Juvederm® Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers can help fill hollows and soften fine lines and wrinkles on the face, lips, jawline, and chest. At our Anchorage medical spa, we offer the Juvederm® collection of fillers to help people from Wasilla, Palmer, and other Mat-Su Valley communities instantly address concerns like smile lines, marionette lines, neck bands, sagging cheeks, volume loss due to aging, and much more.

Choosing a Medical Spa

Aesthetic nurses, or nurse injectors, administer injectables such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and cosmetic fillers to their patients; however, there must be oversight by a medical director for consultation or in the event of an emergency.  Medical directors develop policies and procedures in compliance with state regulations, and with patient safety above all.  Ideally, the medical director should be a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist, as they have a background in aesthetic medicine and can properly supervise injectable procedures and treatments. 

Plastic Surgeons of Alaska is the only medical spa in Anchorage, Mat-Su Valley, and the Kenai Peninsula with board-certified plastic surgeons on staff.

To schedule an appointment, please call (907) 563-2002 today.

How Do Dermal Fillers Work?

Juvederm® dermal fillers are made from hyaluronic acid (HA) and are injected into the upper layers of skin tissue to fill and soften wrinkles around the mouth, lift and fill cheeks, plump and fill lips, and even fill in areas where volume is needed, like the chin and backs of hands.

Using a fine needle or cannula, your provider injects filler into the areas where volume is needed. Using their training and experience, our plastic surgeons use dermal fillers to reverse the signs of aging, softening and improving skin’s appearance to help you look your best. The results are natural looking, and last 6 to 12 months, depending on the area treated.

What Are Hyaluronic Acid Fillers?

Hyaluronic acid, a substance found in all living organisms, is a key ingredient in injectable fillers used to correct fine lines and wrinkles in the skin. It is one of the components of the skin that gives fullness to the tissues. Hyaluronic acid is identical to human HA but is formed in the laboratory: it does not come from animals or humans so allergic reactions are rare and test dosing is not needed. Hyaluronic acid is approved by the FDA and has been used since 1996 worldwide. It is completely reabsorbed by the body and as such, the results of the injection cannot be considered to be permanent. The effects usually last about 6 months.

Hyaluronic acid injections produce results similar to collagen injections but last about twice as long and have fewer allergic reactions. It works differently than BOTOX® Cosmetic (which weakens muscle activity) but may be used in conjunction with BOTOX® to treat stubborn areas.

Lip Fillers

Lip injections are a popular treatment option for adults of all ages who want more beautiful lips.

Which filler is best for lips?

We use a few different Juvederm® fillers for lip injections, including:

• Juvederm® Volbella (formulated specifically for the lips)
• Juvederm® Ultra
• Juvederm® Ultra Plus

What are lip fillers used for?

Lip fillers can enhance the lips in a variety of ways, including:

• Adding fullness to naturally thin lips
• Plumping up lips that have thinned and flattened with age
• Defining lip borders to prevent lipstick bleed
• Balancing the proportion of the top and bottom lips

Results from lip injections are instant and last about 12 months. Expect minor redness and swelling for the first few days.

What Are the Risks Associated with Dermal Fillers?

As with any medical treatment, there are associated risks. These include but are not limited to the following.

• Injection-associated risks of discomfort, redness, swelling, infection, bruising, bleeding at the site, itching, and tenderness may occur. Although these effects usually are gone in a few hours, they may last a couple of days and possibly up to a week. Swelling may be treated by applying ice.
• Visible lumps may occur following the injection. Rarely these may form little pustules that require additional treatment.
• Uneven settling of hyaluronic acid may require additional injections to achieve the desired effect.
• Multiple initial injections may be required to fill deeper wrinkles and folds.
• Repeat injections will be needed to achieve long-term correction due to the complete reabsorption of hyaluronic acid.
• Depending on the area(s) and volumes of treatment, a local anesthetic may be required to provide comfort during the injection. Allergic reactions to the local medication can occur.

As with any cosmetic procedure, there is no guarantee that you will be satisfied with the results of the treatment. There is no guarantee that wrinkles and folds will be treated effectively with only one injection: multiple injections may be required to achieve the desired result. Even the best results are only temporary and repeat injections may be required as early as every 6 months.

Dermal Filler Alternatives

Alternatives to dermal filler injections include:

• No treatment
• Collagen injections
• Reinjection of your own body fat following removal by liposuction (in special cases)

Costs of treatment complications may not be covered by your medical insurance.

Schedule a Consultation

Call us at (907) 563-2002 to schedule an appointment or request a consultation at our practice using the online form.