Botox & Fillers

Doctor injects a patient as she lays on a bed with a towel wrapped around her head

What is Botox?

Botox is a drug prepared from the bacterial toxin botulin, used medically to treat certain muscular conditions and cosmetically to remove wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing facial muscles. Botox is a brand name, however there are other brands that are widely used and equally effective such as XEOMIN and Dysport.

Cosmetic Fillers (Dermal Fillers)

“Cosmetic” or “Dermal” fillers are injectable material to replace the volume lost by the normal aging process or trauma. Common fillers include hyaluronic acid (HA, Juvederm ®) and calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse ®). These fillers are designed to mimic the natural substance that occurs in your connective tissues, cartilage and bones. The fillers are injected underneath the skin to provide a more youthful appearance by making the skin look smoother, fuller, and with less wrinkles. Cosmetic fillers can also be used with other rejuvenation techniques such as botulinum toxin (Botox ®, Xemonin ®) and surgery to further enhance their effect.

Dermal Fillers FAQ

Where are fillers injected?

Common areas treated with Cosmetic Fillers include the nasolabial fold (deep grooves at the side of your nose) and the lips. They can also be injected to increase the cheek volume and soften deep creases and furrow in the brow / forehead area.

Are fillers permanent?

Cosmetic fillers are not permanent. Often they are repeated every 6 – 12 months. Also, if the area treated is significantly deep or depressed, it may require treatment in a staged approach.

What should I expect during and after the procedure?

Cosmetic fillers are an in office procedure and do not require any sedation. After marking and cleaning the areas to be treated, our cosmetic doctors will inject numbing medication to decrease the discomfort. Most patients describe an awareness of the procedure rather than a painful procedure. The actual injection only takes minutes to perform. There is no “downtime” afterwards. However, one should avoid pressure or trauma to the area for approximately 24 hours to prevent displacement or migration of the filler. Before the treatment, you should remove all cosmetics to the area. After the injection, you may reapply your cosmetics if needed.

What are the risks with this surgery?

It is normal to be excited and nervous about any procedure. You should discuss your specific concerns with your Florida Eye Specialists cosmetic doctor at the time of your evaluation. This should help decrease the stress and allow you to have the best results possible. In general, the risks associated with cosmetic fillers are uncommon. They may include swelling, bruising, discoloration, over-correction, under-correction, numbness, tingling, itching, pain, asymmetry, infection at the injection site, bleeding, and migration or movement of the filler. Rare but serious side effects are related to compression of the blood supply or emboli which can cause permanent damage to the skin (skin necrosis) or blindness.