Restylane®
As we age, the years of laughing, smiling, talking and tanning inevitably crease our skin, leaving us with lines and wrinkles. We also naturally begin to lose volume in our lips, which tends to age our appearance. Restylane injections can be used to temporarily reduce these lines and wrinkles and to enhance lip volume. It’s one of the most popular and effective dermal fillers on the market today. Some of the benefits of Restylane include:
- No skin test is required prior to injection;
- It is composed of stabilized hyaluronic acid, a natural component of our tissue;
- Results are immediate and long-lasting (over 6 months); and
- No animal ingredients
The Treatment
Restylane treatment takes about 30 minutes. The amount of discomfort depends on the sensitivity of the patient’s skin. Lip enhancement can be uncomfortable, therefore, patients are offered a nerve block prior to treatment to eliminate any pain. The product is injected just below the surface of the skin with a very fine needle. Patients may require a second visit to achieve a full correction of the area. The body will eventually absorb the product, so ongoing treatments are necessary to maintain results, normally every 6-12 months.
Side Effects
Injection-related reactions may occur such as post-treatment swelling, redness, pain, itchiness, discoloration, and tenderness at the treatment site. These reactions will resolve spontaneously within several days. Patients should avoid aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, e.g., Advil, prior to treatment, as they will increase the risk of bruising at the injection site. The nearly immediate results of Restylane create a very high degree of patient satisfaction.
Juvederm™
Juvederm is a “next generation” hyaluronic acid approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is a dermal filler that provides a smooth, long-lasting correction of facial wrinkles. Juvederm dermal filler is the latest advance in dermal filler options from Allergan, the makers of BOTOX Cosmetic. It is the only hyaluronic acid dermal filler developed using a proprietary, technologically advanced manufacturing process that results in a malleable smooth gel that flows easily into the skin, creating a smooth, natural look and feel. In addition, Juvederm contains the highest concentration of non-animal, cross-linked hyaluronic acid of any dermal filler currently available. These unique attributes provide optimal results with a single treatment in the majority of patients and deliver sustained results for up to six months or longer. Juvederm is natural, biodegradable and currently the only hyaluronic acid dermal filler that has demonstrated its safety and effectiveness in patients of all skin types and colors.
How Juvederm Works
The active ingredient in Juvederm dermal filler, hyaluronic acid, is a naturally occurring, biodegradable complex sugar found in the human body and in all living organisms. Among other things, hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin and adds volume, contributing to the overall youthful appearance of the skin. The ability of cells to produce hyaluronic acid diminishes with age, often resulting in the formation of facial wrinkles and folds as the skin loses volume. Juvederm is administered in small doses by intradermal injection directly into facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds (the folds running from the sides of the bottom of the nose to the outer corners of the mouth), temporarily filling and augmenting the treated area.
Radiesse®
Radiesse is a dermal filler made of unique, patented, calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres suspended in a water-based gel carrier. The nature of this material allows it to provide aesthetic correction for as long as 18 months. It is used most effectively when placed in the deeper layers of the skin.
VolumaLift™ and The Golden Ratio
Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, Evolence and Radiesse can also be used in combination with each other — and in conjunction with laser procedures and BOTOX — to achieve results that go beyond line and wrinkle filling. Indeed, Dr. Bowen’s facial contouring practice has evolved beyond filling lines. Dr. Bowen received training in advanced facial contouring techniques in his aesthetic fellowship and was also trained in the VolumaLift™ procedure by Dr. Stephen Mulholland from Toronto (www.volumalift.com). Dr. Bowen is one of only two physicians trained in this technique in West Virginia. Most recently, Dr. Bowen has been also incorporating the mathematical concepts of ideal proportion (also called The Divine Ratio or The Golden Ratio), as described by Dr. Stephen Marquardt (www.beautyanalysis.com). Dr. Bowen’s utilization of the latest techniques, knowledge, and injectible products allow his patient’s inner beauty to be expressed in more naturally beautiful proportion.
