Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers can restore fullness to the face, plump thin lips, and soften wrinkles around the mouth and eyes. Women and men alike in Columbia, Baltimore, and throughout the DMV area of Maryland are discovering the benefits and cost-effectiveness of these non-surgical “liquid facelifts” at Dr. Sarah Mess’ medical spa. They provide a fresh and youthful appearance by filling facial wrinkles and deep creases. Dermal fillers and fat transfer offer many of the benefits of a facelift or eyelid surgery at a fraction of the cost, and they do it with no downtime.
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How Do Dermal Fillers Work?
Dermal fillers are injectable substances used to restore lost volume, reduce wrinkles, and enhance facial features. They are commonly used for cosmetic purposes to achieve a more youthful appearance. Dermal fillers work by adding volume to the targeted area, such as the cheeks, lips, or under-eye hollows. The substances used in fillers can be made of various materials, including hyaluronic acid, poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), or calcium hydroxylapatite. These materials plump up the skin and smooth out lines and wrinkles.
Wrinkle Reduction with Dermal Fillers
Dr. Sarah Mess works with several fillers including Voluma, Volux, Vollure, Volbella, Juvederm, Skinvive, Restylane, Restylane Eyelight, Refyne, Defyne, and Silk, Sculptra, Radiesse, and Belotero to provide patients throughout the DMV area with the best options to achieve the look they desire.
Techniques And Options for Wrinkle Reduction
“Liquid facelifts” allow women and men to delay surgical procedures and still enjoy the benefits of smoother skin, fuller lips, and youthful cheeks. Surgery allows for the most permanent and best results to address loose skin and excessive wrinkles, but surgery does not fit everyone’s schedule or budget and many people need only minimal changes to achieve impressive results. Most people don’t need or want a facelift in their 40’s, but plenty of men and women can benefit from the advantages of fillers at this age.
These hyaluronic fillers can:
- Soften nasolabial folds
- Fill Glabellar lines (lines between the eyebrows)
- Provide lip enhancement
- Enhance jawline contour and improve the appearance of a weak chin
- Add volume to sagging cheeks and restore volume under eyes
- Treat marionette lines
- Address dark circles and hollows under the eyes
Dermal Fillers for Lips
Many women experience a loss of volume in their lips as a result of aging, but they may avoid fillers because they are afraid of “duck lips”, the sign of an overdone look. As a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Mess and her staff have a deep understanding of facial anatomy and experience in utilizing injectables for natural-looking enhancement. We can help you select the right type and amount of injectable filler to achieve the results you want.
Centuries ago, artists established what they considered to be the Divine Proportion to ensure harmony and balance in their artwork. For the lips it translates to a guideline that the upper lip should be about 40% of the total height of the lips, and the bottom lip should be about 60%. Many classic paintings and sculptures follow this principle, but in reality there is no universal ratio. Everyone’s facial structure is different — and so is everyone’s ideal lip shape and size. At your consultation appointment you can bring in photos to illustrate the look you’d like (including photos of your own lips in your youth!) and we will create a personalized treatment plan to deliver your perfect natural-looking pout. Learn more about lip fillers.
Jawline Contouring with Dermal Fillers
While the loss of volume in the lips is a common concern with aging, another area that can significantly impact facial aesthetics is the jawline. Jawline contouring with dermal fillers has emerged as an effective non-surgical option to redefine and enhance this essential facial feature. Unlike the overly exaggerated outcomes often associated with fillers, the approach taken by Dr. Mess and her experienced team at her Columbia medical spa focuses on achieving harmonious and subtle improvements that maintain a natural appearance.
Learn more about jawline contouring with dermal fillers
Tear Trough Rejuvenation with Dermal Fillers
Another critical area that can dramatically impact your appearance is the tear trough region. The tear troughs, located beneath the eyes, are susceptible to hollowing and dark circles as we age. Fortunately, tear trough rejuvenation using dermal fillers offers a non-surgical solution to restore a youthful and vibrant look.
