Look ‘Alive’!

You’re tired, overworked and just need a break. It’s a common theme among many Americans and now with the advent of fillers and the skill of an injector, looking alive can be achieved with minimal if any downtime.

By Kevin Smith, MD
and Beverly Brooks
The Plastic Surgery Channel

“We want to make our patients feel better,” says Dr. Smith. “They come to us complaining of looking tired, and it’s really quite an easy fix.”

Where Do I Need Fillers?

“The whole face must be assessed, we look at everything, from the forehead to the lips, chin and neck. Someone may tell me they want their lips injected, but after looking at their entire face I may notice a hollowness in their cheeks. Once we figure out how to balance all the features an experienced nurse injector or myself will decide where to place the filler. Many times it’s in the cheeks.”

Thick fillers like Voluma can be injected close to the bone and provide a lift and a more youthful appearance in some situations. Juvederm Voluma is a hyaluronic acid. The HA’s as they are sometimes called are natural building blocks of the body and are injected in various forms of gel.

Selecting the Proper Filler

“Surgeons and nurse injectors select fillers like an artist would select the type of paint or a brush.”

Thin fillers such Restalyne Silk can be used for the lips. It’s used to subtly enhance the lips and smooth fine lines around the mouth. It can provide natural looking results in the lips and skin surrounding the mouth.

Juvederm Voluma helps reform volume loss in the ‘apples’ of your cheeks! This can give saggy cheeks a subtle lift that may last up to 2 years.

“Our goal is to take away the look of tiredness and paint a portrait of youthfulness.”

Injectors Credentials

Judicious use of fillers is key. The nurse injector should not only be experienced but they should also only inject with an ‘in house’ physician if a complication occurs.

“95% of the time if there is a problem with a filler it’s due to a technical issue – the wrong filler in the wrong place; too much or too little filler; too deep or too superficial,” says Smith. “In the right hands, these problems won’t occur.”

Dr. Smith is certified by both The American Board of Surgery and The American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is also a member of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons and The American Society of Plastic Surgery.