Dermal Fillers™
Why MunkMD?
MunkMD is an all-encompassing medical and cosmetic clinic focusing on skin health, anti-aging and rejuvenation. All treatment plans are created by board certified dermatologists specialising in aesthetic medicine, in order to deliver superior results with a focus on patient safety.
Dermal Fillers Treatment
Treatments with injectable fillers are extremely popular in today’s day and age. People are less inclined to undergo invasive surgeries, and are seeking options with little to no downtime and very natural results. With so many different types of fillers to choose from, it is easy to individualize the type of filler for every person, in order to obtain very natural and beautiful results.
How do dermal fillers work?
The most popular types of fillers are hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Juvederm™, Restylane™ and Belotero™. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance in the skin that provides volume and hydration in our youth. As we age, it progressively diminishes in the extracellular matrix below the skin, and this contributes to wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and skin laxity. In addition, there are gradual changes to the underlying fatty tissue, muscles and bony structures. All of this leads to pronounced lines and wrinkles and a loss of skin turgor.
Hyaluronic acid fillers are the safest on the market, and results can last from 6 months up to 2 years, depending on the type of filler. Recent research has shown that fillers will also stimulate the fibroblasts deep below the skin to build new collagen, leading to long-lasting improvement in fine lines and smoothing out the skin. Injections with hyaluronic acid fillers are well tolerated; there is anesthetic mixed into the fillers, allowing for an almost painless procedure with little to no recovery.
The objective with dermal fillers is to recreate a youthful appearance in a very natural way. The intricate placement of fillers is an art; when properly done, the results are beautiful, long lasting and very effective at restoring youthful volume and appearance.
Areas on the face amenable to correction with dermal fillers include forehead lines, tear troughs under eyes, frown lines, chin and jawline. In addition augmentation of cheeks and lips is very successful by using fillers. The combination with Botulinum Toxin (Botox™ or Dysport™) results in a beautiful and natural Softlift without undergoing invasive surgery.
For those people that have visited my office, you know that we offer a lot of different treatments and procedures at MunkMD. From chemical peels, to laser rejuvenation, hair removal and coolsculpting, there is a vast array of esthetic options for all skin types. Still the procedure that garners the most interest are injectables. Botox has become the number one cosmetic product across the globe, and filler use has grown exponentially over the last 10 years. Why are these products in such high demand? Are they safe? And do they lead to “natural” results?
The simple answer is YES. These products work. Neuromodulators, like Botox, relax muscles of expression and are very helpful in softening lines related to muscle movement; forehead lines, frown lines and crowes feet around the eyes are particularly amenable to Botox treatment. The other key thing that Botox can do is lift and reshape the eyebrows by relaxing those muscles that depress the eyebrows and define the jawline with a “Nefertiti Lift”. The key, however, is not to overdo Botox because if too much is injected, the muscle will not be able to move at all, and this can result in an unnatural appearance.
Fillers are different. Fillers add in volume. The newer fillers developed over the last 10 years have properties that can lift and volumize in a way that only surgery was able to do in the past. The most common area to fill are the cheeks, because this is where most of us lose volume over time, and by revolumizing the cheeks, the entire lower face will lift and jowls are significantly improved in this manner. But volumizing fillers don’t stop there. Literally any area of the face can be lifted and reshaped with newer fillers. Common areas that can be treated include eyebrows, lips, chin, jawline. Under eye bags are commonly filled with fillers and lead to beautiful and natural looking results. When done properly and delicately, the results are incredible. What was only achievable 10 years ago with surgery and 2 weeks of healing, can now be done safely in a 30 minute time period with minimal discomfort and essentially no downtime.
When I first started injecting a few years ago, there were some areas on the face that had higher risks of bruising, and although the results were always great, I would warn patients doing their eyes, lips and jawline area on the risks of bruising. Although this is always a possibility, new techniques and the use of cannulas has drastically changed my practice. I am able now to fill areas like the under eyes with very minimal discomfort and a very low risk of bruising. This has changed my practice, because now I could offer patients a revolutionary lift and rejuvenation with essentially no downtime.
I tell all of my patients the following: when done properly, nobody should be able to tell that they have been injected. The goal of injections for me is to relax, augment and refresh our look in a very natural way. This is what I strive to do for all of my patients. Most patients I have injected tell me that nobody has noticed, but people do comment that they look relaxed, or they changed their hairstyle… This is what fillers are all about; looking and feeling your best, in a very natural way. Where fillers will make the biggest difference is 5-10 years down the line, when everybody else starts aging and developing loose redundant skin, but my patients will continue to preserve a firm, augmented and natural beauty to them. This is when most people will start to take notice that something has been done. Age is just a number, and with the help of fillers and Botox, we can literally turn back the hands of time in a natural way.
Warning: These photos are for reference only and to provide information on the treatment. Results may vary from patient to patient.
