Natural Filler Alternatives: The Rise of Blood-Based Injectables in 2024
In 2024, the trend in aesthetic treatments has shifted dramatically—and we’ve seen this demand on the rise at RefinedMD. People no longer desire the t...
At RefinedMD, our team of highly qualified providers offers a variety of dermal fillers, including Juvederm®, in Los Gatos to help us achieve the aesthetic goals of our patients from Campbell, Saratoga, Cupertino, and surrounding areas. Our patients love our level of service and expertise and true understanding of how artfully administered injectables can shape and contour the face. Every filler is unique, with inherently different properties. All fillers available at RefinedMD are FDA-approved, and we promise an unbiased, non-conflicted consultation. We’ll never recommend a treatment a patient doesn’t need, or that won’t offer the desired results.
It all starts with a consultation and introduction on available fillers. There’s a reason so many options are available. Some fillers last a few months so you can get a taste if a certain look is right for you. Others are semi-permanent and can last over two years. Some fillers are ideal for the lips, while others are more in the Liquid Facelift territory of banishing hollow eyes and dark circles are rounding out those cheeks. Your consultation is a crash course in fillers, and you’ll graduate with honors knowing exactly what you want for that desirable youthful look.
A good filler can make significant changes. Lip filler injections can give our Cupertino and Los Gatos patients a major wow factor, putting them on Kylie Jenner envy status. Hollow cheeks can get filled in, so you go from Skeletor to red carpet ready in no time. However, with so many fillers on the market, how do you know which is the best for you? And how do you know which parts of the face will really make you look younger, healthier, and happier without also looking like you’ve had “work done?” A reputable San Jose dermatologist matches you, your face, and your goals with the right solutions. Call (408) 688-2082 today to schedule an appointment.
“Filler” is an umbrella term for products that are injected, usually into the face, to increase volume in a specific area. Most fillers are comprised of hyaluronic acid a natural substance that helps the skin retain moisture. During your consultation, we’ll determine together what your goals are so we can match you with the best product and best possible outcome.
New to fillers, or want to try out a new-to-you filler without the commitment? We offer short-acting, reversible fillers that allow you to test out a new look (and get a selfie for the ‘gram) for a year or less. Are you a seasoned aesthetic patient or experiencing “filler fatigue” after repeated injections? We’ve got you covered with longer-lasting collagen stimulators like Bellafill, Sculptra, and Radiesse. From the Juvederm family to the Restylane crew, the first part of an excellent filler experience in Los Gatos is finding the right, skilled dermatology office for the procedure. We are excited to meet your beautiful face.
Lip Fillers
Angelina Jolie’s pillowy lips are no fad. Kylie Jenner has built an empire out of creating the perfect plump, and it’s all thanks to lip fillers. Build up deeper folds, and even restore volume to the cheeks with a variety of products including Restylane Kysse, Juvederm Ultra and Ultra Plus, Restylane, and Restylane Lyft. These hyaluronic acid fillers last up to one year with expert injections. Known as “HA,” hyaluronic fillers are so powerful they even allow us to reshape the nose for a non-surgical nose job! Not ready to rival Scarlett Johansson for pout of the year? A less dramatic but still stunning redefinition of lip lines is available with Restylane Silk.
Liquid Facelift
Want a facelift without the pain, risks, and downtime of surgery? The Liquid Facelift is a game-changing procedure that marries dermal fillers with Botox to give you the look of a facelift without surgery. It’s a powerful combination that maximizes the benefits of two complementary procedures. With dermal fillers, you don’t just smooth out lines and wrinkles, but lines are literally filled in. Botox temporarily freezes muscles so that lines and wrinkles can’t form. Your wrinkles will never see this combination coming. Even better? Botox “teaches” muscles not to make those unappealing wrinkles so they get weaker over time. Who knew weak muscles were sometimes a good thing? (At least in some parts of the face!)
Eye Fillers
The eyes have it, whether you’re “smiling” or taking your best come-hither selfie. RefinedMD often recommends Belotero Balance, a great choice for fine lines beneath the eyes. It’s designed to integrate itself naturally into the most superficial level of the dermis. No other filler can be injected at this level to treat that thin, fine eye area. It’s often used simultaneously with other, deeper procedures like microneedling or laser skin rejuvenation to give these areas of the face an overall more youthful appearance.
