Dermal Fillers

In our experts' hands, dermal fillers reduce superficial wrinkles, fill forehead creases and marionette lines around the mouth, ease smile lines, and restore lips' natural outline and fullness. As opposed to surgery, results are temporary and reversible; over time, our filler products break down and are re-absorbed naturally back into the body.

Key areas

Smile lines (aka laugh lines / nasolabial folds), cheeks, marionette lines, lips, jaw line and nose. However, all patient's are unique... our MD Codes™ approach is to listen carefully and expertly fulfill patient's desires to create a personal solution for natural and subtle results.

Length treatment will last

Treatment (Hyaluronic Acid) will typically last six months to one year.*

What is it?

Dermal fillers are a simple and quick way to refresh your appearance by restoring lost volume and filling in wrinkles and folds, especially those caused by the aging process.

Dermal fillers are used  to smooth the lines and creases on our faces, and “fill” areas of tissue loss that often occurs with aging. They can also fill deep scars to improve the contour of your face and even fill out your cheeks.

There are four types of dermal fillers:

1. Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural compound occurring in the human body that helps skin stay plump and elastic. It is a major component of skin tissue that maintains local moisture content, and has an amazing ability to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. In fact, it can even stimulate collagen production. Think of HA as our skin’s own natural and internal moisturizer.

Hyaluronic acid is plentiful in our bodies when we are born but its levels gradually decrease over time. The drop in HA, as well as changes in other important components of the skin, starts at around the age of 18 to 20 years and by the age of 40, signs of aging start to show – skin starts to lose its elasticity and volume as lines and wrinkles appear.

Injectable HA gel is a modified form of the HA that occurs naturally in your body. Injection of new HA into the skin replaces the body’s lost HA and creates the volume needed to smooth away facial lines, acne scars, or other skin contour deficiencies for six to 12 months. HA products include Juvéderm™ and Restylane^®. Juvéderm™ is one of the only HA filler that has been shown to last up to 12 months, while Restylane® has been shown to last up to six months. The benefit of HA fillers over other fillers is that they are biodegradable (i.e., they deplete over time and do not stay in your body) and reversible.

2. Collagen

Collagen is a protein chemical substance that is the main support of skin, giving it underlying strength. As you age, it’s normal for your skin’s natural collagen to become depleted. Collagen replacement therapy adds support to your skin’s natural collagen to restore its resilience and strength and recapture its youthful appearance. This treatment swiftly erases lines, softens scarring, and adds back lip definition or fullness. By supporting the skin’s natural collagen, collagen fillers help minimize lines and scars, improve texture, and give the skin a softer and more even tone.

Many collagens are derived from animal sources; therefore, depending on which collagen product is being used, a skin test may be required to ensure there is no allergic reaction.

Well known collagen products include Zyderm®, Zyplast®, CosmoDerm®, CosmoPlast®, and Evolence®.

3. Semi-permanent Biodegradable

This class of dermal fillers works by becoming incorporated into tissue and not breaking down, thus providing fullness and volume over a longer period of time.

Calcium hydroxylapatite (e.g., Radiesse®) is a form of calcium found in a gel format and injected into the skin. It contains similar material to bones, which are found naturally in the body. The gel is gradually absorbed, leaving the beads in place to create volume. Poly-L-lactic acid (e.g., Sculptra™) is a synthetic polymer that is biodegradable and also stimulates the production of collagen. It requires multiple procedures and in studies it can last up to two years. Radiesse® and Sculptra™ both require an injection of lidocaine, as they are more painful procedures.

It’s important to note that these fillers are not reversible if you do not like the results. These types of fillers should not be injected into the lips as there is an unacceptably high rate of complications.

4. Permanent Non-biodegradable

Similar to semi-permanent fillers, this class of dermal fillers provides long-lasting results (more than two years) by becoming incorporated into tissue and by not breaking down.

Some fillers, such as Sculptra™, can take weeks or even months before you see an improvement, since they rely on your own body’s collagen formation, which is a very slow process.

Combination fillers use established fillers as “carriers” for acrylic particles that will remain in the skin after the established filler is absorbed. Artecoll® is the only product currently available in Canada and is made of acrylic particles (25%) suspended in collagen (75%). After the body absorbs the temporary collagen or hyaluronic acid, the acrylic particles remain in place, resulting in long-lasting improvement of wrinkles or lines.

