Category Archives: Fabulous Fillers

How to Stay Younger Longer

Chill Out! How to Stay Younger Longer

Dr. Bonnie Marting DNP ARNP

Are you afraid of pretty much everything coming down the road, having physical discomfort (whether true or anticipated), or just living nervously due to fear of the unknown? If this is you, you may have one more thing to worry about: Getting older sooner!
The devil is in the details, or at least, in the telomere. This most important of guardians, the telomere is a protective coating at the end of each chromosome, which protects the chromosome from unusual damage.
Chromosomes contain necessary information for replication (even though we stay who we are, our cells need to replicate, hopefully in the manner originally intended) and without the protective coverings of the telomeres, the information could be lost due to extreme degradation of the chromosomes. The length of the telomeres (the protective covering on the end of the chromosomes) helps to determine the degree of protection of the actual chromosome, in other words, how much of the original material will be protected. The original material was meant to be, we want it protected.
OK, the point of the story has arrived. Phobias, worry, anxiety, any term related to these conditions, create circumstances in which the telomeres become shortened. They become worn down by this “stress” created from within its housing entity (you). The shorter the telomere, basically, the quicker you will age!!!

Politics is stressful. This is only 7 years of calendar aging!

Cancer, cognitive disease, Alzheimer’s, and cardiovascular disease can cause this to happen too, but the mental aspect is much more treatable. With motivation it may be treatable with only minimal outside help. Early identification and treatment are necessary.
For those suffering from forms of anxiety, fear, or nervousness, I strongly suggest the book, or audio series “Psychocybernetics” originally written in 1960 by an incredibly observant and thoughtful plastic surgeon, Maxwell Maltz. There is a rewritten version, done in 2001 by Dan Kennedy, which is also good, but I suggest getting the original book if you can find it. You can find it either on Amazon, or in some Barnes and Noble stores. This book, or audio, could literally change your life, for the better. Hopefully after reading this book, or listening to the audio version, you will see the value in “Chilling Out” rather than “Burning Out”.

Face “Sagging”?

Dr. Bonnie Marting

Radiesse can achieve a natural look!
Many people ask about Facial Fillers. Here are all the answers in an easy to understand format:
Who is it for?
Anyone who wants a natural looking lift and softness to their face.

What exactly is it made of?
Dermal filler, such as the popular Radiesse, is made of calcium-based microspheres that are suspended in a water-based gel.

Where can I get it done?
You can come see me, Dr. Bonnie Marting, or seek out a professional facility that has trained technicians experienced in administering Radiesse.

When?
You can do it whenever you want to erase the lines that have built up. The results are immediate and long-lasting.

Why should I have it done?
To erase the lines and grooves made by age and gravity.

How is it applied?
An expert will inject the product via a tiny needle into the area.

If you want to restore a healthy, youthful appearance that defies your age and the pull of gravity, then you should consider Radiesse. Enhance your beautiful smile by removing those furrowed, grooved, embedded lines that make you look older. Not only will you look younger, you’ll feel more confident causing you to smile even more- without the worry of smile lines!

Speaking of no worries- with Radiesse, it’ risk free. Radiesse has been used and tested for years. There is no risk of allergic reaction, and when the calcium spheres do eventually break down over time, they are simply absorbed into your body naturally. This is because Radiesse breaks down into calcium phosphate- a normal blood chemistry already in your body.

Radiesse is a long-lasting filler that works with your own body to create a more natural softness and lift. Because the calcium spheres degrade slowly, your body fills in the gaps left by the now-absorbed gel with new, healthy collagen that is tight and elastic. With this procedure, you can achieve everything from minor wrinkle reduction to the replacement of lost volume that took years to accrue.

And the best part- the results are immediate

“Pucker Lines” Around The Mouth?

Dr. Bonnie Marting

I frequently get clients in my office complaining about the lines around their lips. The lines that seem to resemble spokes of a bicycle wheel are commonly associated with “smokers’ mouth,” but anyone, smoker or not, can get these wrinkles.

Even women in their early 30′s can acquire these fine lines. They develop from the normal puckering we all do. If you make that face often enough, those lines eventually become permanent. When I explain this, I often get confused looks. They equate puckering with kissing or smoking. So if your love life has been nonexistent and you’re tobacco free, but you still have wrinkled lips-consider yourself a great Thinker! Seriously, pensive people create wrinkled lips.

