Facial Fillers
Dr. Funk frequently injects filler for bags under the eyes. The "bag" is protruding fat that surrounds your eyeball. The "dark circle" is a shadowed area beneath the "bag" and can easily be filled a hyaluronic acid filler like Restylane. If you think of the fat as a small hill and the dark circle as the valley beneath it, the "valley" is filled to the level of the hill. This will lead to a 60-70% improvement in the appearance of dark circles and bags under the eyes. This is an injection technique that should only be performed by an experienced injector as there is a large margin for error with this type of injection.
Sculptra
Sculptra is different from some of the other fillers. It is made of Poly-L Lactic acid which is a synthetic material found in absorbable suture or stitches. What makes Sculptra unique is that it will not only fill, but also stimulate your own body to produce collagen to maintain the volume in your face. It is the only filler that truly induces your own body to deposit collagen fibers in response to its presence.
Sculptra is used more for volume depletion rather than chasing lines, wrinkles, and folds. It is an excellent product for the thin patient in her 40s and 50s with a gaunt, sunken, or hollowed facial appearance due to fat loss. It can be injected in the temples, cheeks, and in front of the ear to create that more cherubic, voluminous, and youthful face.
Sculptra is injected in the office, is well tolerated, and requires 3 sessions of injections 1 month apart.
Restylane and Restylane Lyft
Restylane and Restylane Lyft are synthetically made dermal fillers. They are used for passive wrinkles, folds, lines, and for volume replacement. Restylane Lyft is a more dense substance than Restylane and lasts a little longer. Restylane Lyft works well for larger volume replacement and is injected deeper in the skin. Restylane and Restylane Lyft also work very well for the lips in addition to the smile lines and corners of the mouth. Restylane and Restylane Lyft create a more healthy, youthful appearance by rejuvenating volume deficient areas.
Restylane and Restylane Lyft are made of non-animal based hyaluronic acid, a sugar molecule found naturally in human skin, ligaments and cartilage. Once injected, the hyaluronic acid molecules attract water producing a soft, supple correction that looks very natural. Restylane and Restylane Lyft are a clear gel like substance that are safe and proven effective.
Restylane and Restylane Lyft injections are performed in the office by Dr. Funk. This is done under local anesthesia. It can also be done only with topical anesthesia. Minimal bruising, redness, and swelling may be experienced. Most patients can resume normal activities that same day. Dr. Funk recommends to ice the area after injection but not to massage the region unless informed otherwise. Results are visible immediately after treatment, and most patients appreciate 6 to 9 months of correction. The procedure can repeated as often as you wish. A private consultation with Dr. Funk will help you determine which filler is ideal for you.
Juvederm
Juvederm is an injectable filler used for deep facial wrinkles, folds, lines and acne scars. Juvederm can also enhance the lips, and re-contour facial features. Juvederm is made of hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in human skin, ligaments, and tendons. Juvederm Ultra or Juvederm Ultra Plus (a thicker and longer lasting Juvederm) last approximately 6 months to 1 year depending on the location of injection. The results are very natural and long-lasting.
Dr. Funk performs Juvederm treatments in the comfort of his office. Depending on the area being treated, the procedure can take as little as 10 minutes to as much as 45 minutes to complete. A topical numbing cream, local anesthetic, or nerve block may first be administered to maximize patient comfort.
Juvederm has very few side effects. Some patients may experience redness or swelling at the injection site which can last for a few days. Nevertheless, work and other normal activities can be resumed immediately after treatment. Juvederm is a safe and effective injectable that can be used for all skin types and colors and does not require prior testing. During your private consultation, Dr. Funk will help you determine which filler is best for you.
Radiesse
Radiesse is an injectable filler used to fill lines, folds, and wrinkles. Radiesse is also very useful for deep injection to create volume and contour. Radiesse can be used for the nasolabial folds, marionette lines, the cheeks, the jawline and the temple. This filler can restore a healthy, youthful appearance, enhance your existing features, and increase your confidence- all without invasive surgery or scarring.
