Thousand Oaks Restylane doctors

Occasional lumpiness or un-evenness of the lips is not uncommon after Restylane or other filler injection to the lips or nasolabial folds, even with careful attention to injection technique and quantity. When this occurs, most physicians massage the lips to mold or re-distribute the filler more evenly across the intended area. When the Restylane or Juvederm has been injected into the proper tissue plane, there is some ability to "milk" it back and forth through the tissue plane, to smooth lumps or to produce better symmetry to the injected areas. If you have had a nerve block before the injection, the lips may also look abnormal and asymmetric because of the temporary paralysis, so you should trust the artistic eye and judgement of your surgeon, whose job it is to insure that your result is smooth and even.

Sometimes, our lips need to be kneaded.

The first question should not be asked of your doctor, but rather to yourself: What is your primary concern, and what is it you would like to accomplish with the treatment?

Injectable fillers like Restylane/Perlane and Juvederm have revolutionized the non-surgical treatment options available to patients. More cost-effective and longer-lasting than the previous generation of fillers, there has been a tremendous acceptance of these products as a weapon in the battle against the signs of facial aging.

Nevertheless, injectable fillers can't solve every problem, and it is important to understand their limitations. Ask yourself what are the issues that concern you. For early signs of facial aging such as mild to moderate-depth nasolabial folds, thin lips, or mild dark circles under the eyes, Restylane and Juvederm do an excellent job. For more extensive signs of facial aging, even a boat-load of fillers may be insufficient to correct the problem, and surgical procedures are more cost-effective, often in conjunction with judicious use of fillers in a more limited fashion.

Your plastic surgeon should be able to properly advise you of the best option for your particular desires and facial features. In any event, you should not be concerned about a lumpy or unnatural appearance if the right combination of surgical facial rejuvenation procedures and injectable fillers is performed by an experienced surgeon.

Generally, injectable fillers such as Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, etc. should produce immediate improvement of the deep lines and wrinkles around the mouth and face. One potential problem could be that insufficient material was used by the doctor because of cost constraints; alternatively, if the injections were not performed properly (placed too deep), they may not give sufficient improvement of the wrinkles as intended.

One other scenario is also possible, and that is that the wrong tool is being applied to the problem. Many patients with generalized signs of facial aging, loose sagging skin, or severe sun-damaged skin, are really not good candidates for injectable fillers, and in my opinion are wasting their money by trying to obtain a quick fix. Such patients may spend thousands of dollars over the years on fillers and Botox, when their money would be more wisely-invested in a surgical procedure more likely to give them a longer-lasting "bang for the buck" or return on their investment.

Patients with deep wrinkles and skin discoloration as a result of smoking, sun damage, and environmental effects, may be excellent candidates for chemical peeling or laser resurfacing of the skin, which will generally give good improvement to the fine wrinkles and lines (especially around the mouth) that are sometimes difficult to improve with fillers. Patients with skin laxity in the face (jowls, sagging "turkey-neck" skin, eyelid crepiness, etc.) will derive more long-term benefit from surgical procedures like brow lift, blepharoplasty, and face lift than from a bucket of injectable fillers and Botox.

Your surgeon should be able to advise you regarding the benefits of each option, and patients should be open to the selection of the right tool for the job. Sometimes, what is proposed is not what the patient wants to hear; but making the right choice of the combination of injectables and surgical procedures for the individual patient's situation, gives the greatest chance of having patient satisfaction over the long haul.