Bellafill® Cosmetic Dermal Filler – Alexandria, Virginia
Metro ENT is happy to introduce you to The 5 year filler!
Bellafill is a long-lasting injectable soft tissue filler. Bellafill was approved by the FDA in October 2006 for the treatment of nasolabial folds and has also been used off-label for lip augmentation, acne scars, and other wrinkles. It bears the distinction of being the only “permanent” soft tissue filler approved for use in the U.S. Just last September 2015 Suneva announced that Bellafill® is now the only FDA approved dermal filler with demonstrated safety and effectiveness through five years, following the completion of its five year post-approval study for nasolabial folds.
What Is Bellafill?
Bellafill is a hybrid gel filler consisting of millions of synthetic microspheres of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) which are suspended in purified bovine (cow) collagen. Bellafill also contains a local anesthetic. This takes the edge off by providing pain relief at the same time as the initial injection. Bellafill results appear almost immediately.
An allergy test is usually done about a month before treatment because of the bovine collagen in Bellafill. If you and your doctor decide on Bellafill, the procedure takes approximately 15 minutes to perform and is typically done in the doctor’s office. He or she injects the filler beneath your smile lines, plumping them up immediately.
Sometimes more than one treatment session is needed. In these cases, the Bellafill treatments are usually performed three to six weeks apart. There is virtually no downtime after Bellafill injections.
Bellafill vs. Other Soft Tissue Fillers
With other fillers such as Restylane or Juvederm, the ingredients are gradually re-absorbed by the body. By contrast, the microspheres in Bellafill are not absorbed by the body. This is why Bellafill lasts longer than other fillers on the market. The microspheres can only be removed surgically.
What’s more, the microspheres in Bellafill also stimulate your body to produce collagen, which is the main structural protein found in your skin. Our collagen supply dwindles with advancing age, often resulting in facial lines, folds and other signs of aging on the face.
Is Bellafill Right For You?
Bellafill is best if you already know that you like what a soft tissue filler can do for your face. Permanent is great if you are in love with the results, but not so great if you are not. Bellafill is best for smile lines; it is not recommended for areas with thinner skin such as crow’s feet around the eyes.
Not everyone is a candidate for Bellafill injections. Importantly, Bellafill has not been tested for safety in pregnant or breastfeeding women, or in women younger than 18. If you have any cysts, pimples, rashes, hives or infection near the injection site, treatment should be postponed.
In addition, tell your doctor if you are taking aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) because these agents may increase bruising or bleeding risks. Other factors that may affect your Bellafill candidacy include history of any other treatment for facial wrinkles in the last six months, UV light therapy to treat skin diseases, and/or use of immunosuppressive therapy. Your doctor should take a thorough medical history before deciding whether Bellafill is right for you.
Bellafill Risks
Bellafill side effects may include redness, swelling, lumpiness, pain or sensitivity at the injection site. Some people experience facial firmness after injection, but this usually resolves over time. Occasionally, there is some mild bruising which can last about three to seven days. Lumps and granulomas may occur with Bellafill as well as other soft tissue fillers.
For more information on Belafill please visit Bellafill.
For additional information, please call our office and ask to speak to one of our Medical Aestheticians.