Even when we sleep, we’re still thinking, and when we’re thinking, our mouth is using muscles that create that pensive, puckered look. Since you obviously cannot turn off the ability to think, (though I believe anyone with teenagers would argue that point), what other ways can you delay or remove the wrinkled look from your lips?

One way is to simply be more aware of your facial expressions and try to stop making unnecessary animations when reading, studying, working on the computer, and talking. You can’t help what you do when you’re asleep, but you can be aware of it while you’re conscious.

In the past, skin treatments using heavy-duty lasers were able to treat the area but left a whitish appearance on the targeted area. This hypo-pigmentation drew even more attention to the upper lip and so it’s not used very much today.

So here’s a near-perfect treatment I call the “Lip Rescue”. It’s a combination of carefully placed filler such as Radiesse, Botox, and a moderate peel. Your wrinkled lips can be nearly eliminated with this treatment plan. By using a retinoid or glycolic, we can turn your cells over faster and increase your skin’s dermal depth. This creates skin thickness (see there is something to be said for having thick skin) and now it will look healthier, and smoother. When this happens, your mouth lines will diminish greatly.

If coming to see me to iron out those wrinkles is not possible, make sure that when you choose a practitioner- they’re a skilled expert at placing Botox in this area of the face. You don’t want too much around your mouth placed incorrectly or the results can be disastrous- and it can last for over a month! That’s a long time to have people staring. If they’re going to stare, have them do it because you now have a sexy, wrinkle-free smile! You’ll be stoked, not spoked!

Wrinkle Relief without Botox?

Dr. Bonnie Marting

Every now and then I’ll get asked if wrinkle removal around the eyes is possible without using Botox. They want the lines to disappear but for whatever reason they don’t want to use Botox or Dysport.

This is a good question, though the answer is a bit tougher. See, the beauty of Botox and Dysport is they work by stopping the muscle movement that causes the wrinkles to appear. If you don’t stop or at least minimize that movement, the lines will continue to form. And as we age, our skin loses our hydrating body lubrication (hyaluronic acid) that allows our skin to literally slide over our muscles. When that liquid is gone, the skin begins to adhere and actually cling to the muscle underneath. That is what causes our skin to look wrinkled- it has actually taken on the shape of the contracted muscle.
This is most obvious on our foreheads, around the eyes, and on the chin.

So if you want to see a reduction in the wrinkled appearance on your face, certain changes must occur. First, a product to increase new skin production is essential. Most of us have heard of Retin-A by now. Retinoids like Retin-A and Tazorac speed up this process and increase your skin’s depth. Many people think it thins. That’s a misconception -it thins the epidermis but thickens the actual skin depth. Imagine your bed is made of sticks and straw all woven together to create a mattress. Now which would you rather have lying over that mattress?- a thin flimsy sheet that shows every stick and straw poking underneath it or a fat downy comforter which floats above the mattress, not giving way to the sticks and straws underneath? I liken our skin and faces to that. When it comes to our skin, thicker is better!

Other great items to use with Retinoids are Apha-hydroxy acids and micro- dermabraisions. These three things coupled with good nutrition contribute to better skin. You may find the most difficult part in battling wrinkles is not in getting treatments or buying products, but in actually training yourself to make less animated movements with your face. The more expressive your face, the more wrinkles you’re likely to develop. (I should do a self-help seminar for Mimes. I bet they get lots of wrinkles!)

Another thing to note is how fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm can help facial lines. These aren’t great for fixing crow’s feet but they are super for the vertical lines (Angry 11′s) that crop up between your eyes.

I hope I’ve answered your question on ways to reduce eye wrinkles without Botox. But I do hope you’ll consider the significant difference these products are making in facial rejuvenation today. It’s because they work. Regardless of the route you take to combat those wrinkles, take good care of your skin and you’ll look beautiful naturally, with or without them.

Beautiful Lips without Surgery!

