Dermal Filler in Cornelius, NC

One area or a plan?

If one thing bothers you and the rest of your face is in balance, treating that one area makes sense. It's a smaller commitment, and you learn how your face responds to filler.

If you can't name one thing, or you've noticed several small changes, a plan usually works better. That's facial balancing in Cornelius: I look at how the areas relate and treat the ones that change the overall picture most, sometimes over more than one visit.

Either way, the starting point is the same consult, and you don't have to know the answer before you book.

What dermal filler is

Dermal filler is a gel placed under the skin to add volume or structure. The FDA regulates dermal fillers as medical devices. What I use is hyaluronic acid (HA) filler. I use Juvéderm. Different HA fillers do different jobs, and I pick the right one at your consult. HA fillers are reversible.

Cost

Filler is priced per syringe and quoted at your free consult. A single area usually needs less product than a full plan, so it usually costs less. You see the number before anything is booked. The pricing page has the full menu. Financing through Cherry and CareCredit is available for treatment plans.

Does it hurt?

Most people feel pressure and a few pinches. Some fillers contain lidocaine, a numbing medicine, and we talk through numbing at your consult.

How long it lasts

The FDA says how long a filler lasts depends on the filler material and where it's injected, and that absorbable fillers break down over time, so the treatment may need repeating.

Downtime

Swelling for a few days is the usual downtime, with a chance of bruising. Most people carry on with their day. If you have an event, count back two weeks.

Your first visit

It starts as a free consultation. I look at how your features relate, from the front and the side, ask about your health history and any filler you've had before, and tell you where I'd start and what I'd leave alone. If you want to go ahead, you get the plan and the price first. Two weeks later, at your included follow-up, I check the settled result and adjust anything that needs it at no charge.

When to wait

The FDA's page on dermal fillers explains the risks. Based on that guidance, wait or bring it up at your consult if:

• You're under 22. The FDA approves dermal fillers for adults 22 and older.
• You're pregnant or breastfeeding. The FDA says filler safety is unknown during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Your skin is inflamed or infected where we'd treat, including active acne, a rash, or hives.
• You have a bleeding disorder, severe allergies or a history of anaphylaxis, or an allergy to lidocaine.
• You tend to form keloids or raised scars.

Common side effects on the FDA's list are bruising, redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, and itching, and many clear up within days to weeks. The serious one is filler entering a blood vessel. The FDA calls that chance low, but it can cause tissue damage, vision problems including blindness, or stroke. If you notice unusual pain, any change in your vision, or skin near the injection site turning white, gray, or blue, get care right away.

What I can't tell you from a webpage

Which area to start with. That's what the consult is for. The area pages above go deeper, and the full menu is on the services page.