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UCI Plastic Surgery
UCI Plastic Surgery 
Dermal Fillers
Dermal Fillers in Orange County
Many of the visible signs of aging in our faces are due to loss of volume. The layer of fat under our skin thins over time, leaving hollowed areas and enabling the formation of lines and wrinkles. Dermal fillers are a fast and non-invasive way to address volume loss, smooth lines and wrinkles, plump the lips, and restore younger-looking contours to your face. No surgery is involved, and you’ll have no downtime for recovery.
To learn more about dermal fillers and other facial rejuvenation treatments, and about our uniquely qualified cosmetic doctors, contact UCI Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation at one of our five Orange County-area locations: in Orange, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Yorba Linda and Newport Beach, CA.
What Are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers are gel-like substances that, when injected under the skin, add volume where it is missing. Most fillers consist of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body that stimulates the production of collagen, which helps skin retain moisture and maintain resilience. These fillers also provide structural support to firm and smooth the complexion at the skin’s surface.
A range of dermal fillers fulfill specific cosmetic purposes. Some formulations have larger molecules to add more significant structural support and volume. These are a good choice for filling in hollowed cheeks, for example. Other varieties, with smaller molecules, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, such as those that form around the eyes and lips. Special formulations plump the lips.
The results of dermal filler injections are temporary, lasting from a few months to two years, depending on the type of filler used, the speed at which your body metabolizes the material, and other factors.
Your body fat can also be an excellent dermal filler. In a procedure known as fat grafting, a surgeon harvests “donor” fat using liposuction on a part of your body that can benefit from slimming. They then process the fat cells and inject them into parts of your face that need more volume. The results of fat grafting can last for many years.
Dermal fillers are not the same as injectable neuromodulators, such as Botox® and Dysport®, which soften expression lines and wrinkles by relaxing facial muscles. You can choose to combine these different types of injectable treatments — neuromodulators and fillers — to treat various parts of the face for a more comprehensive rejuvenating effect.
Why Might I Consider Treatment With Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers are a fast and effective way to treat a range of signs of facial aging. Different dermal fillers can have the following effects:
- Smooth and soften facial lines and wrinkles, including forehead lines and the creases that form around the nose and mouth (nasolabial fold and marionette lines)
- Add volume to sunken cheeks or temples to restore a younger look
- Fill in lost volume under the eyes
- Plump the lips and eliminate vertical lip lines
- Smooth a chin crease
- Improve the symmetry of facial features
- Modify the shape of the nose
Dermal fillers are a temporary treatment (lasting several months to two years) for mild to moderate signs of facial aging. When facial skin loosens to the point where it no longer smooths over filled areas, or when you desire a more permanent solution, we may recommend a surgical treatment such as a facelift or brow lift.
Types of Dermal Fillers
At UCI Plastic Surgery, we offer dermal filler treatments using a range of formulations from three medically proven manufacturers.
Juvéderm® a line of hyaluronic acid fillers, is made in a range of formulations for treating fine lines and wrinkles, plumping the lips, and filling deeper facial creases and folds. Juvéderm’s Voluma® is the first and only filler of its kind to receive FDA approval for restoring volume in the cheeks.
Restylane®, another line of hyaluronic acid fillers, treats moderate to severe facial lines and creases and restores volume to thinning lips.
Belotero® is a line of fillers made with hyaluronic acid in formulations designed for everything from smoothing fine lines to filling deeper creases on the face. We use Belotero Balance to smooth and fill moderate to severe nasolabial folds — the creases that extend from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth.
Start Your Journey Today!
UCI Plastic Surgery is a leader in the field of cosmetic surgery. Each of our specialists is highly knowledgeable, trained, and committed to bringing our patients the latest advancements in the field. Learn how our experts can help you obtain industry-leading results by scheduling a consultation today.
What Happens During the Procedure?
You’ll have your dermal filler treatment session in one of our five Orange County area offices — in Orange, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Yorba Linda, and Newport Beach, CA.. Most sessions take a half-hour or less, and you will be able to get right back to work or continue your daily routine, with no downtime.
After a quick evaluation to discuss your individual needs and goals, we’ll recommend a personalized approach based on your facial anatomy and the lines, wrinkles, or facial contours that concern you. We’ll then administer precise injections where the filler will have the most impact and produce the most natural-looking results.
Injections with dermal fillers are relatively painless. We may apply a topical anesthetic to the area before treatment to minimize discomfort, or an anesthetic injection before treating the lips.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dermal Fillers
Yes. You can choose to combine dermal filler treatments with other non-surgical skin treatments to make your face look younger. Botox®, which softens expression lines and creases by relaxing the underlying muscles, is one of these. You can also complement dermal filler treatments with procedures that brighten the complexion and tighten mildly loosening facial skin, including chemical peels, laser treatments, or microdermabrasion.
The results are immediate, though some patients experience minor swelling, bruising, or redness for a few days after treatment. These should resolve on their own, but until then, you can minimize them by applying ice packs.
There is no downtime for recovery after dermal filler injections, but for the first 24 hours after treatment, we recommend avoiding:
- Strenuous activity
- Extensive sun or heat exposure
- Aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Alcoholic beverages
Schedule a Consultation
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and find out how dermal fillers can help you look younger. We serve the Orange County area with offices in Orange, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Yorba Linda and Newport Beach, CA..
The doctors at UCI Plastic Surgery are leaders in the field of cosmetic surgery. Through their teaching and lecturing roles at UCI, they stay current with state-of-the-art techniques and technology. With their advanced technical skills, they consistently produce better, more natural-looking results for their patients.