Dr. Mess has extensive experience in using dermal fillers to restore the delicate structures surrounding the eyes. By utilizing the appropriate dermal fillers and employing refined injection techniques, tear trough rejuvenation can effectively minimize the appearance of hollowing, dark circles, and fine lines.
Learn more about tear trough rejuvenation with dermal fillers
Preparing for Dermal Fillers
Dr. Mess will evaluate your skin and facial features during the initial consultation and review the areas that concern you and then map out a plan to achieve your goals. Some plans incorporate multiple fillers.
The Procedure
Once the plan is agreed to Dr. Mess will clean the area and inject the filler. After the injection the face will be cleaned again and ice provided. You should continue to apply ice for the next 1/2 hour to reduce swelling. Be careful not to forcefully rub the injection site or apply too much pressure to treated areas.
Recovery After Dermal Filler Injection
Patients may experience some bruising and swelling at the injection sites. Continue to ice and these symptoms should fade within a couple of days. Dr. Mess carries a small line of Jane Iredale mineral make up specially developed as a post procedure cover up. It’s a wonderful complement to your new look.
Long Term Results after Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers will immediately add volume, smooth wrinkles, and improve facial contours. They are safe and effective, but they are not permanent. Areas with lots of movement like around the mouth may require more frequent filler than areas in the cheeks. Talk to Dr. Mess or her staff about when to set up your next treatment.
Before & After Photos
Juvéderm Ultra XC injected into the chin for a more defined jawline
Restylane Kysse injected into the lips for a fuller look
More About Our Favorite Dermal Fillers
Get the details about how some of the most popular dermal fillers work. Please visit our Injectables Guide for details on additional injectables.
Restylane Silk®
Restylane Silk was the first dermal filler approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for lip enhancement and the treatment of wrinkles around the mouth. Patients love this smooth gel lip filler because it delivers full, soft, natural-looking lips and long-lasting results.
Restylane Lyft®
Restylane Lyft is a hyaluronic acid filler that is FDA-approved for both face and hands. This filler can restore lost volume to accentuate the cheekbones or achieve smoother, more youthful-looking hands.
Restylane® Refyne and Defyne
Restylane Refyne and Restylane Defyne are two innovative hyaluronic acid fillers created with XpresHAn Technology™ for long-lasting results. Restylane Refyne can provide flexible volume for lips, nasolabial folds, or the tear trough area, while Defyne has a more substantial formula to smooth deeper lines and wrinkles in the mid-face.
Restylane® EYELIGHT™
Restylane EYELIGHT is engineered to target the unique needs of the under-eye region. Its advanced formula combines the power of hyaluronic acid—a naturally occurring substance in the skin—with cutting-edge technology. This synergy creates a subtle yet transformative result, lifting the tear troughs, minimizing the appearance of dark circles, and smoothing fine lines, all while maintaining the natural contours of your face.
Juvéderm® Volbella
Juvederm Volbella is another great choice for lip augmentation. This Juvederm filler utilizes Vycross technology to combine both low and high molecular weight Hyaluronic Acid to produce a smooth filler with minimal swelling. It absorbs less water than traditional fillers so there is less downtime and dependable, consistent results.
Juvéderm® Vollure
Juvederm Vollure is a long-lasting filler that is designed to add volume to the mid-face. Vollure uses Vycross technology for correction of moderate to deep depressions such as nasolabial folds (the lines between the outer edges of your nose and the corners of your mouth). Vollure is a great choice to add contour to the face, including the cheekbones.
JUVÉDERM® Vollux
Juvéderm Vollux is a cutting-edge dermal filler designed to address the lower face—specifically the chin and jawline, providing a non-surgical solution for achieving a refined and sculpted jawline that exudes confidence. Its specialized formula harnesses the power of hyaluronic acid to restore volume, enhance definition, and create a beautifully contoured jawline. With an emphasis on natural-looking results, Juvéderm Vollux offers a personalized approach to enhancing your facial aesthetics.
