Juvederm

10 Cosmetic Treatments You Should Not Do
All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I may make a commission.

You want to look your very best!!

‘Tis the Holliday season. Dinner with friends and family, holiday parties, weddings and special dates.  You’ve bought your dress, shoes, accessories, scheduled your hair and make-up.

You look into the mirror feeling you need a little perk. I know that feeling all too well!!  I’ll wake up one morning thinking I must get some fillers, botox and a facial stat! I’ll look at my calendar and try to plan. If I’ve had a dental cleaning or any dental work, I’ll wait three weeks before any fillers. I don’t want to get a  Biofilm infection.

There is a menu of services and specials at every medical spa, dermatologist or plastic surgeon’s practice during the holidays. It’s very tempting. 

Plan!! Schedule these treatments allowing yourself the proper time for healing or any adjustments. You don’t want to look bruised, swollen or red before your event. Since I am a bruiser, I’ll  schedule my treatments 3 or 4 weeks before any event because sometimes my bruising  lasts 10 days. But, there are times I want a quick fix and this maynot be the wisest decision. If you can’t get in to see your favorite dermatologist, esthetician or injector, my advice is to schedule after your event. I wouldn’t suggest going on Instagram and choosing  a doctor you’ve never meet before. This is not the time to experiment. f you do bruise there are many makeup tips to help cover your bruising or redness. Ask your  doctor or injector about zapping the injection sites with laser. You can usually see bruises  pop out quite quickly. I always get zapped before I leave the office and sometimes have to go back a few days later.  

My favorite cover-up  is from Colorscience. It helps to cover bruising, uneven tone and redness.

Colorescience Mineral Makeup Palette, Beauty On the Go, 5 Neutralizing Makeup Shades

Schedule these treatments at least two weeks before your event

  1. Botox– you may bruise, need a tweak or develop a droopy eye which is very rare but a reality.
  2. Laser– depending on the type and depth you could be red, swollen, itchy, and peeling. One treatment may not give you the results you are seeking.
  3. Mico-needling – you may look red, and slightly swollen. This usually resolves quickly unless its a combination of laser and micro-needling.
  4. Don’t change your skincare routine or introduce new products. Start 6-8 weeks before an event on the off chance you may get a reaction.
  5. Stop any Retin-A treatments a week before you are planning a trip or event so you are not red and peeling.
  6. Lip Fillers- Swelling, bruising and soreness is very common. You may be swollen for 7 days and you really will not see the final result for two weeks. Juvederm swells more than Resytlane.
  7. Filling your eye hollows or tear throughs. This can be very tricky. Bruising and swelling is very likely. There is a chance you could be  overfilled or underfilled. Tweaking this area is common.
  8. Facial Fillers – Two to three weeks in advance. You may bruise, and have swelling. Plus if you need any adjustments you will have time. This includes Juvederm, Volumna, Restylane, Radiesse and Sculptra. Hyaluronic acid fillers (HA) like Juvederm swell. 
  9. Hand rejuvenation with fillers. Your hand will be swollen and may feel hard for several days.
  10. Looking to rid of brown spots with IPL? Chances you will need to have several treatments. Those ugly brown spots turn dark brown before they go away. 

Most importantly always consult a board certified plastic surgeon, dermatologist or a certified aesthetic nurse.

Be Beautiful Not Botched!™

Love,
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Filling Eye Hollows with Dermal Fillers: What Are The Risks?

Deep hollows under your eyes can make you look tired and dull.

HA fillers can fill your hollows for a refreshed and more youthful look.

Filling eye hollows is a delicate business and there are risks. The biggest risk is bruising, lumps, overfilling and swelling. In some cases if not done properly it can actually make your lower eye area look worse.   Today there are more hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers in the aesthetic tool box and techniques for treating this delicate area have improved.

I’ve read many posts online about patients who have had fillers and are experiencing puffiness, lumps, bruising, swelling and a baggy look after the injections. Others have  good results. I’ve also experienced good and bad results.  Please choose your injector wisely. This is a very difficult area to treat.

Performing “tear trough” treatments to the hollow area under the eyes requires meticulous technique.  When done correctly the results are very satisfying.  The most important factor is to go to an injector who is has a lot of experience in this area.

Below are some guidelines to consider before you jump into filling your eye hollows (tear trough).

Parts of this post was originally written in 20o9 when I had my tear troughs treated for the first time.

A business colleague had her tear trough area filled by a local plastic surgeon in San Francisco, CA .  I was very impressed with her results and decided to fill my eye hollows, for a more youthful look.  At the time there were only two HA fillers on the market Juvederm and Restylane. Although both fillers were very similar Juvederm tends to create more puffiness in the eye area than Restylane, as it absorbs more water. My surgeon choose Juvederm which surprised me because Restylane was the preferred filler for this area. However, I trusted his judgement.

Afterwards I very bruised, swollen and lumpy. I waited patiently a couple of weeks hoping it would resolve. The bruising diminished but the puffiness persisted. I looked like I had been punched in the face and knew that OI needed a correction. Fortunately HA fillers can easily be dissolved with hyaluronidase. (more…)

Fillers: How Long Do they Really Last?

I had my first filler injection in the the late 1990’s and have tried every filler on the market except Bellafill, a permanent filler.

There are more FDA approved fillers on the market today and more are awaiting approval.  The documented  length of time a Filler lasts is based on the results from the manufacturer’s clinical trials. Millions of dollars are spent on marketing campaigns and provider training courses.

Consumers should be aware that these results are guidelines only. 

The results that you get from any filler injection and how long it will last for you may differ than the documented results seen in the clinical trials. If you think that your filler will last 9 months and it only lasts for 6 months, don’t blame your injector. It’s not the product or the injector’s fault, it is the way your body metabolizes the filler and where it has been placed in your face. Lip filler is not going to last as long as filler under your eyes.

As a plastic surgery and aesthetic coach, I hear all too often from my clients that they are disappointed with their Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon after getting for example, Voluma because it did not last 2 years as advertised. This is an average only. As the product is on the market longer the documented results may change.

Here is a realistic guideline to keep in mind when you budget for fillers.

  • All HA fillers are temporary. They will last between 6-9 months.
  • Fine line fillers Restylane Silk and Belotero may only last 6 months. In some cases less.
  • Voluma, a deeper filler may last UP TO 2 years. However, you will probably need more filler at 9 -12 months to give it a boost
  • Juvederm may last 9 months depending on placement
  • Restylane Lyft which is the same as Perlane lasts UP to 18 months. Realistic expectation 9-12 months

Non- HA Fillers

  • Radiesse lasts 9- 12 months. Realistic expectations- 9 months. Radiesse hand injections may last 9 months with a boost
  • Sculptra can last up to 25 months after the last treatment. You may need a touch-up in 12- 18 months
  • Bellafill is a permenant filler

If you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you.

Remember: You Only Have One Face and One Body, Choose Wisely!

-Michele Garber