Dr. Bonnie Marting

If we’re brutally honest with ourselves, most of us were not blessed with naturally full, gorgeous lips like the ones adoring Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johanssen. And the worst part is, as we age- lips only get thinner. So, what’s a girl to do? Most people, especially men, are fascinated by lips. The mouth historically has been associated with sexuality and reproduction. In early Egyptian records it’s been reported that Cleopatra wore bright colored lipstick to entice Julius Caesar with her red luscious lips. Times haven’t really changed much since then.

Lips come in all shapes and sizes. Following our teen years, our lips begin to lose their fullness and volume. This depletion continues throughout adulthood, until depending on our age- we can be left with mere lines adorning our faces.

Thankfully we can alter this process and re-create the youthful full lips we had as a teenager. The best time to alter this is when the volume loss begins. As in the picture below, a more pronounced Cupid’s bow was immediately achieved with Restylane.

You can also acquire more upturned corners, and a fuller pout on the bottom lip (commonly referred to as a bee sting).

Both Juvederm and Restylane (the preferred fillers for lips) are products made of hyaluronic acid. This is something your body already naturally contains. A gel form of this hyaluronic substance is injected into the lips and because the body recognizes the material, it absorbs it and allows it to remain for an extended period of time. A treatment may last from 6 months to a year.

Should you try it? If you want fuller lips and a more pronounced shape, I say definitely yes. But please make sure you find a skilled injector and ask to see the before and after pictures of previous patients. You want confidence in knowing they can place the Restylane or Juvederm precisely to give you the look you desire.

What should you not try? I don’t recommend implants or injectable silicone. I strongly advise you to stay away from both of these options. You only need to look in a fashion magazine to see some real Celebrity horror shows who have received lip implants and silicone. The possibility of ending up with duckbills is real. And if it’s done wrong, it might not be easy (or even possible) to remove.

Most importantly, ask yourself if you’d like to have a fuller pout and pucker. If so, give it a try. It’s easy, fast and relatively painless. You will see the results immediately! And that isn’t lip service. That’s a fact!

Watch Years Literally Disappear

Dr. Bonnie Marting

Though Sculptra has been approved and used in the US for over five years, many people still haven’t heard of it. Little do they realize that this injectable facial filler is a tried and true collagen booster that allows your skin to naturally reverse the aging process.

Believe me, I know, it sounds too good to be true. But the pictures above show you just how dramatic the results can be. This product stands alone in its ability to improve the contour of your face and eliminate wrinkles.
Sculptra naturally and gently replaces and grows collagen lost over time. Quite simply, using this product will erase years off your face. And it does it in a good, healthy way. Not only does it stimulate collagen, but the newly produced collagen is healthier than what it replaced. That’s because it doesn’t have those nasty free radicals I’m constantly telling you about. This increased growth depends on better vascular function and so nourishment to your skin is amplified.

What does this mean to you exactly? Well for one, less wrinkles and a more youthful presentation. It also results in improved facial contour. As we age, many of us lose the gentle slope that gives our faces the fuller, rounded cheekbones. You can see that clearly below in this beautiful ladies improved appearance. It’s amazing this is the same person.
That’s just how incredible using this filler can be! It doesn’t happen overnight, but it doesn’t take long at all to begin to see the results. You’ll enjoy incredible softness and look great. People will tell you how refreshed and youthful you look.

So remember the name Sculptra. It is the best thing you can use to achieve magical results without plastic surgery!

Beauty and Your Pocketbook With Botox, Sculptra & More

Dr. Bonnie Marting

I advise all clients to shop around when they’re trying to choose a provider to do their beauty procedures. Though you’re not exactly car-shopping, many of the same techniques to help you decide should be used. You are looking for comfort, safety, performance and price.

One big exception to that analogy is that we are talking about your face here, so when asking about products, realize that you’re also paying for the security of knowing the medical provider is skilled, the product will be able to provide you with what result you’re looking for, and that the price is something you can accept.

So, with that said- what are some average prices for the most commonly used beauty enhancements? Unfortunately this is a tough question because it varies so much. Lets deal with the most popular treatment first, Botox. In some cases, Botox can vary between $150 dollars to $1,200. This is an extreme difference! Why would one office charge $200 for Botox while another bills you $1200? That’s the type of question that will arise when you do internet searches or even call around in your area for price points. They rarely give you any details, just “special prices.” So what are you to do?

