cosmetic dermatology

There are a variety of soft tissue fillers on the market today. In fact there are more than 60 different fillers available around the world - and the list continues to grow. At San Diego Dermatology and Laser Surgery, Dr. Lupton only uses the safest most natural appearing fillers for optimal facial augmentation. Dr. Lupton personally performs all injectable treatments himself. His advanced training and expertise coupled with over ten years of cosmetic dermatology experience, allows for the most precise and pleasing natural effects after treatment. Your result should impart a softer, more youthful appearance to the skin with softening of fine lines and improved facial contours.

No one is immune to the signs of aging as facial lines and wrinkles are caused by a gradual breakdown of collagen and elastin fibers in the skin. Facial lines and furrows are directly caused by grimacing, squinting, or frowning with resultant stress on the collagen fibers. For these reasons, the soft tissue fillers were developed to improve the appearance of the skin via plumping and filling with immediate, visible results.

Restylane is a safe, natural dermal filler that helps to restore volume, sculpt lips and lift wrinkles and depressions within the skin with minimal risk and downtime. Restylane is a synthetic gel composed of hyaluronic acid, a normal component of the skin that acts to restore volume and draw in water.

Restylane is injected within the skin to fill in depressions such as wrinkles or folds and leaves the skin looking more smooth and youthful. Restylane injections have also been shown to stimulate the production of collagen fibers within the skin after repeated treatment thus allowing for a more long lasting rejuvenation. Restylane is synthetic and therefore does not require skin testing prior to treatment. It lasts anywhere from 4-9 months or more depending upon the location injected and the characteristics of the individual patient's skin.

Restylane is commonly injected into the lips, mouth corners, nasolabial folds (smile lines), cheeks, chin, under the eyes and in the brow. Restylane can be used for fuller, more voluptuous lips or simply to redefine the lip margin.

Perlane is made by the same manufacturer as Restylane and simply contains a larger particle size of hyaluronic acid. This filler is used for deeper, more etched in lines of the face or for those who want more prominent lip augmentation.

Perlane is also a very safe injectable product and can be combined with Restylane or other fillers or Botox for improved appearance. Dr. Lupton personally evaluates each individual patient to determine which filler or combination of filler products will give them the best, most natural and long-lasting effect.

Juvederm Ultra and Ultra Plus are newer filler materials also composed of hyaluronic acid that are used to fill in moderate to deep lines and wrinkles of the face or to enhance the lip line. Like Restylane, these fillers create a smoother, more natural and youthful appearance with minimal risk or downtime.

These hyaluronic acid fillers are quickly becoming one of the fastest growing areas within aesthetic medicine in the US.

Radiesse is another synthetic injectable filler that can be used for facial and/or hand rejuvenation. Radiesse is composed of calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres suspended within a biocompatible aqueous gel carrier. Radiesse is made from the same components that are found in our bones. Radiesse is an excellent non-surgical solution to soften facial lines and restore volume or fill in scars.

Radiesse is used to fill in deeper folds and wrinkles on the face, especially the smile lines and marionette lines with ease and minimal risk. This injectable is also usually mixed pre-treatment with a small concentration of lidocaine so injection is usually very well tolerated as the skin quickly becomes numb during treatment.

Results with this filler (as well as the others) is immediate and the patient can see the dramatic difference in their skin before they even get out of the chair. Benefits with Radiesse may last longer than some other fillers, often with results lasting six-12 months after treatment.

Any of the filling agents is usually injected in small amounts under the skin to fill in depressions, lines and grooves. Some of these fillers may also be injected into and/or around the lips for a more defined, fuller pout. Skin tests are no longer necessary with these injectables as they are non-animal based synthetic gels. For maximal comfort a topical anesthetic gel will most likely be applied to the area just prior to treatment. In some cases a nerve block with a few small injections inside the mouth may also be done for more prominent anesthesia - this is especially common when injecting the lip lines so as to achieve painless or nearly painless treatment.

The longevity of any filler depends upon the type injected, the body location, and the individual characteristics of the patient; results typically last anywhere from four months up to one year or more. The areas treated may be replenished when the effect of the injection begins to diminish at the discretion of the patient.

Immediately post-treatment most patients will experience mild redness and swelling. Some patients may have a small bruise at an injection site or a small degree of lumpiness. These effects are temporary and usually resolve very quickly. Most patients will also notice immediate cosmetic enhancement which may increase over time.