Dermal Injections in St. Louis and Fairview Heights
There are many types of dermal injections on the market today, the most popular of which consist of a substance called Hyaluronic Acid.
We exclusively inject hyaluronic acid based cosmetic fillers at Transform Me, the reason being this class of fillers is amongst the safest and results are immediate. Individual timeframes and results may vary. Additionally, Hyaluronic Acid based injectable fillers are reversible with the injection of a second substance. Thus, if a patient is unsatisfied with the results, we can safely remove the filler at a future appointment. We rarely have to do this, however.
Hyaluronic Acid is structurally similar to collagen and has the same appearance when injected into various areas and depths of the face. In addition to directly adding volume to the face, Hyaluronic Acid stimulates new collagen formation and acts as a scaffolding for the new collagen.
Because It is a naturally occurring substance in the human body, there is a near-zero risk of an allergic reaction.
Before and after images of Dermal Filler Injections
The patient below had dermal filler injected into the tear troughs, nasolabial folds, and Marionette lines.
The patient below had cosmetic fillers injected into the temples and nasolabial folds.
The patient below was injected into the cheeks, nasolabial folds, and Marionette lines.
Individual results may vary.
Juvederm Ultra Plus:
This product has been around for a long time largely as a result of its broad application and consistent results. It is thicker than its predecessor, Juvederm Ultra, but still, delivers a smooth final look.
A major benefit of Juvederm Ultra Plus is its affinity for water. This means the product attracts water and hydrates the area of the face it is injected to further enhance the desired effect. This can be a very favorable quality when filling deep lines or when trying to achieve a significant increase in volume with minimal product.
Common sites: Lips, nasolabial folds, marionette lines
Duration: 9 months*
Juvederm Volbella:
The second generation of Juvederm products (Volbello, Vollure, and Voluma) use what Allergan calls Vycross technology. This relates to how the different size hyaluronic acid molecules interact and crosslink. As a result of this technology, Allergan has been able to extend the duration of hyaluronic acid fillers beyond Juvederm Ultra Plus’ 9 months.
Volbello is a very smooth product and is used to deliver a subtle result. It is typically used to decrease mild to moderate wrinkles or a very subtle lip augmentation making it a great choice if you are very concerned friends and family will notice you had something done.
Common sites: lips, vertical lines above the mouth, tear troughs
Duration: 1 year*
Juvederm Vollure:
Vollure exists in the sweet spot between smooth (Volbello) and firm (Voluma). As such, it has primarily replaced Juvederm Ultra Plus as a great broad application dermal filler. It delivers the same beautiful results with twice the duration. Vollure has a slightly less hydrating effect when compared to Juvederm Ultra Plus but has a slightly smoother final appearance. Additionally, there tends to be less initial swelling/ inflammatory response when injecting Vollure vs. Juvederm Ultra Plus.
Vollure has been the number one dermal filler used in Europe for many years and will likely be the number one filler in the USA in the near future.
Common sites: Lips, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, cheeks, temples, and many other areas
Duration: 18 months*
Juvederm Voluma:
Voluma is a firm facial filler used to volumize deep structures, particularly the cheeks. It is made up of large hyaluronic acid molecules- a characteristic that lends itself to both its firm nature and long duration.
Voluma can be used for superficial cosmetic injections, but it is more often used deep in the skin to mimic the bone/tissue loss associated with aging.
Common sites: Cheeks, midface, temples, chin
Duration: 2 years*
Restylane:
Restylane is a great product for the tear troughs. This is because it does not have the hydrating effect of the Juvederm product line. As a result, the hollow below the eyes is less likely to be overfilled, which lends itself to a very unnatural appearance.
Restylane can certainly be injected elsewhere, but it is rarely the best choice when compared to the Juvederm products or second generation Restylane products.
Common sites: Tear Troughs
Duration: 9 months*
Restylane Defyne:
The new Restylane products use a technology called XPresHAn. It is similar to Allergan’s Vycross technology, but the hyaluronic acid molecules are less tightly bound, allowing for a product more resistant to stretch. Think memory foam. This makes Defyne and Refyne great for injection around highly mobile areas like the mouth.
Defyne is slightly firmer than Refyne which makes it great for deep wrinkles around the mouth.
Common sites: around the mouth- deep lines
Duration: 1 year*
Restylane Refyne:
Refyne is a thin injectable filler that is resistant to degradation even in a highly mobile area. It is similar to Defyne but is injected more superficially to address less dramatic wrinkles. It is a great choice for patients just starting to notice lines around the mouth they wish were not there.
