Dermal Filler in Huntersville, NC

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 and groups the approved ones by what they're made of, including hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, and poly-L-lactic acid.

Most of what I do is HA filler. HA fillers are reversible, which is a big part of why I like starting with them. I use Juvéderm. Different HA fillers do different jobs, so I pick the right one at your consult, not before.

Filler doesn't stop a muscle from moving. Lines that only show when you frown or squint are usually a job for neurotoxin instead, which is covered on Botox in Huntersville.

Biostimulators and PRP BioFiller

Some menu items work differently from HA filler. Sculptra and Radiesse are biostimulators, and PRP BioFiller (Selphyl) is made from your own blood. They're planned and quoted at consult, and whether one makes sense for you is part of that conversation. I won't put a timeline on them here.

What dermal filler costs

Filler is priced per syringe, and Sculptra, Radiesse, and PRP BioFiller per session or syringe. I don't publish per-syringe dollar amounts. You get a specific quote at your free consult, before anything is booked, and nothing is injected until you've agreed to the number.

What moves the quote is how many areas we treat and how much each one needs. If you're planning more than one area, facial balancing puts them into a single plan. The pricing page has the full menu.

Does it hurt?

Most people feel pressure and a few pinches. We talk through numbing at your consult, and I go slowly in sensitive spots. A typical visit runs 20 to 30 minutes, and a fair amount of that is planning in the mirror.

Downtime and how long it lasts

Expect some swelling for a few days and the chance of a bruise. Most people go back to work the same day. If you have an event, book at least two weeks ahead so the swelling is gone and we've had the follow-up.

How long filler lasts depends on the product, the area, and your body. I'd rather give you an honest range at the consult than a number on a webpage that may not fit you.

Your first visit

We start with a free consultation. I look at your face from the front and in profile, at rest and moving, go over your health history, and tell you which areas I'd treat first and which I'd leave alone. If you want to go ahead, we can often treat the same day. Two weeks later you come back, I look at the settled result, and I adjust anything that needs it at no charge.

When to wait

Tell me at the consult if any of these apply:

• 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.

The FDA lists bruising, redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, and itching as common dermal filler side effects and says many clear up within days to weeks. The most serious risk is filler getting into a blood vessel. The FDA calls that chance low, but it can cause tissue damage, vision problems including blindness, or stroke. Get care right away for unusual pain, any change in your vision, or skin near the injection site that turns white, gray, or blue.

The FDA's dermal filler dos and don'ts are worth reading before you book anywhere.