INJECTABLE FILLERS
(Restylane, Captique, Hylaform)
What to expect from treatment
The most important fact to remember about injectable fillers is that the results are not permanent. Injected material is eventually
metabolized by the body. You should not expect the same long-lasting results that may be gained from cosmetic surgery.
In some individuals, the results may last only a few weeks; in others, the results may be maintained indefinitely. Researchers
believe that age, genetic background, skin quality and lifestyle as well as the injected body site may all play a role in the injected
material's "staying power." However, the precise reason for the variation of results among patients has yet to be identified.
If you've had short-lived results from fat injections, you shouldn't necessarily assume that collagen injections will work better
for you. And, conversely, if you've had disappointing results from collagen, don't assume that injected fat is the answer. Although
it's true that some individuals' bodies are more receptive to one substance than the other, others may find that neither substance
produces long-lasting results. Sometimes one substance may work better than the other for a specific problem.
Risks related to injectables
When injectables are administered by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor in nature. Still,
individuals vary greatly in their anatomy, their physical reactions and their healing abilities. The outcome of treatment with
injectables is never completely predictable.
Collagen: Allergic reaction is the primary risk of collagen. To help determine if you are allergic to the substance, your surgeon
will perform an allergy skin test about a month before the procedure. After the test is performed, the test site should be watched
carefully for three or four weeks, or as long as your surgeon advises. Any sign of redness, itching, swelling or other occurrences
at the test site should be reported to your surgeon.
Risks not necessarily related to allergies include infection, abscesses, open sores, skin peeling, scarring and lumpiness, which
may persist over the treated area. Reports of these problems are very rare.
Fat: Allergic reaction is not a factor for fat because it's harvested from a patient's own body. However, there is still a small
risk of infection and other infrequent complications.
Planning for treatment
Facial rejuvenation is very individualized. That's why it's important to discuss your hopes and expectations with a board-certified
plastic surgeon who has experience with many different types of surgical and non-surgical facial procedures.
In your initial consultation, your plastic surgeon will evaluate your face - the skin, the muscles and the underlying bone - and
discuss your goals for the surgery. Your doctor will help you select a treatment option based on your goals and concerns, your anatomy
and your lifestyle.
Your surgeon will ask you about your medical history, drug allergies, and check for conditions that could cause problems, such as
active skin infections or non-healed sores from injuries. Collagen injections are generally off limits for pregnant women, individuals
who are allergic to beef or bovine products, patients who suffer from autoimmune diseases, and those who are allergic to lidocaine
(the anesthetic agent contained in the syringe with the collagen material). For more specific information about the contraindications
and risks of collagen use, ask your doctor for the manufacturer's brochure for patients.
Continue reading about fillers in Southern California...
|
