Filler Mania - 7/1/2007

I am doing a new procedure for facial rejuvenation that is working out very well. I'm using Radiesse for cheek augmentation, but I am filling the front part of the cheek, just underneath the eyes. I have found that this is the area of the face that usually starts dropping first.

People get heavy nasolabial folds because the front part of their cheek drops down, and accentuates the depression of the nasolabial folds. The patients that I am seeing are coming in to augment their nasolabial folds, but I direct their attention to the flatness of their anterior cheek. Once we fill that out, the effect is a kind of resuspension of their face. The focus of their face shifts back up to their eyes and away from the nasolabial folds. The folds themselves become less prominent.

The best thing about this technique is that I never puncture the skin! The injection goes through the mouth, so there is no bruising and minimal swelling. It sounds painful, but is really not, since I numb the area beforehand with a dental injection. I like this because it takes 5 minutes, leaves no bruises and the difference is dramatic without looking fake or "done."