Juvéderm® Voluma XC
JUVÉDERM Voluma XC is specially designed to treat age-related midface volume loss — in other words, the flattening of the cheeks that can occur when you lose facial volume. Voluma XC can contour and provide lift to the cheekbones.
Juvéderm® Ultra XC
JUVÉDERM Ultra XC is a gel-based filler that is ideal for natural-looking lip augmentation. Ultra XC may also be used for nasojugal grooves or tear troughs — areas where correction of subtle volume loss can make you look refreshed and rejuvenated.
JUVÉDERM® Skinvive™
Skinvive is the latest addition to the Juvéderm family of fillers, and the only FDA-approved microdroplet hyaluronic acid (HA) injectable in the United States, designed specifically to smooth the cheeks. This pioneering solution elevates skin hydration, resulting in a renewed smoothness and a radiant luminescence that endures for up to six months.
Radiesse®
Radiesse contains calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres that work to stimulate natural collagen production in order to combat visible signs of aging. Radiesse is FDA-Approved for the face and the hands and is ideal for restoring lost volume.
Belotero
Belotero is a hyaluronic acid based filler that can be used to meet a variety of smoothing, plumping, and anti-aging needs. The Belotero formula has less density than many other injectable fillers, which makes it well-suited to fill fine lines and delicate areas. Belotero can diminish lines around the mouth (smoker’s lines or pucker lines) and is also a good choice for the eye area, including crow’s feet and tear troughs.
Sculptra® Aesthetic
Sculptra is a unique injectable filler that is FDA-approved to treat fat loss and restore volume in any area of the face. Sculptra is made of poly-L-lactic acid, which is a synthetic material commonly used in medical formulas, and it works to stimulate your body’s natural collagen production.
Schedule Your Consultation
To schedule a consultation with our team, please contact us or call (410) 559-9406 today.
FAQs About Dermal Fillers
How much do dermal fillers cost?
Dermal Fillers Cost is a consideration for any cosmetic procedure, but it is important to remember that your ultimate satisfaction will be based on a lot more than a fee. Dr. Mess combines the training, experience and dedicated care to provide exceptional results. She takes pride in helping women and men achieve their cosmetic goals with dermal fillers.
Can I combine any other procedures with with dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are usually only part of the solution to aging appearance. Their benefits are greatly enhanced when combined with appropriate skincare, chemical peels, and BOTOX® Cosmetic. The combined effects of a multi treatment approach offer patients the best results.
Are dermal fillers safe?
When administered by a qualified and experienced medical professional, dermal fillers are generally considered safe. However, like any medical procedure, there are risks involved, such as infection, allergic reactions, and vascular complications. It is essential to choose a reputable practitioner and follow post-treatment care instructions.
What areas can be treated with dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers can be used to enhance various facial areas, including the cheeks, lips, nasolabial folds (smile lines), marionette lines, under-eye hollows, jawline, and temples.
How long do dermal fillers last?
The duration of dermal filler results varies depending on the type of filler used, the area treated, and individual factors. Generally, results can last from several months to a year or more. Hyaluronic acid fillers tend to have shorter durations, while other types may last longer.
Are dermal filler injections painful?
Most dermal filler injections are well-tolerated, and discomfort is typically minimal. However, some patients may experience slight discomfort during the injection process. Many dermal fillers contain a local anesthetic (lidocaine) to help reduce discomfort.
Is there any downtime after dermal filler injections?
Downtime is usually minimal, and many people can resume normal activities immediately after treatment. Some mild swelling, redness, or bruising at the injection sites may occur but often resolves within a few days.
Can dermal fillers be reversed?
In some cases, hyaluronic acid fillers can be partially or fully reversed using an enzyme called hyaluronidase. This is used to dissolve the filler if there are complications or if the patient is unhappy with the results.
Dr. Sarah Mess has either authored or reviewed and approved this content. Page Updated
