Injectables in Kennett Square, PA

What are fillers?

Dermal fillers are injectable substances used for aesthetic purposes. They plump up lines and hollows in your face and hands, giving you younger-looking, smoother skin. Some fillers also stimulate new collagen growth. Collagen is the protein that gives your skin elasticity and fullness, but the body makes less of it as you age, worsening lines and wrinkles.

Fillers often consist of natural materials like:

Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is a lubricant found in joints and tissues.

Calcium hydroxylapatite

This mineral is present in human bones and teeth. Fillers use a water-based calcium suspension that produces a gel-like fluid.

Synthetic dermal fillers like polylactic acid and polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres (PMMA) are also available. These offer semi-permanent results, while natural fillers typically last between nine months and several years.

What can fillers treat?

Dermal fillers fulfill a range of purposes, addressing common aesthetic problems like:

• Acne scars
• Cheek depressions
• Crow’s feet
• Nasolabial furrows (deep smile lines down the side of your nose)
• Frown lines
• Marionette lines at the mouth corners
• Thin lips
• Scarring
• Smoker’s lines (vertical mouth lines)
• Forehead lines

Dermal fillers can also help add definition to your cheekbones and jawline.

What happens when I have dermal filler injections?

Before you undergo any treatment, Dr. Geracimos discusses the procedure, products, risks, and benefits. It’s vital that you have realistic expectations of what you can achieve with fillers and that you’re in good emotional health before having any cosmetic procedure.

Dr. Geracimos will also check your general health and medical history and ensure there are no contraindications — issues that make having fillers inadvisable, like being pregnant or having an allergy to the filler ingredients.

When you’re ready for your procedure, Dr. Geracimos assesses your face and marks the areas requiring filler injections. She cleanses your skin to prevent infection and may numb the area with an anesthetic cream, a cold instrument that chills your skin, or a local anesthetic injection.

Filler injections usually take just a few moments. After injecting the filler, Dr. Geracimos massages the site to achieve the desired effect. You can also have Botox® injections alongside fillers (known as a liquid facelift).

How soon will I see results from filler injections?

You should see a difference immediately after your filler injections. However, some redness and swelling might disguise the effects for a day or two.

It takes longer for fillers that stimulate new collagen growth to take effect, as the cells need time to grow.

Botox

If you’re looking for a way to refresh your face and erase the evidence of aging and stress, Botox may be the solution for you. Different from facial fillers, Botox relaxes tense muscles that cause wrinkles and defined expression lines. When done by a board-certified dermatologist, Botox safely and effectively diminishes wrinkles and lines without leaving you “frozen-faced.”

Patients typically seek Botox to eliminate the appearance of forehead lines, crow’s feet, frown lines, neck bands, lines around the corners of the mouth, and under eye wrinkles.

How does it work?
Botulinum Toxin A, the scientific name for Botox, provides a buffer to neurotransmitters within the injected muscles, lessening the signal to contract. This releases wrinkles and folds around the injection sites.

The full effects of Botox can take 2-14 days to fully develop and can last up to 6 months.

Patients may resume all normal activities immediately after treatment. Common side effects, as with all injectable products, include swelling, bruising, bleeding, and itching at the injection site. Most side effects resolve themselves naturally within 24 hours.

For more information or to book an appointment, call our office today at (484) 459-8520.