Treatment Process

Your Injections

The area to be injected will be cleansed, commonly with alcohol swabs. A topical anesthetic cream, icing to the injection sites or a local anesthetic via injection (such as a dental block) may be used for your comfort.

Once your treatment region in numbed, your doctor will make injections in several locations, placing the dermal filler where correction or volume enhancement is desired.
You doctor may massage or manipulate the area where the filler has been placed. The treated area may be cleansed again.
You may be given ice or cold packs to place on the treated area to minimize swelling and bruising.
The entire treatment process may take 20 to 30 minutes or more.

After Your Injections

Your enhancement will be visible immediately after your injections. However, due to swelling, you may look a little fuller than you might expect. This will improve rapidly over the next few days.

You may experience mild swelling or bruising from any type of injection. Ice or cold packs can help to minimize swelling or discomfort.
You can generally apply make-up over the treated area immediately.
Collagen fillers may result in 2-3 days of swelling and are less likely to result in bruising or redness.
Hyaluronic acid fillers may result in 3 to 7 days of swelling, redness and post-injection bruising.
Semi-permanent or permanent dermal fillers may result in 5 to 7 days of swelling, redness and post-injection bruising.
If you have received Sculptra treatment, your results will develop over the coming weeks. You may require 2 to 3 treatments several weeks apart to gain the improvement you desire.

Your Results

Your results are visible immediately. However, due to swelling, you may look a little fuller than you might expect. This will improve rapidly over the next few days.

The improvement from collagen dermal fillers begins to diminish within 2 to 4 months after treatment.
The improvement from hyaluronic acid fillers begins to diminish within 6 months after treatment.
The improvement from Radiesse begins to diminish within 24 months after treatment.
The improvement from Artefill begins to diminish within 2 to 4 years or more after treatment.
The improvement from Sculptra begins to diminish within 18 to 24 months after treatment.

If you do not repeat treatment once your results have begun to diminish, or as directed by your doctor, your appearance will return to its pre-treatment state.