Oasis Eye Face and Skin | Ashland, Medford, Grants Pass, Oregon
Volume loss is a hallmark of aging. With time and age, the face slowly loses fat pads and skin thickness. Younger faces tend to be fuller, primarily because we have higher levels of hyaluronic acid (HA) when we are younger. Hyaluronic acid is a water-loving molecule that hydrates tissues and gives us that smooth, soft, and plump appearance. However, over time our bodies stop producing as much and unfortunately the skin on our face is among the first to show it. Oasis Eye Face and Skin offers aesthetic treatments, like dermal fillers, to help replace lost volume and fill hollowed areas. The result is a smoother, more youthful, and healthier appearance.
What Are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers are commonly performed by nurses, physicians assistants, and physicians, either in a MediSpa, or in a physician’s office. They have become a key to fighting the signs of aging. Often referred to as “liquid facelifts,” dermal fillers help to combat wrinkles, thinning lips, flattened cheeks, and dark circles under the eyes. The majority of dermal fillers in the US are made of hyaluronic acid (HA) gels. You can often find this component as a leading ingredient in many skin care products, and for good reason! HA gels used in dermal fillers are harder for the body to break down, which means they last longer – lasting anywhere from several months to several years.
The popularity of HA gels stems from being a soft, biocompatible, and reversible material. If there is a lump, undesired overfill, or migration of the filler into an undesired location, an enzyme can be injected to dissolve it away. This is great news for those patients who have been hesitant to try fillers due to possibly disliking the results.
There are many other dermal fillers on the market, but they are not dissolvable, and some pose a higher risk of inflammatory reactions. Calcium hydroxyapatite, found in Radiesse, collagen, silicone, and Sculptra are some of the other types of fillers, but they are less popular because they are not dissolvable.
Fat Grafting
Fat grafting is a procedure that uses fat from the hips, legs, or abdomen and puts it in the face. This procedure is gaining popularity since it is long lasting and may stimulate rejuvenation at a cellular level due to fat-derived stem cells. While using one’s own fat has advantages, it may not survive the transplant process and can be somewhat unpredictable. This procedure is still evolving so Dr. Vivian Schiedler is closely following the techniques and outcomes. It is important to Dr. Schiedler that you receive the best care possible, and this is why she is selective when it comes to recommending this treatment to any patient.
What Types of Fillers does Dr. Schiedler Use?
Dr. Vivian Schiedler prefers to use hyaluronic acid gels due to their soft plumping properties and their reversibility. She often uses Restylane for the area around the eyes, especially when camouflaging early bags and puffy eyelids. Restylane also helps fill in dark sunken hollows below the eyes.
Unlike Juvéderm, another favorite dermal filler, Restylane does not attract and absorb water. This makes Restylane an excellent choice for the thin eyelid area. Filling the area around the eyes is challenging and must be done precisely to avoid undesired swelling and worsened puffiness. Given the difficulty of working with this area, you should always rely on an expert to avoid unwanted complications.
Dr. Schiedler, as an oculofacial plastic surgeon, is intimately experienced with the anatomy of the eye and surrounding areas. This is why you can trust her to expertly inject the chosen treatment. She also uses other HA gels such as Restylane Defyne, Refyne, Lyft, and Revanesse Versa. Depending on the extent of volume loss, it is possible to need as little as 2 or as many as 20 syringes worth of filler to get the facial rejuvenation results you are after. This can be affordable through dilution of the gels without adversely affecting the product stability or longevity. Each syringe is the equivalent of a fifth of a teaspoon. Five syringes are one teaspoon, so you can see that a little goes a long way toward volume restoration.
Which Dermal Filler is Right for You?
There are a variety of fillers available on the market including Restylane, Sculptra, Voluma, Volbella, Radiesse, and Juvederm, but you don’t need to know which product you want. That’s why you’re coming to oculofacial specialist Dr. Vivian Schiedler. She will listen to your goals and make recommendations on which products will help you achieve balance and symmetry.
There are several great filler choices among the hyaluronic acid gels. Some are made to be thicker and stiffer, such as Restylane Lyft. When placed deep to the muscle along the cheekbone, these fillers are great for restoring volume to the cheeks. Other fillers such as Restylane Defyne are softer and stretchier which makes them better suited to placing around the lower face, such as in the nasolabial folds or parentheses lines around the mouth. This stretchy quality makes this filler work well to keep the smile and facial expressions looking natural. The best lip fillers are ones that are very soft and smooth out the lip lines in aging lips without looking “ducky”.
The Dermal Filler Procedure
All treatments are performed in-office by Dr. Schiedler. Since almost all hyaluronic acid gels have lidocaine in them, it is fairly comfortable to start injecting the gel after using a topical numbing cream. Depending on the area being treated and the product being used, it may be necessary to inject more than once. However, you can rest easy knowing that the needle used is small and practically painless. Some patients say it feels like someone is pinching you. Dr. Schiedler uses fine blunt-tipped cannulas to avoid excessive bruising that is more common with other types of needles. Most patients tolerate dermal fillers without the need for nerve blocks, but these can be provided if needed.
Is There Downtime with Dermal Fillers?
All patients respond differently to dermal filler injections, but typically there is no or minimal downtime. The most common side effects include minimal bruising and temporary swelling. You can continue your usual routine the same day of the procedure.
It is best to avoid manipulating or massaging the filler until it has integrated into the tissue, usually in one to two weeks. In the rare cases of significant or unusual bruising, Dr. Schiedler can use broadband light (BBL) to break apart the pooled blood and resolve the bruising. Makeup can also be used to cover up small or faint bruising. Swelling can be managed with cold compresses and over-the-counter antihistamine medications such as Allegra, Zyrtec, or Claritin.
Are There Risks Associated with Facial Fillers?
Dr. Schiedler relies on fillers with an HA base, a naturally occurring substance, to decrease the risk of adverse reactions. However, the most common side effects when using facial fillers include lumping, bruising, and persistent swelling. It is rare for the filler site to become infected, and Dr. Schiedler takes all the necessary precautions to keep this from happening. She also performs all filler injections herself to minimize the risk of severe complications, such as accidental injection into a blood vessel. She enjoys the artistry involved in sculpting someone’s face. Although anyone can be taught how to inject, she thinks of facial rejuvenation as an art form that takes years to master. This is why she never delegates filler injections. Before the procedure, she will review any potential risks with you and answer all your questions.
Schedule your Dermal Filler Consultation at Oasis Eye Face and Skin for a Smooth and Rejuvenated Appearance
Dermal fillers can work wonders on your face. They can take a sad, tired, angry, or unhealthy resting facial expression and turn it into a smooth and youthful face. Getting older doesn’t mean you have to look it. Dermal fillers, when injected properly, can produce amazing rejuvenating results. Sadly, Dr. Schiedler has had to fix suboptimal results done by other injectors who chose the wrong product for their patient or had poor injection technique. Don’t take a chance on subpar results. Contact Oasis Eye Face and Skin to schedule a consultation with Dr. Schiedler and discuss your dermal filler options. Don’t hesitate to ask about the other treatments we offer, like Botox, chemical peels, light and laser treatments, and microneedling. Contact us at (541) 708-6393 for more information.