you would like to schedule a consultation for quick, effective facial enhancement without the need to undergo more extensive or invasive procedures, please contact Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas.