Dermal Fillers

As you age, your face begins to develop deep wrinkles and creases and loses volume at the cheeks, under the eyes, and at the temples. Age-related volume loss can leave you looking less energetic and youthful than you feel. Fortunately, there are minimally invasive treatment options that can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and restore volume to hollowed areas of the face: dermal fillers.

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Injectable dermal fillers use scientifically advanced formulations to restore volume and smooth away fine lines, wrinkles, and facial folds while simultaneously hydrating the deep layers of your skin. With a quick series of tiny injections in strategically selected facial areas, dermal fillers can make you look and feel your best — and for a fraction of the cost of plastic surgery, with no downtime.

Dermal filler enhancements with Dr. Courtney

Dr. Courtney is a plastic surgeon located in Houston, TX who practices in one of the largest plastic surgery centers in the country. With years of training as a plastic surgeon, he has an in-depth understanding of facial anatomy, including the facial muscular and nervous systems. This is essential in evaluating the correct placement of dermal fillers. Dr. Courtney takes the time to assess your unique facial composition and provide treatment that enhances your natural beauty and restores a more youthful, vibrant look for natural-looking results.

Causes of wrinkles and facial aging

Beyond the natural loss of collagen and elastin that comes with age, the facial skin is exposed to the pull of gravity, harmful UV rays, wind, toxins, and other environmental factors that trigger the development of wrinkles. This constant exposure means that your face is usually the first place to show the signs of aging. Even if you’ve regularly worn sunscreen and avoided smoking, you may be experiencing the development of wrinkles.

Several factors contribute to the changes in our skin as we age:

One of the most significant causes of facial aging and wrinkle development is the loss of collagen and elastin in the skin that occurs naturally. These structural proteins are responsible for the elasticity of the skin, giving it the ability to stretch and “bounce back” to its normal state.
Another natural cause is the loss of subcutaneous fat, which plays a role in the thinning of your skin and visible loss of volume in your cheeks, lips, and temples.
Any significant weight loss, especially in your later years, can also contribute to developing facial wrinkles. It is difficult for your skin to contract back its original condition when the skin has been stretched and lacks the collagen and elastin to spring back.
The constant pull of gravity, over many years, also contributes to loosened or stretched skin.
Constant facial muscle contraction in your everyday expressions can also cause wrinkles to form in the skin, especially around the eyes, forehead, and mouth. These can deepen over time, becoming etched into your skin.

Results speak for themselves.

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A popular option for taking years off your appearance

Dermal fillers are injectable gel-like substances that are delivered just beneath the skin surface to restore fullness and moisture, smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles and rejuvenating lost volume. They have many benefits and uses, including:

Smoothing wrinkles and fine lines
Restoring fullness to your cheeks and lips
Enhancing and augmenting your lips and facial features
Filling and reducing the appearance of scars
Balancing asymmetries in your face
Sculpting a more pronounced and shapelier jawline
Creating a more attractive and balanced nose
Restoring volume to the backs of your hands

Many different dermal fillers have been approved by the FDA, each of which has unique properties and uses. Our dermal fillers are formulated with hyaluronic acid (HA), calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA), poly-L-lactic acid, or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). These substances have all been proven safe and effective, and each has unique benefits to your facial appearance and health.

Dr. Courtney is proud to offer a wide range of dermal fillers, including:

Juvéderm

Juvéderm® is a filler made from hyaluronic acid (HA), which occurs naturally in your body. HA attracts and retains moisture, but as you age, the natural production of this substance diminishes. The Juvéderm family of fillers is formulated to correct a wide range of facial concerns, with each individual Juvéderm product offering unique benefits. Results last from 9-12 months, with maintenance treatments available to sustain your enhanced look.

Restylane

Also formulated with hyaluronic acid, Restylane® does its best work on laugh lines and marionette lines around the mouth. The FDA has also approved it as a lip enhancer.

Juvéderm Voluma

A favorite in the Juvéderm line of fillers, Voluma adds natural-looking enhancement to cheeks and chin, with results lasting up to 18 months.

Sculptra

Formulated with safe, biodegradable, and biocompatible hydroxyl acid, Sculptra® helps fill hollows under the eyes, sunken cheeks, and other areas of lost facial volume that come with age. Results can last up to two years.

Radiesse

Radiesse® is a collagen stimulator that fills wrinkles and plumps skin. This filler not only adds volume right away, but also continues to trigger collagen growth for long-lasting results.

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What does under eye filler treat?

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Dermal fillers: Your results

You will see results immediately, with enhancements that look natural, subtle, and beautiful. While there may be some minor initial swelling, it usually fades within 24 hours. The longevity of your dermal filler treatment depends on the location of the injection and your body’s natural reaction to the filler. Some fillers last eight months, while others can last up to two years.

Dermal fillers vs. BOTOX

BOTOX® and dermal fillers are both designed to smooth facial skin and restore a more youthful, attractive appearance, but they are used to treat entirely different conditions. Dermal fillers restore volume and smooth wrinkles that are there all the time (called “static wrinkles”). They are gel-like substances that remain in the deeper layers of your skin and offer immediate results.

BOTOX, along with Xeomin® and Jeuveau®, is a neuromodulator that blocks the nerve signals to targeted facial muscles and prevents them from contracting. In other words, BOTOX relaxes the muscles under your skin to diminish wrinkles, while dermal fillers restore lost volume and smoothness to your skin.

BOTOX is most often used to address:

Smooth forehead wrinkles and creases
Reduce the appearance of the vertical “11” lines between your eyebrows
Smooth crow’s feet wrinkles around the outer corners of your eyes

BOTOX is often a preventative measure to ward off wrinkles from becoming etched into your skin, but it requires re-treatment every three to four months.

BOTOX patient testimonial

Results speak for themselves.

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Dermal fillers: What to expect

When you come in for your dermal filler injections, our award-winning staff will immediately greet you and make you feel comfortable. To begin your treatment, Dr. Courtney will first carefully study the natural architecture of your face. He will likely measure and make markings to guide the placement of the dermal fillers to give you beautiful and natural-looking results. Before treatment begins, we apply topical numbing cream for your comfort.

The treatment itself involves several small injections or a cannula to deliver the filler to different areas of your face. Though some patients describe a slight burning sensation for just a moment or two with each injection, they are pleasantly surprised with the ease and comfort of the procedure. The entire treatment takes only a few minutes, quick enough to be completed even on your lunch break.

You can expect to return to your regular daily activities immediately following your filler procedure. There is no downtime, though you may experience slight redness, swelling, and bruising immediately after the injections. These generally fade within a matter of hours and can be covered with makeup. Your results are visible immediately, and you can return once or twice a year to maintain your youthful, rejuvenated look.

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Why choose Dr. Courtney for dermal fillers in Houston?

Seeing an experienced plastic surgeon is critical when considering facial treatments because each patient’s skin is different. No single product works the best on all faces, and it takes a high level of skill and understanding of facial anatomy to achieve safe treatment and natural-looking results.

Dr. Courtney is a plastic surgeon with years of experience in facial plastic surgery and in-depth knowledge of the skin, muscles, nerves, and arteries of the face. He has been recognized by the esteemed American Society of Plastic Surgery for his research, and was mentored by very prominent plastic surgeons at the Texas Medical Center in Houston. His relaxed, approachable, and caring personality makes him a patient favorite, and his attention to detail and consideration of your personal goals help him achieve the desired results.

If you’re considering dermal fillers, do not hesitate to contact us today.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal filler enhancements with Dr. Courtney

Causes of wrinkles and facial aging

A popular option for taking years off your appearance