Facial Balancing in Davidson, NC

Why staging works

Doing everything at once can look like a lot of change, even when each piece is small. Staging gives your face, and the people who see it every day, time to adjust. It also lets us stop as soon as you're happy. A surprising number of people finish after the first step.

Staging is also easier on a budget. You see the full plan and the full quote at the consult, but you only commit to the first part.

What a staged plan looks like

Here's how I usually think about the order. It changes for every face.

• Structure first, often cheeks or chin, because support there changes how everything else sits.
• Then movement, if frown lines or a gummy smile are part of the picture. Neurotoxin is $13 per unit.
• Then finishing touches, like lips or under-eyes, only if they still need it.

Filler is hyaluronic acid (HA) for most areas. I use Juvéderm. Different HA fillers do different jobs, and I pick the right one for you at your consult. More on each area: cheeks, chin and jawline, under-eyes.

What it costs

The whole plan is quoted at your free consult. Filler is priced per syringe, neurotoxins are $13 per unit, and you decide how much of the plan to do and when. Nothing is booked until you've agreed to a number. The pricing page shows how each part is priced.

Pain and downtime

Most people feel pressure and a few pinches. Filler can leave swelling for a few days, and bruising is possible, which is one more reason staging helps: each visit is a smaller recovery. Most people go back to work the same day. Leave at least two weeks before an event.

How long it lasts

Filler lasts longer than neurotoxin, but the exact time depends on the product, the area, and your body. MedlinePlus says cosmetic Botox injections may be repeated every 3 to 4 months, depending on how long the effect lasts. We look at timing together at each follow-up.

Your first visit

At the free consult I look at your face at rest and moving, go over your health history, and lay out the full plan in order. If you want to start with step one the same day, we usually can. Two weeks later you come back, I check the result, and I adjust anything at no charge before we talk about step two.

Safety

Before anything is injected, tell me 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.