Devon says she has experience with wrinkle fillers, which makes her an excellent voice for the campaign:

“In my 30s, I began receiving treatment with a dermal filler when I noticed these deep lines starting to form around my nose and mouth that looked like two parentheses and couldn’t be filled in with the creams I was using,” says Devon.

Become a fan of Juvederm on Facebook and you’ll receive useful information from Dayna Devon about fitness, health, beauty and “switching up” your aesthetic routine to look better.

While you’re at it, tell your friends about Hess Plastic Surgery on Facebook.

There’s no harm in revisiting the topic if we can help clear up some confusion about the application of dermal fillers and how those procedures compare to surgery.

While the liquid facelift is basically soft tissue augmentation with Botox and injectable fillers, people say the goal is to achieve results that are similar to surgery. Yet the results are said to be “typically more subtle than surgery.”  As Dr. Hess pointed out, “a facelift tightens the deeper tissues of the face including the neck muscles and removes excess skin – things that a “liquid facelift” will never achieve.

Despite the subtle inconsistencies or perhaps, the misuse of terms, the topic is getting lots of media attention: Harper’s Bazaar is the latest to pick it up and interview some of the physicians that say they’re doing it.  The Best Beauty section of their September ’09 issue includes before and after pictures and a discussion of professional techniques for administering injectables.  The magazine’s website also has a decent article with some facts and figures about soft tissue augmentation with wrinkle fillers.

Apparently, the liquid facelift isn’t exactly a “touch up” here and there, but a relatively extensive  series of injections.  According to the authors, you can expect to pay at least $3,000 – $5,000 for a full liquid facelift.  A Florida dermatologist by the name of Dr. Fredric Brandt explains, “I re-suspend the face with Botox, lifting up the brows, neck, jawline, and tip of the nose and then fill in and replace volume around the eyes and cheeks.”

The liquid facelift has also been featured on The Doctors (NBC), Rachel Ray Show, New Beauty Magazine, Dr. 90210, FOX News, Cosmetic Surgery Times, and more exposure is said to be in the works.

Before we had these fillers the choices for lip enhancement were collagen, fat and permanent tissues such as Alloderm® or other similar cadaveric or animal tissue.  Collagen was difficult to use since all patients had to be skin tested.  If the patient didn’t react to the collagen they could be injected 3 weeks later.  Even then 4% of patients would react causing a painful reaction.  Fat has the potential to add permanent fullness to the lips.  Unfortunately, fat is absorbed by the body to a different degree in everyone.  But for the most part only about 30-40% of fat will remain 6 months after injection.  Because of this absorption the potential to end up with poor contour of the lips is significant.  Finally, tissues that can add fullness with permanence can be outstanding.  If the patient is sure what she wants and the amount of tissue inserted is correct and it doesn’t get infected it can be an outstanding result.  I am a fan of using sterilized tissues for permanent lip augmentation.

My goal for lip augmentation is to create a fullness that is proportionate to the remainder of the patient’s face.  The patients lips are evaluated for fullness, or lack thereof, symmetry, anatomic landmarks and function.  In addition, a thorough discussion is undertaken with the patient to get an understanding of their personality.  This is essential to lip enhancement; younger women often want larger fuller lips whereas more mature women are often more conservative.  For the average patient with decreased lip fullness I use .75cc of dermal filler in the upper lip and .25cc in the central portion of the lower lip to balance.  This will usually provide the appropriate fullness.  However, 1cc in the upper lip is totally reasonable and is something I often do.  Unfortunately, the lips are very sensitive to injection.  So although you may look similar to Goldie Hawn in “The First Wives Club” immediately after injection, this will resolve within 18-24 hours leaving you with lips that are an appropriate fullness for you.

Every patient has to evaluate the physician that they seek for cosmetic enhancement.  The artistic and technical ability of that physician should be questioned.  For all patients in Fairfax, Reston, Gainesville, Loudoun, Arlington, Alexandria, Manassas and anywhere in northern Virginia please call our office for a complementary consultation.

To help you feel your best during the holidays, Hess Plastic Surgery is also offering a 25% discount on all Obagi medical skin care products.  Obagi is a leaders in skin repair products from Sun Damage to Acne control.  

To learn more about dermal fillers and Obagi medical skin care products contact Dr. Christopher Hess today for your FREE consultation.

Juvederm is an injectable hyaluroinic acid that is placed into the facial tissue to smooth out the deep folds and wrinkles. It is especially useful in and around the nose and mouth. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occuring sugar found in the human body that helps to deliver nutrients as well as hydrate the skin by holding water. Juvederm injectable filler temporarily adds volume to facial tissue and restores a more youthful appearance.

For more detailed information and patient safety you can download the Juvederm Ultra Patient Safety Information document.

The following animation video shows how Juvederm Injectable Filler works once injected into the skin.