Common sites: around the mouth- superficial lines
Duration: 1 year
*Duration is based on manufacturer and independent studies. Actual duration may be affected by area injected, the mobility of area injected, physical activity level, smoking status, etc.
Please note, this is a very broad description of each product. The decision on which dermal filler will be used will be determined by you and your doctor or nurse at the time of your consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does getting fillers hurt?
Dermal fillers tend to be comparable to Botox with regards to the pain of the procedure itself. That being said, dermal fillers are commonly injected into more sensitive areas of the face. For example, the lips.
Some patients prefer a topical cream to numb treatment sites before injection. This helps but does not eliminate the pain associated with the procedure. Additionally, most are premixed with lidocaine, to further decrease pain.
Because the lips are amongst the most sensitive areas, we may perform a dental block before treatment. This includes the application of an anesthetic gel to the gums and a few lidocaine injections.
How long after the procedure does it take to see results?
Excellent news for anyone who loves instant gratification. Results are immediate. That being said, final results tend to take a few days to appear. Initially, there may be some slight bruising and/or inflammation, and overall volume tends to increase over the course of the first couple of days. Individual timeframes and results may vary.
How long does the dermal filler last?
Juvederm Ultra Plus and Restylane last between 9 and 12 months depending on amount and site of injection. Volbella lasts 12 months, Vollure lasts 18 months, and Voluma lasts 24 months. Individual timeframes and results may vary.
What will happen if I get treated one time but do not continue to get it on a regular basis?
If you do not continue to get it on a regular basis, the effects will wear off. You will NOT get more wrinkles or decreased volume than you previously had.
Will it be obvious that I’ve had a cosmetic procedure?
At Transform Me, we are cautious not to over-do fillers. It is better to underfill an area than overfill it and give you an apparently overdone look. We can save what you do not use at the initial visit for a subsequent visit, and we can always add more.
Reversing an injection is possible with subsequent injections of an enzyme that breaks it down.
Is there anyone who should not get dermal fillers?
Yes. Do not get fillers if you have a skin infection at the planned injection site. Treat the infection. We’d love to see you afterward.
I’m pregnant. Can I still get dermal fillers?
Although it’s unlikely there will be any adverse side effects to your baby, Transform Me recommends not undergoing the procedure if you are pregnant.
Post Procedure Care:
Immediately after the procedure, you may have some redness and swelling at the injection sites. This is your body’s normal inflammatory response, and it will not last long.
There may, however, be some additional bruising immediately following your procedure. This is more common with dermal fillers than with Botox as a result of the nature of the substance injected as well as the location of the injections. If this occurs, ice and Arnica Gel can be used to decrease the duration of the bruise. Arnica Gel can be found at any drug store, and we offer it at Transform Me. Additionally, we can reduce the appearance of a bruise by using our Cutera Excel V laser. If a bruise persists for more than two days, please schedule an appointment with us, and we will use our laser to decrease the intensity and duration of the bruise. Concealer can also aid in decreasing the appearance of the bruise.
Arnica Gel can be found at any drug store, and we offer it at Transform Me. Additionally, we can reduce the appearance of a bruise by using our Cutera Excel V laser. If a bruise persists for more than two days, please schedule an appointment with us, and we will use our laser to decrease the intensity and duration of the bruise. Concealer can also aid in reducing the appearance of the bruise.
Wait a few days for the swelling to entirely decrease and the product to settle in before making a final decision if you are happy with the results and remember we can always add more.
Individual timeframes and results may vary.
Dermal Filler Pricing in St. Louis and Fairview Heights:
Dermal fillers come from the manufacturer in pre-drawn 1 ml syringes. As a result, you must buy a minimum of 1 ml as we cannot use part of the syringe on you and part of it on someone else. Most patients only require one syringe, but some people want more depending on which area(s) they want to be treated.
Unlike most clinics, Transform Me does not require you use the entire syringe in one visit. If for example, you only want a small area treated or you just want a little amount in a given area, we can save the remaining product for a future visit. By doing so, this prevents overfilling (i.e., Daffy Duck lips).
We primarily use Juvederm by Allergan, the same company that makes Botox, and Restylane, by Galderma. Both products come pre-mixed with lidocaine for decreased pain during injection.
Juvederm and Restylane last approximately nine months. If you are looking for something longer lasting, however, Allergen recently released Volbello with 12-month duration, Vollure with 18-month duration and Voluma, with a 24-month duration. There are subtle nuances to each product that will be discussed at time of consultation.
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