Botox
First look at the unit cost. If you ask the office for a unit price, they should be able to tell you. And if you know the unit price and have had the procedure before, you can estimate the total by multiplying that unit cost (say 15 dollars a unit) by the number of units used previously. But that wont help if they charge by the area. Some offices charge by facial areas. Many will say “3 areas covered” in the total price. So if you have a frown line between your eyes, that would be one area, and your crow’s feet (naturally one on each side) would be two more, for a total of 3 areas treated.

Here is a little quick advice: NEVER shop for the cheapest price point then show up for your appointment prepared to only pay that much. Remember, many times if something sounds too good to be true- as in $150 dollars for a Botox treatment, it probably isnt. Many times when you get in the office, the rate changes or suddenly there was a “misunderstanding”. Don’t be so intimidated you just stay. Leave and leave fast.

The new kid on the block in muscle relaxers is Dysport. And it’s an excellent product. Unfortunately Dysport is measured in a different manner, so the advice above regarding units only pertains to the Botox product line. The “by area” price with still hold true with either of them though.
Now lets look at some popular filler guidelines for you to use in your search-

Restylane and Juvederm
You may have seen advertised specials for Restylane and Juvederm ranging between 300 dollars to 700 dollars. Both of these hyaluronic acids will be great fillers for you, but beware if the price touted drops below 300 dollars. Many times a special in this price point has hidden in fine print it is only for a half-syringe. That amount won’t do much unless your needs are for very, very subtle changes. With that said the average price you should expect to see for these products are between $500 and $600 dollars. (It could be a bit more if you’re receiving Perlane or Juvederm Plus because they are larger molecule products).

As I’ve said many times, dont be taken in by the highest prices, but be even warier of the lowest…many times these offices are desperate. An office producing great results with qualified medical providers will never be at a loss for customers!

Sculptra
Sculptra, produced by Sanofi-Aventis, has been around since 2004. Though the cost has decreased slightly in the last 7 years, it is still pricey. Sculptra is sold by the vial (or occasionally by the cc) and the average price is $750 to $900, but I’ve seen it hit the $1500 range as well. The most important thing to remember with this procedure is the competence of the practitioner. Make sure they are experienced and an expert at these injections. In the right hands, this treatment is absolutely phenomenal. The results are not immediate, but they are impressive as they begin to take effect and transform your face making you look younger and more refreshed.

Radiesse
Radiesse is another product released in 2004. Back then, you really didn’t see it for less than $900, but now this robust calcium-based product is sometimes advertised for as little as $500. If you want immediate-effect sculpting, this is a super option. By comparison, a syringe of Radiesse contains 1.55 cc in contrast with the 1 cc you’ll receive in Restylane and .8cc of Juvederm amounts. Though the top of the line Radiesse can still demand $900 dollars, you’ll be amazed at the difference in your appearance. I think you’ll find it is well worth the expense.

In conclusion, whatever you do, don’t shop simply for price. Research the practitioner and their experience; the office and its volume of clients; product turnover (you don’t want anything that’s expired, do you?) and the reputation of the facility itself. In this, as in almost every purchase you make, you ususally get what you pay for. And a good reputation is worth a few extra bucks!

Don’t Let Wrinkles And Lines Reveal Your Years!

Dr. Bonnie Marting

Look at the photos above. She looks literally 10 years younger. So what was done?

Wrinkles
To eliminate the fine lines and wrinkles that had began to surface, a painless, easy cream combination was started. The first was a .025% Retin-A cream that stimulates skin cell turnover, and increases collagen production. This retinoid (Tretinoin) caused her skin to thicken and facilitate better vascularity. Or in layman’s terms, it simply looks and feels healthier after using this. After the Tretinoin, a Skin Medica Tri-Retinol cream is administered followed by the Skin Medica TNS Ceramide Treatment cream. By using these three topical creams, this 38 year old woman was able to get back the glowing, youthful, healthier looking skin she had lost.

Volume Loss
Once her skin was healthier, we needed to put a little volume back in her face. Her previous sun exposure and smoking habit had contributed to an accelerated loss of volume and muscle distortion in her face. That gave her the worn out, drawn down expression you see above. But by adding some Perlane and Resylane to her upper cheeks, the folds around her nose, and the long vertical lines circumscribing the chin (we call these marionette lines), we were able to gently add the look of youth and vitality.

