DDP Doctors are Mothers and Daughters too!
Blog
What you need to know before your lip filler appointment
Posted by Dr. Lauren Dickson
Cosmetic lip injections are a common noninvasive procedure in which one can achieve more defined or fuller lips in less than 20 minutes. It is important you choose your lip injector with care. Board-certified dermatologists are expert lip injectors that are well versed in the anatomy and the types of fillers that can be used, and demonstrate superior technique to achieve natural, yet meaningful results.
What are lip fillers?
Injectable dermal fillers are gel-like substances composed of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring molecule in your skin that binds water, that are injected beneath the skin to restore lost volume, smooth lip lines or “wrinkled”, or enhance volume in the lips.
What is the downtime after a filler procedure?
There is little to no downtime with fillers. There is often some degree of swelling immediately post-procedure and for several days. Icing the injected areas does decrease and shorten the duration of the swelling.
There is a risk for post-procedure bruising. To minimize this risk, avoid any substances that can thin the blood, such as aspirin and NSAIDs, 2 weeks prior to your procedure.
What should I avoid before having filler?
Ingestion of the following substances should be avoided for 14 days before your procedure : Omega-3 fatty acids, Fish oil, Aspirin, NSAIDs (including Advil, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Aleve), Vitamin E, Ginseng, Ginger, Gingko Biloba, Garlic, Green Tea, Alcohol, Salt. Avoid dental work, including routine teeth cleaning, one month before and one month after treatment with fillers.
How long do lip fillers last?
Typically 6-12 months.
Are lip fillers safe?
Dermal fillers are FDA-approved and safe for injection.
What do I need to let me doctor know prior to my procedure?
Please let your doctor know if you have a history of cold sores. If so, your doctor will likely prescribe you an antiviral to prevent any cold sore breakouts.
What should I expect during my filler procedure?
Numbing is applied 20-30 minutes prior to your procedure to minimize any discomfort. The procedure takes approximately 10-20 minutes and is typically very well tolerated without pain. There is lidocaine, a numbing agent, within the s
What should I expect after my filler procedure?
After injections with fillers, temporary swelling, bruising, redness, or soreness in the treatment area can be experienced. In order to reduce or minimize these side effects, we recommend applying ice-packs or cold compresses to the injection sites for at least 15 minutes immediately after treatment (and continue to apply them every hour if you are prone to bruising).
Is there anything I should avoid after my filler procedure?
While regular activity can be resumed immediately after injections, heavy exercise should be avoided for the remainder of the day in order to reduce the risk of swelling and bruising.
Are there any strategies to avoid or limit bruising?
Ingestion of the following substances should be avoided for 14 days before and 1-3 days: Omega-3 fatty acids, Fish oil, Aspirin, NSAIDs (including Advil, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Aleve), Vitamin E, Ginseng, Ginger, Gingko Biloba, Garlic, Green Tea, Alcohol, Salt.
What can I do if I am not happy with my results?
The beauty of using hyaluronic acid fillers is that if you change your mind and decide you don’t want fuller lips or are happy with them for any reason, your doctor can inject an enzyme called hyaluronidase, which will quickly dissolve the filler.
When should I contact the office?
Call the office immediately if you experience intense pain in the injected areas, severe bruising that is getting worse, or experience visual disturbances.
Do I need to follow up after my filler procedure?
It generally takes 1-2 weeks in order to determine your clinical response to treatment. For lip fillers, we may recommend two sessions to achieve the desired outcome.
If it is your first treatment, it is advised that a follow-up appointment be scheduled at 2 weeks in order to assess your response to treatment
Book your appointment for lip filler with one of our board-certified dermatologists here!
Should we avoid parabens in our skincare products?
Is paraben-free really safer? Not necessarily. Many cosmetic products are removing parabens from their products because it is desired by consumers. However, any product that contains water and is not refrigerated requires a preservative to inhibit bacterial growth in the product. Therefore, companies are just replacing parabens with another preservative, commonly Kathon-CG, also known as methochloroisothalizolinone. The Kathon preservatives have a inferior safety profile compared to parabens. They also cause a higher incidence of allergic contact dermatitis. In fact, most of Europe has banned the use of Kathon preservatives in leave on products, only allowing them in rinse off products such as conditioner.
It is important to note that preservatives in cosmetics are generally very safe and should not cause alarm. The bottom line is you don’t have to ditch your favorite products that contain parabens, unless you have a true allergy. True allergies involve redness, itching, and a development of a rash in the areas exposed to the product containing parabens. If you feel you might have a reaction to parabens, consult with your dermatologist. Your dermatologist may recommend that you undergo patch testing to determine if you have a true allergy to parabens.
Dealing with “maskne”?
Dealing with mask-associated acne or “maskne”? Wearing a mask can be hard on your skin. Here are some skin care tips to help prevent your mask from causing skin problems.
1. Cleanse and moisturize you face daily with a mild gentle cleanser. We love Cerave foaming facial cleanser. If you would like a mild exfoliating cleanser, we love our DDP Exfoliating Cleanser!
2. Avoid wearing makeup when wearing a mask. It will lead to clogged pores and pesky breakouts. Try a tinted mineral sunscreen like Elta Elements instead to protect your skin while giving you a little color.
3. Stick to a few essential skin care products and avoid putting too many products on your face. Essentials include a vitamin C serum or lotion, a mineral sunscreen, and a retinoid or other collagen booster at night. Avoid leave on products with active ingredients such as retinoids or salicylic acid under a mask.
4. Find the right mask for your face. Select a mask with a soft lining that is comfortable and snug but not too tight.
5. When it is safe to do so, and after washing your hands, try to take 10-15 minute mask breaks every few hours.
6. Wash your cloth masks frequently with gentle soap or detergent.
7. If you have acne, rosacea, or another skin condition, continue to follow the treatment plan your dermatologist designed for you.
Make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist to help clear up your mask-associated acne today!
What is skin fasting and should you be doing it?
The concept of skin fasting came from a Japanese skin care company and involves eliminating the use of skin care products for a period of time. The idea is that your skin will recover from product overuse and will become more reliant on itself to repair skin issues rather than relying on cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and other products.
Is skin fasting for you? While there is no peer-reviewed scientific data that I have been able to find to support the new trend of skin fasting, it can be beneficial to certain patients, particularly those with new onset irritation or redness.
Similar to the microbiome in our gut, we have a microbiome on our skin that consists of trillions of microorganisms, primarily bacteria, that are essential to healthy skin. Using products or cleansers that are advertised as antibacterial or cleansing the skin too frequently can strip the skin of its natural oils and nutrients, which can disrupt the skin’s natural barrier and lead to irritation and breakouts. It is important to note that facial skin takes over 2 weeks to turn over, so results from fasting will not be apparent until after that period of time.
For most patients, they need to slim down their skincare regimen rather than going on a complete fast. There are so many products on the market and many patients are layering multiple different products on their skin day and night in addition to frequently changing the products they are using. I constantly aim to simplify my patients’ skin regimens and prevent redundancy in the products they are using. Keep it simple with 3 or 4 products – a vitamin C, a mineral sunscreen, a collagen builder in the evening, usually a retinoid, and a moisturizer if needed. If there are additional products you would like to use, you can try adding them back in one at a time for two weeks at a time to see if it makes a difference in your skin.
Happy skin dieting everyone!
Check out Dr. Dickson sharing her expert advice on skin fasting on Spotlyte here!
Click here to find out what products Dr. Dickson recommends!
#skincareroutine #skintips @drlaurendickson