8-West Cosmetic Surgery

Some of us are born with lips that we find to be too thin, while others experience a thinning of the lips as part of the natural aging process. These people may be candidates for lip augmentation with fillers. The lips have an extremely thin outer skin layer which becomes progressively thinner with age. This, together with environmental factors such as exposure to sunlight, smoking and stress, all contribute to how our lips age and the formation of lip wrinkles. Dr. Buonassisi uses filler treatments to both treat wrinkles around the lips, and plump the limps themselves. Plump lips are associates with youthfulness and attractiveness. The use of dermal fillers requires a medical professional to understand the unique properties of each filler product, and to have the artistic sense to know how to use a product in order to produce flattering results that look natural. For this reason, Dr. Buonassisi personally performs all dermal filler treatments himself to maximize outcomes for his patients.

Preparing for Your Procedure

One of the most appealing aspects of facial filler treatments is that there is no preparation time required and a short recovery period. Dr. Buonassisi will give you the option to have your lips frozen with lidocane or not. If you do opt for lidocane, you will experience little to no discomfort during the treatment, but will have a numb mouth for about an hour afterwards. The treatment itself takes about a minute and you can return to normal activities immediately. In some cases, you can experience bruising of the treated area, so it is recommended that you schedule lip filler treatments approximately a week before any big event. While bruising is not common, it can happen.

Filler Product Options

Dr. Buonassisi will help you decide which filler product is best for you. Some last longer than others and are also more expensive. Dr. Buonassisi recommends that for your first lip treatment, you should try a shorter lasting filler product like Juviderm or Restylane, which will last about 3 months. For your future treatments, you can try something longer lasting like Evolence Breeze.

JUVÉDERM Injectable Gel

JUVÉDERM Injectable Gel is a filler from the makers of BOTOX® Cosmetic that contains naturally-derived hyaluronic acid, a substance also found in the body’s connective tissues. Hyaluronic acid binds with water molecules in the skin to create volume and smooth wrinkles. Dr. Buonassisi uses JUVÉDERM to treat nasolabial folds (the lines that run from the corners of the nose to the corners of the mouth) as well as marionette lines that run from the corners of the mouth down to the chin.

Restylane

Restylane is another hyaluronic acid gel used to treat wrinkles around the nose and mouth. Independent research suggests that in addition to increasing skin volume, the hyaluronic acid formulation in Restylane actually encourages new collagen growth by stimulating fibroblasts that are responsible for producing collagen. This means that after several treatments, enhanced skin quality can be achieved even after the hyaluronic acid has been absorbed by the skin.

EVOLENCE and EVOLENCE BREEZE

EVOLENCE is made from natural collagen that directly replaces collagen which has degraded as a result of the aging process. It immediately enhances and refreshes the appearance of the face by softening lines and wrinkles, and also can be used to restore facial contour in areas such as the cheeks that have lost volume. EVOLENCE typically has visible lasting effects in the lips for 6 to 10 months, making it a convenient and cost-effective way to achieve lasting rejuvenation.

Common Treatment Areas

Cheeks

Adding volume to the cheeks is a safe and effective way to create the appearance of more prominent cheek bones, or create a more youthful looking cheek appearance. Many people try cheek filler treatments before undergoing cheek implant surgery as a way to test the look before they commit to a permanent solution. Find out more about fillers for Cheek Enhancement.

Facial Folds

As we age, our skin begins to lose elasticity and we lose the fat that once gave us a youthful appearance. As a result, it is common to see folds that develop in the face, commonly between the nose and mouth (nasolabial folds) and between the corner of the mouth and the jaw (marionette lines). Fillers are a safe and effective way to plump up these folds. Find out more about fillers for Facial Folds. Treatment is very simple and takes only minutes to perform. In most cases, patients do not feel a significant amount of discomfort, but Dr. Buonassisi can provide you with a topical anaesthetic or local anaesthetic to numb the area if needed.

Would You Like to Find Out More About Skin Care, Botox or Dermal Fillers? Call 604-733-1669 today to speak to a patient care expert. If you would like to schedule a treatment, go here.