the lowdown on
Filler
watch the following videos BEFORE arriving to your appointment
Watch Time: 25 Mins Total
what is filler?
Filler is a gel made of Hyaluronic Acid that is found in our own body so we naturally accept it. Filler can be placed pretty much anywhere on our face to lift, replenish, contour and soften fine lines and lasts anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. We decide together at your appointment what types of products to use based on your goals. There are many different products that vary in their thicknesses that are better placed in different areas. In order to help with longevity, layering the product with multiple treatments will make a big difference. Everyone wants to maintain their results in different ways, some like to come in more frequently for touch ups and some come in when they notice most of their product is gone. It is totally up to you!
your appointment deets
At your appointment we discuss your goals and decide on a treatment plan. We then get pictures, get you numbed if necessary and then get to the actual treatment. Most treatments take about 15 minutes total depending on technique and area. We love to help you be comfortable with your treatments with numbing creams, squeeze balls, vibrators or laughing gas. After your appointment you may feel the product in the areas injected, have bruising, tenderness and swelling. You can ice the areas and take Tylenol for any discomforts you may have. Avoid sleeping on the areas that we injected for the first couple of days as the product is still very malleable. Any additional exercise and alcoholic drinking can increase swelling and bruising.
IMPORTANT
Worst case scenario for any filler treatment is called a vascular occlusion. This is when the product is blocking vital blood supply to the face. When and if this goes unnoticed for too long, there can be complications that have a time sensitivity to being corrected. Most of these cases are found during your appointment and are EXTREMELY RARE. If any complication is detected at your appointment, we will dissolve the product for your safety. Things to look out for after your appointment is: discoloration such as whiteness or greyness around the area that was injected or extreme pain that lingers and does not improve. We want you to reach out to us if you have any questions so that we can make sure everything looks good.
We are absolutely trained and prepared for these medical emergencies and you are in safe hands, but we have to let you know all the information prior to getting any type of treatment.
!! Examples of Vascular Occlusions !!
before your appointment
help avoid bruising by stopping anti-inflammatory medications such as: aspirin, tylenol, ibuprofen and fish oil (3-4 days before)
take Arnica tablets 2-3 days prior to prevent bruising, purchase here
avoid alcohol for 24 hours before and after appointment to help avoid bruising
schedule procedure at least 2 weeks before a big event
post appointment care
no facial massages/facials for at least 7 days after injections
avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours
be gentle with your face (no rubbing!!!)
you can wash your face and put on make up normally- but gently
if going to sleep, prop head up with a pillow and try not to sleep on top of injections for a couple of nights until product settles in
Use Sweet Tox Vitamin K Creme to help with swelling and bruising
Watch this video for a guide on how to cover bruising with makeup
if severe swelling occurs or you want to prevent severe swelling, take a Benadryl or Zyrtec, and Pepcid can help tame the swelling process
side effects
Normal Side Effects
bruising (can last 3-14 days)
redness/swelling at injection site (normally gone within a couple hours after injection)
numbness and coolness (numbing solution inside of the product can last a couple hours after injection)
tenderness at injection sites (can last up to a week)
NOT Normal Side Effects
skin breakdown other than at the injection site
blanching of skin (whiteness/greyness lasting more than 4 hours after treatment)
extreme/excruciating pain
you can fill what?!
Cheeks
Contour to help lift and slim the face or replenish volume to prevent aging. Cheeks can help benefit pretty much anyone. If you’re looking to help fight aging this is usually the #1 place to Start.
Lippies
Ahhhh our most favorite service here at sweet tox. With so many different options, there really is something for everyone. One of the easiest and instant ways to give yourself some “self love”.
Chin
One of the most Underrated injections that helps slim the face and hide submental fat (double chins). Chin filler can help balance and slim our faces and enhance our side profile. Chins can be intimidating but we promise you won’t be looking chinny.
Jawline
Jawlines can help our side profiles look more chiseled and defined. As we age (especially women), we show signs of aging in our jawlines and need support to prevent jowling.
Smile Lines
Smile lines are those pesky lines that show after you smile. These are usually small and superficial needing a little filling to improve them. The only real way to get rid of them is to stop smiling…soooo thank goodness for filler to help us out!
Nasolabial Folds
These are the shadows that start to show and fold over from our cheeks starting to fall. Usually when we see these folds start, we first want to lift and treat the cheeks to help lift them up so we don’t add too much bulk in the center of our face. We then add small amounts of fillers that are natural feeling and soft for best results.
Fine Lines
Most fine lines and wrinkles can be improved with filler. Some wrinkles need additional support if they are caused by volume loss, such as additional areas of filler or further skin treatments.
Under Eyes
Under eyes are one of the most finicky and tough areas to treat with filler.
The skin under our eyes is super thin and unforgiving so filler can sometimes look less than perfect in this area. This area also contains many ligaments where the filler can get stuck and intertwined with movement after the treatment. Not only do you have to be a great candidate for this treatment, but we go through an extensive consult and come up with your own personal protocol and treatment schedule to ensure the best result for you!
Neck Lines
I like to call this ‘tech neck’. Now that all of us are looking down at our phones all the time, we are making our neck lines worse at earlier ages. We can use fillers, tox and collagen boosters to get the best results in this area.
Hands
Crazy, right?
We show our most authentic age through our neck and hands. As we continue make our face look flawless, we cant forget that our hands age, too! This is one of Katie’s mom’s favorite treatments.
Jowls
Jowling is something we see as a result of our cheeks falling, lack of jawline and our mouth turning downward. Usually this is something we see in women who have gone through menopause and hormone changes later in life.
we can use fillers and collagen stimulants to help lift up, pull back and disguise jowls.
Ear lobes
Ear lobes lose volume as we age, too! When you notice earrings starting to fall and sag, sometimes we just need the smallest bit of filler to give them the support they need.