Bellafill Collagen Stimulator
This unique long-term filler contains millions of polymethyl methacrylate microspheres in bovine collagen. Try saying that five times fast (or two times after a glass of wine). It’s only for nasolabial folds, the technical term for smile lines and laugh lines, and acne scars. Bellafill offers immediate results thanks to the bovine collagen. As it’s absorbed into the body, the microsphere disperses outward, attracting new cells (or fibroblasts), which in turn gather around the spheres and create your own collagen. In theory, it’s the filler that never ends. No wonder Bellafill lasts so much longer than other fillers.
Sculptra Collagen Stimulator
Another popular collagen stimulator, Sculptra is excellent for filling and replacing facial volume loss. Traditional dermal fillers only tackle wrinkles, lines, and folds. Sculptra works differently and may be used in any part of the face to stimulate the body’s natural collagen production over approximately 2 months. Results can last 2 years.
Radiesse Collagen Stimulator
Radiesse is one of the most tried and tested products available on the market. Designed to address tissue augmentation via collagen stimulation, it’s comprised of a substance that makes up our bones: calcium hydroxyapatite. Suspended in a gel, it’s a fantastic match for a stimulator because it’s made up of what’s already in our body. There’s no risk of inflammation or immune reactions, and it is naturally absorbed into the body.
Skinvive by Juvederm
SKINVIVE by JUVÉDERM stands as the initial and singular microdroplet injectable sanctioned by the FDA to enhance the smoothness of the skin on the cheeks. This innovative solution boosts hydration levels, imparting a radiant glow that endures for a duration of up to six months.
Contact RefinedMD
Book a consultation at RefinedMD in Los Gatos to learn more about Dermal Fillers. Our team is fantastic and can walk you through all your options after learning about your aesthetic goals.
“I never feel rushed. If you’re looking for a great medical/cosmetic dermatologist, I highly recommend RefinedMD!”
Collagen is your body’s natural miracle worker, but we produce less of it as we age (insert sad face emoji). Collagen stimulators have a similar concept to hyaluronic acid fillers, but with one big difference. They encourage the body to produce more natural collagen on its own, directly at the injection spot. Voila! Who says you can’t turn back time?
There are a number of fab collagen stimulators on the market and available at RefinedMD. Sculptra, Bellafill, and Radiesse are our most commonly recommended collagen stimulators. They recreate that youthful inverted triangle shape of the face. Seriously, you may have never thought of your teen face as an inverted triangle, but scroll through those old photos. It’s true. They also smooth, fill, and improve the appearance of thinning skin on the earlobes, backs of the hands, and that creepy look to the upper chest. Anywhere skin is thinnest, you’ll see signs of aging first.
For best results, the filler world (and our office) is shifting its focus from lined areas of the face to volume replacement and “liquid facelifts.” Fillers are now being placed much more deeply into the skin, sometimes all the way to the bone. This gives the most natural and effective recreation of volume lost over time.
Not necessarily. Sometimes a client’s medication, condition, or even goals aren’t a good match for fillers. However, this will be discussed at consultations. Your safety is always top priority, but many people are a great candidate for fillers.
It depends on you, your goals, and your body. However, after your consultation, you’ll have a great understanding of the recommended fillers for you and why.
Comfort levels will vary, but filler procedures are generally fast and pain-free. If you have anxiety about your procedure, talk to your dermatology team. There are strategies that can help ease anxiety, and it often starts with knowledge sharing.
Do you want to look like a Real Housewife? If so, RefinedMD probably isn’t for you. Dr. Swengel and his team specialize in stunning but natural results. (We might be in California, but in the Bay Area we have some seriously high standards!)
Put your best face forward (for real) with Juvederm Voluma XC. It’s the product that can be placed deepest in the face to replace “fat pads” that get lost in the central part of the face as we age. Think “pesky under-eye bags.” Just like your backside, having the right amount of fat in the face is a good thing. It volumizes the face over bony areas, providing immediate results if you don’t want to wait for collagen stimulation.
In 2024, the trend in aesthetic treatments has shifted dramatically—and we’ve seen this demand on the rise at RefinedMD. People no longer desire the t...
Dermal fillers have become one of the most sought-after non-surgical cosmetic treatments worldwide—and at RefinedMD. From plumping lips to smoothing w...
When it comes to non-surgical cosmetic procedures, the Juvederm family of fillers has become a gold standard for enhancing facial features and reversi...
Complement your collagen stimulation with some specialized additives designed for your skin too boost your results. Ward off future wrinkles with a touch of Botox, Dysport or Xeomin. At RefinedMD, our commitment is your happiness. (And don’t let those references to female celebs fool you. We’re known for phenomenal dermatology services for men, too!) Call RefinedMD at (408) 688-2082 and reclaim your face.