Radiesse is a synthetically made calcium hydroxylapatite which is naturally found in the body. It is a component we find in bone. The unique aspect of this filler is that Radiesse stimulate collagen growth. After injection, the product lasts for about 1 year. When the product dissolves, much of it is replaced with your own collagen. Side effects such as swelling or bruising are minimal and should fade within a few days. Results are visible immediately after the injection and can last for months to years, although the procedure can be repeated as often as you wish.
Dr. Funk frequently uses Radiesse for the cheeks. He performes deep injection to augment the cheeks and provide a fuller and more youthful appearance to the this region. Frequently, there is loss of collagen and fat in this region with descent of the existing fat pad. Deep injection of Radiesse helps restore the high cheek bones you may have once had.
Radiesse injection is performed in the office by Dr. Funk. This is done under local anesthesia. It can also be done only with topical anesthesia. Minimal bruising and swelling may be experienced. Most patients can resume normal activities that same day. Dr. Funk recommends to ice the area after injection but not to massage the region unless informed otherwise.
FAQs
Facial fillers or cosmetic dermal fillers are substances that are injected to enhance and improved the appearance of wrinkles and folds in the face. They can also be used to replace volume that has been lost over time with aging.
Dermal fillers can be used for the nasolabial folds, marionette lines, tear trough under the eyes, cheeks, prejowl sulcus, temple and lips.
Certain types of fillers can be used for the lips quite effectively. Typically, the hyaluronic acid filler such as Resylane, Perlane, and Juvederm are best for the lips and provide fullness and pout while still feeling soft and not overdone. See the lip enhancment link for more information.
Fillers can be placed under the eyes successfuly in the right hands. The lower eyelid skin is very thin and unforgiving if fillers are not placed in the correct location. Injected appropriately, this can provide significant improvement in the hollows underneath the eyes and bags under the eyes. Filler injection under the eye or the tear trough, the deeper groove beneath the eye, provides a more aesthetic, rested, and refreshed appearance.
A liquid face lift, sometimes referred to as a lunch-hour facelift, is performed by restoring missing volume to specific areas of your face. Facial re-contouring with injectable fillers can delay the need for more invasive surgery, and restore a youthful appearance.
A facial filler or cosmetic filler lasts anywhere between 6months to over a year. This depends on the location where it was injected. The lips are constantly moving and therefore the filler lasts less amount of time as opposed to the cheeks or temple where a filler may last over a year. The longevity of fillers will also depend on the type of filler used. Juvederm and Restylane may not last as long as Radiesse.
Injection of fillers can be performed under certain levels of local anesthesia or no anesthesia. Depending on the type of filler, depth of injection, volume of injection, and location of placement, filler injection without anesthesia is possible with minimal discomfort. Other patients favor having topical anesthesia placed on the skin to be treated or local anesthesia injected as in a dentist's office. Restylane and Juvederm now come with anesthetic premixed into them making injection even more comfortable for patients. Dr. Funk will frequently mix Radiesse with lidocaine, a local anesthetic, which is FDA approved for smoother and more comfortable injection.
All of the fillers that Dr. Funk uses are approved by the FDA for cosmetic use. They are purchased directly from the manufacturer and stored and kept at appropriate temperatures in the proper setting prior to injection. Most of the currently used fillers have been on the market for up to 8 years.
Why Choose Funk Facial Plastic Surgery
Cosmetic surgery of the face and neck should be performed by a board certified surgeon who understands the intricate anatomy of the region while at the same time comprehending aesthetic principles.
Dr. Funk is a double board certified head and neck surgeon and facial plastic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic surgery of the face. He performs close to 200 rhinoplasties per year and has performed hundreds of facelifts and eyelid lifts or blepharoplasty. His goal is to provide you with a natural, long-lasting, and beautiful result while at the same time minimizing your downtime.
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