Permanent and Temporary Injectable Fillers

Permanent Injectable Fillers & Temporary Fillers

There are 2 types of injectable fillers: temporary
and permanent.

Hyaluronic acid gel, a temporary injectable is a
non-protein product and is also part of the skin.
There are 3 types of gel depending on the depth
of injection. Skin testing is not required for this
injectable as it is not a protein. Collagen is rarely
used now.

The permanent injectables consists of permanent micro spheres or crystals
floating in a collagen or hyaluronic acid gel matrix. The matrix acts as a transport
medium to get the beads into the area of interest. Once the product is injected,
over a 2-3 month period, the patient's own collagen replaces the transport
medium. The injection is then repeated 3 or 4 times until the desired permanent
correction is achieved. However, aging continues and further injections may be
necessary.

All these products act as 3 dimensional volume fillers to raise depressed areas in
the skin, such as wrinkles and scars. They can be used to enhance lips and fill
out lip cheek grooves. They can be injected into ear lobes so that they are firmer,
fuller, and more youthful so that they can attractively support stud earrings. They
can be used to augment the down turned mouth, the lower eyelid hollowness,
and decrease the jowls. Dr. Ellis has even injected under the eyebrows to raise
them naturally giving a more larger eye appearance.

More Information About Fillers

The best candidates for injectable fillers are men and women who are looking to reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles, grooves, scars, and sunken facial areas in order to provide a smoother, more youthful appearance or those who are looking to add fullness to the lips, cheeks or other areas. Injectable fillers are most often performed in a surgeon's office and typically involve a topical or local anesthetic.

Read the injectable fillers FAQs
Read patient testimonials
Contact us about injectable fillers

After the procedure, patients may experience some bruising, swelling and redness which typically fades within a day or two. Injectable fillers are associated with little downtime and, depending upon the particular filler, many patients are immediately able to return to their normal activities. Allergic reactions may occur with some types of fillers, and visible bumps and irregularities can occur from overfilling of hyaluronic acid.

Large volume injectable fillers

For several reasons Canada is further ahead than the United States in all types of injectable fillers. Canada now has large volume injectable fillers which can be used instead of fat transfer, nasal dorsal implants, chin implants, mid face implants, and cheek bone implants. Facial structures can be re-contoured. Dr Ellis can put in 2 -30 cc of product at once. Therefore the desired correction can be improved faster. This is not put in the skin but is put under the skin so it does not deal with wrinkling within the structure of the skin.

The two implants are Restylane SQ and Bio-Alcamid. Restylane SQ is the same molecule of Restylane and Perlane, but the particle size has increased significantly so that it can be put under the skin. Bio-Alcamid is a gel polymer of Alkyl-imide groups which is a non-toxic chemically and physically stable with a high compatibility when placed inside the body in the subcutaneous facial area.

Because these implants require a large bore needle they are considered a surgical injectable implant. The area to be injected requires an anesthetic by in nerve block or a local infiltration. Usually two sessions are needed to get the correct volume in the correct position. If Bio-Alcamid is used, prophylactic antibiotics by mouth are required to use studying the same day and continuing five days later.

Bio-Alcamid.is primarily used for of facial wasting commonly seen with the antiviral drugs used in the treatment of HIV. Special forms are required to be sent to the government to ensure the proper use of this product. Any facial wasting caused by aging, trauma, and disease processes can be treated with large volume injectable fillers.

Restylane SQ is a very long-lasting product giving correction for up to a year, whereas Bio-Alcamid is permanent but can be adjusted and lessened if necessary.

Complications from these injections are a few and far between. Infection is very uncommon but is treatable with antibiotics. Partial removal of the implant may be necessary to help the infection resolve. Mal placement and migration can occur but can be easily treatable with needle aspiration. Reaction to the implants has not been described in Canada or in Italy where the Bio-Alcamid has been in existence for 2 1/2 years.