Forehead Lines
The Angry 11′s and crow’s feet were really aging her and causing her to look mad. By injecting Botox and Dysport in both sites, we were able to remove the wrinkles and improve her look to be more beautiful right now.

Uneven Complexion
The years of sun worshiping had taken a toll on her complexion. We used IPL (Intense Pulse Light) followed by the Nd:YAG Laser by Laser Genesis. By applying these two procedures to her entire face, we were able to improve her skin tone and even out her complexion.

Lips
As we age, we all lose a bit of our pucker. The earlier we start filling our pout, the easier it is to fill in the lost volume. Since she’s 38, that was a great time to start perking up her lips. We added 1 syringe of Juvederm Ultra and instantly gave her lips a make-over.

Cut it
The last little trick we did was to give her hair bangs. This was a small, easy change, but it took off years and gave her hair a more youthful, bouncy look.
She was ecstatic with the changes. And the best part of this story is how she went to Chili’s that same night and got carded when she ordered a drink! She said she hadn’t been asked to prove her age in years, so she knew the skin treatment did the trick!

Sculptra Builds Your Own Collagen

Dr. Bonnie Marting

Many people are starting to talk about Sculptra- its even putting a dent in Plastic Surgeons appointment books. Sculptra is what I call the magic injectable because it stimulates new growth of your own collagen. Over time, your skin will be healthier, the collagen stronger, and your overall look will be fantastic!

Check out the picture above. You can see the dramatic difference that Sculptra made in the contour of her cheeks, her complexion, and the overall firmness and structure. Though it’s not immediate, the results are long lasting. And in only 6 months, you can literally erase 10 years off your appearance. I’ve seen patients that have achieved a 20 year difference from using this product! And the best part is- you’re doing something good for yourself.

Sculptra makes your skin healthier. It helps your own skin generate collagen that is free of harmful radicals. The new collagen gives your face a fuller, more youthful look- and yet it’s all natural. No surgery needed.

So if you’re ready to get great results, then start now by setting up an appointment with a practitioner who is skilled in administering Sculptra. In 6 months you’ll be glad you made that visit! Be sure to send me your Before and After Pictures if you’d like to show others your success, or don’t…We’ll just keep it our little secret!

Still You-Only Younger with Sculptra!

Dr. Bonnie Marting

“There’s no way I’m going down without a fight! So if there’s a way to look younger and better, without surgery, then I’m going to try it. I want to prevent the tell-tale signs of aging that are already beginning to show. ”
The above conversation is something I hear frequently from patients. From as early as age 30, women begin to understand their youthful look really does have an expiration date.
And that’s why I love telling them about Sculptra®. It’s like a breath of fresh air. Ever since Sanofi Aventis began airing commercials informing the public about their anti aging product, more and more people have begun asking for it. It’s not a new product, as I’ve been injecting Sculptra® since it first came out in 2004. I’ve literally performed thousands of treatments during that time. It’s just that now, people are actually asking for the collagen filler by name.
So for those of you who haven’t seen the commercials, you’re probably wondering what all the ballyhoo is about. First, let me say what it is not. It is not like Restylane® or Juvederm® because it is not a hyaluronic acid. Sculptra® actually spurs the development of new collagen to the decreased areas of your face. Though it will not give you the immediate results you see with those other two products, which are great in their own right, Sculptra will have a much longer effect once it takes effect.
Sculptra® has lactic acid particles that spur on the growth of healthy, new strong collagen in your skin. The result not only tightens your existing skin, but actually prods your skin into making more collagen. And the new collagen is even healthier than what you lost, because its void of the free radicals that everyday living has subjected our skin to. All those areas that are sinking and making you appear saggy and wrinkled can be replaced with a softer, better, fuller collagen underneath your skin. This new growth generally takes 3 to 4 weeks to see the resulting changes. But the best part is how long it lasts- The effects can last for two years or more!

Just take a look at the before and after pictures and determine for yourself how a little “new” collagen could improve the youthful appearance you’ve been losing. Why wait- you can begin to battle aging and become beautiful right now.

