A dermal filler is a material injected into or beneath the skin to add volume to the face.

Dermal filler injections typically cause a consistent subtle improvement in facial appearances that can be seen immediately after the injection yet with little or no recovery.

With the passage of time we loose volume in the face. Loss of volume results in deflation of the face. Our face is much like a round inflatable ball. If the ball is fully inflated there are no wrinkles on the surface. If we let some air out of the ball wrinkles form on the surface. If more air is let out of the ball it no longer maintains a round shape. Dermal filler essentially re-inflates the face.

Patients prefer to have injections performed by a physician. Dr. Lin Yang is a board certified surgeons who is trained to administer dermal filler injections.

Dermal fillers are used most frequently in the nasolabial folds (the fold between the cheek and mouth) and the lips. More and more fillers are being used to accomplish changes that formerly equired face lift surgery or surgery to place cheek or chin implants. In these cases filler is injected beneath in the cheeks or chin to generally add volume to the face.

They both can make one look younger and more rested, but do so in different ways and in different parts of the face. Botox reduces wrinkles caused by contraction of muscles by relaxing those muscles. It works best in the forehead, between the eyebrows, and in the area just lateral to the eyelids (crow’s feet wrinkles). Filler adds volume to the face and works best in the areas of the face that lie below the eyes.

Yes. Dermal filler and Botox are often used simultaneously to treat different areas of the face resulting in a synergistic effect. Rarely, people will wear very deep wrinkles in the area between the brows, crow’s feet, and forehead that do not resolve completely even when the muscle is relaxed with Botox. In these situations filler can be used in combination with Botox to elevate the deep wrinkles.

Yes. In some cases dermal filler injections can delay or even alleviate the problems formerly treated with cosmetic surgery. However some issues such as excess skin in the upper eyelids and sagging skin in the neck cannot be improved with dermal filler. We often use dermal filler at the time of cosmetic surgery to enhance the results of surgery

Some young people simply like having full lips. Adding filler can give one more full lips. In middle age there are some aging changes that alter the appearance of the lips. The upper lip gets longer which allows some of the red part of the lip to roll under resulting in the appearance of less redness in the upper lip relative to the lower lip. There is also a loss of elasticity and volume in the skin. This allows vertical wrinkles to form in the upper and lower lips. Injecting filler into the lip can roll out the upper lip exposing more of the red portion of the lip. Injecting filler on the edge of the red part of the lip and into the vertical wrinkles can reduce these wrinkles. These changes can be accomplished without markedly increasing the size of the lips or giving one an unnatural appearance. These injections are typically repeated once every 4 months.

Some of the aging changes in the lower eyelid are caused by separation of the cheek fat from the lower eyelid fat. This leaves a depression or valley at the intersection of the lower eyelid with the cheek. Many people refer to this as a dark circle. Adding filler to this valley or depression can cause the dark circle to resolve. These injections are typically repeated about once every 1.5 years.

No. It works better if the skin is pigmented or thicker. In lightly pigmented female patients the skin tends to be translucent allowing the filler to be visualized beneath the skin. We have found this technique to work better in patients of pigment and in male patients as men tend to have thicker skin in the lower eyelid. This is only a concern for the lower eyelids because this skin is so thinner than the skin on rest of the face.

It depends on the patient and the problem that is being treated. The answer to this question is best achieved with a formal consultation.

Very little needs to done. Some medications such as Motrin, aspirin, vitamin E, gingko, and glucosamine thin the blood and promote bruising with filler injections. If these have been prescribed by a doctor or to treat a specific medical problem such as cardiac disease, you should continue to take the medication.

Most patients report little pain. Dr. Lin Yang is interested in making filler injections as comfortable as possible; therefore, the smallest needle possible is used. Numbing cream also is another option utilized to reduce the sensation of the skin.

One of the great things about filler injections is that it requires little or no recovery. Most patients treated with filler get little or no bruising. The exception to this is the lower eyelids where patients will often get some bruising. The face develops some small bumps from swelling adjacent to the injection sites. These typically resolved in about an hour. Patients often apply a cold compress over the treated portions of the face to reduce the swelling There may be some areas that feel but do not look lumpy. This typically resolves in a week or less.