Injectable Fillers

Facial Injectables San Diego

There are currently many different injectable soft tissue fillers available today, each with differing applications and results. Each product has a different location where it is most effective and a different duration of effect. Some are best for deep wrinkles, some for shallow lines, and others for plumping or restoring youthful volume. Often two or more products may be required to achieve the best results. At Gupta Plastic Surgery, we offer a number of these products and will help you choose the right ones based on your individual needs and skin type.

Choosing the best filler for you requires an experienced physician who has a variety of choices available. Dr. Gupta performs all procedures and injections personally, not a nurse or assistant. He regularly attends conferences and educational programs to stay abreast of the latest breakthroughs and technology, to be able to provide you with the best, most up-to-date care. It is important to remember that results from injectable filler treatments may vary from one patient to another, depending on many factors such as age, skin quality, other medical conditions, genetics, filler location and frequency of use.

There are many types of fillers available to fill in skin lines and creases to restore a youthful appearance. Some fillers can also provide volume and fill in cheek and under-eye hollows, as well as enhance cheekbones, lips, and the chin area. This is an option for patients who are considering chin or cheek implants, but do not want to undergo surgery.

BOTOX® Cosmetic

BOTOX® works by decreasing the activity of muscles that are responsible for creating facial wrinkles. Although technically not a filler, this muscle relaxant is best used in the upper face and neck and as an adjunct in the lower face to diminish muscle movement. This temporarily gets rid of muscle movement lines for a younger, smoother look. When used appropriately, BOTOX® is safe, and it is FDA approved for treatment of facial wrinkles. The effects generally last up to three to four months.

Collagen

Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that provides support to various parts of the human body. Collagen injections are used to increase fullness in the lips or to fill in facial lines and wrinkles. Collagen injections act as a temporary replacement for the decrease in natural collagen that occurs as our skin ages. Note that some forms of collagen injections require an initial test dose to ensure you will not have an allergic reaction to the collagen.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring sugar that is found throughout the body, including the skin, cartilage and the eye. In the skin, hyaluronic acid fills the space between collagen and the elastin fibers. It delivers nutrients, hydrates the skin by holding in water, and acts as a cushioning agent. In its injectable form, hyaluronic acid contains no animal proteins and thus is completely safe and does not incite allergic reactions. There are various products containing hyaluronic acid which can be used to add volume and fullness to skin to reduce wrinkles and augment facial features, such as the lips. These can be injected at multiple layers in the skin to fill out both the deeper and more superficial lines of the face. The dramatic results are immediate and can last three to six months. Some of the more common HA fillers are Restylane®, Perlane®, Juvéderm™, Hyalaform® and Captique™.

Radiesse® (Radiance™)

Radiesse® is comprised of calcium hydroxyapatite, a natural substance that is already found in your body. Radiesse® injections will build up the tissues of the face, reducing deeper folds and creases, and restoring fullness. Radiesse® does not require a skin test and typically lasts 9 to 24 months, usually with a second touch up injection. Its cosmetic use is off-label.

Micro-Fat Grafts

This procedure uses the patient’s own fat cells, which are suctioned out of one location and then grafted to a different area by injecting them into the deep tissues. Fat grafting can be used to correct facial contour defects, restore volume to hollow areas, and to provide a natural alternative to synthetic injectable fillers. Since it is your own tissue, there is no chance of rejection or allergic reaction, but some of the micro-injected fat (up to 50 percent) can be reabsorbed by the body.

Schedule a Consultation Today

Dr. Abhay Gupta is a board certified plastic surgeon in San Diego who is proud to offer a range of surgical and minimally invasive aesthetic procedures. If you have been considering injectable fillers and would like to learn more, schedule a consultation today by calling (858) 408-6100.

Please Note: To respect my patients’ privacy and confidentiality, I have chosen not to display any of my cosmetic facial surgery patients’ pre- and post-op photos on the Internet. This includes Botox and injectable filler procedures. These photos are available for private viewing in my office during your consultation. I apologize for any inconvenience.