Dermal Fillers and Collagen Stimulators

Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body. As a sugar-based compound, it combines with water, absorbing it like a sponge and binding it into the skin, which creates volume in the face—particularly in the lips, cheeks, and jawbone areas, as well as in the under-eye hollows.

Hyaluronic acid keeps skin soft and moist all over the body. As skin ages and is exposed to pollution and ultraviolet rays, its cells lose their ability to produce the sugar—along with collagen and other beneficial elements. As a result, the skin begins to lose moisture and volume, causing the formation of facial lines, wrinkles, and folds, as well as deflation or thinning in areas such as the cheeks, tear troughs, and lips.

Some of the FDA-approved hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers and lip injections we use at The Dermatology Office include:

RHA^® fillers are made specifically to add volume in areas where frequent muscle contractions can cause other dermal fillers to break down quickly. The formula is especially robust and flexible for a long-lasting and natural look.

Juvéderm^® is not a single dermal filler, but a family of hyaluronic acid-based injections and other fillers that have a unique Vycross technology which gives it a longer duration once it is placed by the injector. Voluma^® is designed to contour the midface, Volbella^® is a lip injection that adds volume to thin lips and gives the mouth area a more youthful smoothness, Vollure^™ addresses facial creases (such as marionette lines and nasolabial folds), and Volux^™ is the first hyaluronic acid to be approved for jawline contours and definition. The original Juvéderm^® Ultra XC and Ultra Plus XC kicked off this unique technology that can be used virtually anywhere, but are typically used in the lips and the lines and folds of the face.

Restylane^® Lyft has a hyaluronic acid base and is the only dermal filler of this type approved by the FDA to add volume to the backs of the hands. It can also volumize the midface and smooth skin on the lower face.

Lip injections are fillers designed to add fullness to the lips. Lip injection options at The Dermatology Office are hyaluronic acid fillers used to improve size and definition. Patients who want to restore fulness lost over time, adjust the shape of their lips, smooth wrinkles, and generally boost their confidence will usually be great candidates for lip injections.

Some dermal fillers work differently. Instead of adding volume with a hyaluronic acid-based gel, they contain particles that activate collagen-producing cells in the skin and are known as biostimulants. This strategy provides the dual benefit of adding volume that can be seen right away and encouraging longer-lasting results built from natural body processes.

The collagen-stimulating dermal fillers we use include:

Bellafill^® for Body is ideal for improving definition in specific areas, such as the abdominal region. Patients who want to improve the visibility and dramatic appearance of their ab muscles can choose this dermal filler for precision contouring.

Radiesse^® is made of calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA), an aqueous gel version of the same mineral found in human bone. The dermal filler boosts volume in areas that have lost it over time and can also stimulate the body’s production of collagen. Often referred to as an “injectable implant,” Radiesse^® is FDA-approved to be used to address age-related volume loss in the hands in addition to re-volumizing the face. It is especially effective for patients who have developed sun damage and exposed, cord-like veins and tendons. Radiesse^® can also be used for buttock augmentation.

Sculptra^® is made of a polymerized form of lactic acid known as poly-L-lactic acid (or PLLA) and is FDA-approved to treat shallow to deep nasolabial folds and other facial wrinkles. Lactic acid is also a product of sugar cane, and its polymer versions of this compound have been used for years to make absorbable/dissolvable stitches or sutures.

Widely known as a “collagen stimulator,” Sculptra^® encourages the production of collagen as the filler dissolves, gradually restoring natural volume to the area over time. This is unlike hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers, which add volume that gradually fades.

Besides facial wrinkles and folds, Dr. Turner’s patients have achieved success using collagen stimulating Sculptra^® to fill in the temples, augment the buttocks, and smooth crepey skin at the knees. She also uses Sculptra^® topically after RF or traditional microneedling and Sciton^® Halo^™ treatments to further boost collagen production.

Dermal fillers are excellent options for several concerns, such as:

• lip augmentation (lip injections)

• buttock augmentation (buttock injections)

• tear troughs (correction of hollows under the eyes)

• deep folds (correction around the mouth for “marionette lines” and nasolabial folds)

• smile lines (correction of thin, superficial lines around mouth)

• correction of age-related volume loss and facial contouring (such as cheeks, chin, and jowl correction)

Each dermal filler varies in consistency or thickness, and Dr. Turner tailors the specific filler’s use to a patient’s unique profile and the areas being treated. Thus, one or more types of filler may be used, depending on what results are desired.

Candidates for lip injections and other dermal fillers may also be interested in BOTOX^® Cosmetic, which reduces the appearance of dynamic wrinkles and similar cosmetic concerns by relaxing key muscles. Dr. Ellen Turner prides herself on outstanding patient care. She is very diligent about choosing appropriate candidates for each procedure, and you can expect your consultation with her to be comfortable, informative, and respectful.

She will listen to your concerns and carefully assess which lip injections or fillers would be best for your clinical needs and personal preferences. If lip injections or other dermal fillers can address your concerns, she will explain in further detail how and why specific options may be selected. To ask Dr. Turner if you are a candidate for dermal fillers, you can book an appointment online or call the office to make an appointment at (214) 373-7546.

The results of lip injections and other dermal fillers are visible right away (though the gradual buildup of healthy collagen takes time), have a natural appearance, and may last up to half a year or longer, depending on the specific filler and area addressed. Collagen-stimulators provide longer-lasting results, since collagen production is an ongoing process in the skin. There is no downtime associated with dermal fillers, and most patients are able to return to work or other activities soon after their treatment session for lip injections and more.

Some dermal fillers are formulated with (or may be combined with) lidocaine, which is a local anesthetic of the same sort as you might get before a procedure at the dentist’s office. It is used in a dermatologist’s office to minimize injection discomfort.

Dr. Turner also prefers using microcannulas with round tips whenever possible for dermal filler injections, since the shape ensures that treatments with dermal fillers are as painless as possible. Using a cannula is also helpful in decreasing the risk of bruising and other filler complications. If you are allergic to lidocaine, please let Dr. Turner know so that a more suitable filler can be chosen.

Patients choosing dermal fillers but wondering about cost should know that the exact expense varies from treatment to treatment. It truly depends on the individual’s choice: Where will the dermal fillers be applied, which ones, how much, and how often?

Direct, outside financing is available through CareCredit via a simple online application. An approval allows patients to begin their treatments immediately, then pay for them over time through a personalized payment plan. Apply online or ask our staff for more details.

To learn more about what to expect before and following treatments with dermal fillers, click here.

In addition to lip injections and other fillers, Dr. Turner also provides an extensive selection of skin rejuvenation options, including chemical peels, spa treatments, microneedling, Dermalinfusion, laser skin resurfacing, and more for improving the tone and texture of the skin.