Juvederm is Awesome for Beautiful Lips

Juvederm Can Make You Go From Good To WOW!

Dr. Bonnie Marting

If you want fuller, plumper, sexier lips, Juvederm ® is one of the smoothest fillers available today. And in the hands of a capable, trained medical practitioner, you can achieve beautiful fuller lips. The best part is how Juvederm ® can make your lips plumper while still remaining soft. Here in Palm Beach it’s become the most popular lip filler.

If you’ve not heard of Juvederm® yet, you will. It’s made by Allergan, the parent company of Botox® cosmetic.

A patient of mine, who had beautiful lips to begin with, desired a gentle lip enhancement. She wanted them to be a bit more full in appearance, but leave her natural-looking. We’ve all seen the celebrity shots of women who’ve had it overdone and end up looking like a trout! Ladies, that is not a good, natural look- Don’t let someone do that to you!

But this use of Juvederm® is exactly what my patient longed for. With a gentle enhancement, you can see how a little goes a long way. Now her lips look fuller and sexier, and it fits her face without appearing overly-done

Fillers Are The Magic Potion for Aging

Dr. Bonnie Marting

Enhancing, erasing, and eliminating are just a few of the many wonders that can be achieved with the right Filler. This is isn’t your mom’s collagen filler from the 80′s- they’re new and improved, and you won’t believe your eyes, or your lips, or your forehead….

Fillers have certainly grown up since the 80′s. And while some practitioners may still use some form of the collagen previously used in past generations, there have been enormous improvements since then. I recommend using the latest, newest fillers, because quite frankly, they build better and last longer. You can use them to fill tiny indentations that are hardly noticeable, or use them to build back lost volume in your entire face. You’ll look younger and it works fast!

So what are the names of these new magic potions?

Evolence®, Restylane® Perlane® and Juvederm® are topping the charts along with Sculptra®.
So what can these Fillers do exactly?

They can:
” Enhance a specific area, like your lips.
” Make subtle, yet important changes to increase facial volume.
” Erase those tiny lines around the mouth or eyes.
” Eliminate creases in the eyebrow area
” Make wrinkles disappear

Wow, you are probably saying. If it can do all that, where can I get some of this?

Your local Cosmetic medical practice, dermatologist or trained practitioner is who I’d recommend talking to.

But first, let me caution you about using the correct filler for your needs! Whenever you are speaking with someone, please remember that the skill of the practitioner with that particular filler is the single most important part of the equation. If you have someone who is not trained to insert it correctly, you may end up with a bulge or line where you didn’t want it. Sometimes, an enhanced blue area can even show up if it’s done improperly.

Each brand and product has a specific formulation to achieve it’s goals. There are slight differences between Sculptra®, Juvederm®, Evolence® and the others, resulting in different molecule sizes. Some, like Sculptra®, not only fill in the problem area, but can increase your body’s collagen growth at the same time. This is a great thing, because it will produce a longer lasting result.

In my practice, I evaluate each person carefully, seeing exactly what they need, before recommending a filler. A good practitioner will take the depth of the facial structure, the muscle tone, the speed of result desired, and many other factors into play before choosing the perfect fit for you.
That being said, if you have a capable practictioner injecting your filler, you should receive beautiful, predictable results.

So remember this when you schedule your appointment. You don’t want to just get a filler, you want the filler that is made specifically for your needs injected by a skilled professional!

Botox® or Filler? Which is best?

Dr. Bonnie Marting

To many people, the difference between Botox and a facial filler is hard to grasp, and may even think facial fillers are one and the same.

Watch this short video where I’ll explain the differences between a neuro-muscular relaxant like Botox® and Dysport® and why they should be administered to some parts of the face but not others. Then I’ll explain how the popular fillers like Juvederm®, Evolence® and Sculptra® work on those other areas, giving you volume.

Together, the careful application of using Botox® or Dysport® along with a filler will enhance the results you are looking for.

Fillers Erase Years Fast!

Dr. Bonnie Marting

If you’re like most women who look in the mirror noticing a more tired and drawn apperance, then I’ve got great news for you. There are ways to bring back the rounded cheeks, fuller mouth, and youthful glow that you’ve been missing.
As we age, we lose the collagen, bone, and facial volume that helped give our skin its’ young appearance. But with the passage of time, the skin begins to sag, the area under our eyes and around our cheekbones grow more prominent, and soon we’re looking at a much thinner, drained, saggy reflection.
The good news is we can restore much of our glory days with the help of fillers. In this video, I’ll explain why our facial volume erodes over time, and how correctly administered amounts of fillers can help us regain the plumper, youthful version of our former self.

What is Collagen?

Dr. Bonnie Marting

Is Collagen A Filler? Well, yes and no. The words collagen and fillers are used frequently when we talk about getting years erased by eliminating wrinkles. Fillers can be collagen, but don’t necessarily have to be.

We are born with Collagen in our skin. It makes up the majority of the dermis, that lies just under the skin’s surface. When we say our skin is “aging”, what we are seeing is wrinkles, but this also equates to collagen deterioration. As collagen deteriorates, we get the wrinkles, lines, and general sagging in the skin.

Though there have been a variety of products telling you they replace collagen, most were based more on selling something, and not giving you actual results. I remember the collagen facial of the 80′s, which is still being used today. It sounded great until you realized the results were just not there.

That’s when the pharmaceutical companies realized we needed to actually inject Collagen back in to replace lost volume. Unfortunately, when injectable collagen first came out, it sometimes only lasted days before the body re-absorbed the injected collagen, creating no real lasting results.

There have been many advances since then; in both collagen products and how it is mixed with the latest in man made filler materials. New collagen injectables can now last an average of six months to perhaps as much as a year.
Also, injection techniques and equipment have improved. In years past, Collagen was injected deeply into the skin layer. But now practitioners are trained to inject it into a more superficial plane so it will bind to what you already have.

Keep in mind, collagen is not an injection that flows into our system like a vaccination in our arm. It remains in the specific injected area, binding itself to our existing collegen, until it is later absorbed into our system. Most collagen injections are used to fill in lines and deep wrinkles, or enhance facial features.

As you and your practitioner look into what may be best for you, please remember that the skill of the practitioner as an injector is the single most important part of the equation. An improperly placed filler will show a bulge or line, or even exacerbate the very thing it was supposed to correct. And if something like this does happen, it will not go away over the weekend. The unwelcome result will remain until the body’s natural absorption process has acquired it all back into it’s system.

Radiesse® Filler Works Wonders!

Dr. Bonnie Marting

Heres a question I hear stated in several different ways: “I’m not Sean Connery or Angelina Jolie material. But can you help me look younger? Right away”?

I love getting questions like this, and I get them from men and women. Females aren’t the only ones concerned with their looks and sex appeal- they just talk about it more! And believe me; men aren’t immune to the benefits that a little tweak here and a tiny pinch there can offer. Men in their 40′s and 50′s can suffer the same sallow, flat, tired look in their faces that affect women. It’s just that they rarely do anything about it. That’s why I want my men patients to know about Radiesse®.

By expertly applying Radiesse® to a man’s cheeks, you can take 10 years off their appearance.

And the effects are immediate! There is no need to wait- it’s a natural yet astounding difference that will have people wondering how you left the office looking tired, and came back looking refreshed. They’ll be asking what you did on your lunch break- and wanting some of that! Although it’s a subtle change, your friends and family will notice. They just won’t be able to put their finger on why!

The photo above shows how subtle the change can be when used on the naso-labial folds. It makes the same difference when used on the cheeks, to give them more volume where needed.

When Radiesse® is injected in the cheeks, the focus is now on the eye-level of the face, close to where the cheek bones lie. Remember, cheeks are not in the front, they extend alongside your eyes. Dont ever let a practitioner turn you into a chipmunk-cheek!

By placing Radiesse® in the proper place, the main focus now becomes your eyes.

Radiesse® is what I suggest for a fast facelift to get a younger, more attractive appearance. If you have a little more time, consider Sculptra® as well. This is the collagen-building injection that will give your face a fuller, more youthful appearance and improve the collagen growth in your skin cells. It is also miraculous at taking years off your face, but works more slowly.

Both of these products can jump start you on your way to looking younger. What are you waiting for?

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