You should be aware that any permanent treatment cannot be reversed and may lead to a less natural-looking appearance over time. Only your physician can recommend the filler that is right for you based on your needs, expectations, and the trade-offs associated with each product.

What product(s) do we use?

At Lakeshore Vein & Aesthetics Clinic we tend to favour Allergan's Juvéderm™ and, to a lesser extent, Clarion's Teosyal products. These, we've found, result in a natural look and typically last up to one year. Juvederm's comprehensive suite of HA fillers includes: Volbella, Volift, Voluma and Volite (new to Canada in Sep 2018).

Juvederm Alternatives

Emervel®, a similar product to Allergan's Juvéderm®, is a range of soft injectable gels made of hyaluronic acid (HA), a substance naturally found in the body that attracts and binds water molecules to add volume. Emervel has been approved and used in Europe since 2011, so it has an established safety record and is proven to reduce the visible signs of aging. Emervel is produced by Galderma (who also produces Restylane®, Dysport®, Emervel® and Sculptra®).

Although we don't use them as frequently, other brands of tissue fillers include Collagen®, Perlane®, Evolence®, Scultura®, Restylane® and Radiesse®.

A common and successful combination treatment is called Soft Lift, which uses both injectables Botox Cosmetic® and the dermal filler Juvéderm™ – both made by Allergan. When performed by skilled doctors or nurse injectors, the results may be termed medical art!

At Lakeshore Vein & Aesthetics Clinic, we choose the right injectable product for you and your optimal outcomes.

Enjoy a free consult to discuss your needs: call or text 250 860 9919 to book. (Alternatively, ask us for more information.)

Book Now!

Lip Enhancement & Restoration

Many clients in search of full, luscious lips consider the use of tissue fillers as a way to achieve that full, exotic pucker they had in their youth. Others are looking to achieve a look they've never had but have always dreamed of... a look popularized by prominent actresses including Angelina Jolie and Julia Roberts.

Replenishing Cheeks, Chins & Jowls

Adding volume back to your face is a revitalizing option to return what has diminished over time. Juvéderm™ VOLUMA™, for instance, is a smooth gel dermal filler specifically formulated to restore age-related volume loss in the mid-face, particularly the cheeks, cheekbones and around the chin. It contains hyaluronic acid (aka HA – a naturally occurring sugar found in the body), and is precisely injected with a very fine-gauge needle; results can last up to 18 months. Allergan's Juvéderm® VOLIFT® with lidocaine is a versatile treatment option for patients who are looking for a discreet, natural look with minimal swelling and long-lasting results. Alternatively, Sculptura is technically not a tissue filler but a natural collagen stimulus that replenishes hollow cheeks. An experienced physician or nurse specialist – after discussing your needs – will determine the right treatment for the optimum results.

Hand Anti-aging Therapy: restore the back of your hands!

Do your hands give away your age? Often the first step of cosmetic attention is the face, but one of the most age-telling body features is the back of our hands. As we age, our hands lose firmness and plumpness and begin to look bony and fragile….with vein and joint protrusion, thin crepey skin texture and often they’ve become flecked with brown spots from sun exposure. Treatment for aging hands can take back years off of your skin's apparent age. Radiesse (or other dermal fillers) can be expertly injected – with immediate results to restore the lost volume that occurs naturally as we age. Because Radiesse provides a scaffolding for collagen-building, the body’s own collagen interweaving into this structure keeps the skin feeling softly natural and smooth. In addition, an experienced cosmetic physician can combine a dermal filler with IPL treatment (for reducing the brown spots) or EVLT (for varicose vein treatment) for an expert anti-aging therapy customized for you.

Lakeshore Vein & Aesthetics Clinic is an MD Codes™ Allergan Certified Clinic, and part of the Botox Cosmetic Physician's Network and is one of the top BOTOX / Soft Lift clinics in Canada: a Platinum Plus Clinic (as deemed by Allergan, the manufacturer of Botox) staffed by highly experienced physicians and nurse injectors.

This is not just tooting our horn – it translates to being involved with medical research, industry conferences, expert panels, advanced training by Allergan and access to medical resources to which many physicians simply don't have easy access. Simply put, you get the best.

Consider dermal fillers for an effective anti-aging solution to wrinkles and volume loss. Consult an expert at Lakeshore Vein & Aesthetics Clinic for tissue fillers.

More on MD Codes, Doctor Bentley and the team's advanced anti-aging injector credentials...

Pre-Treatment

Before the procedure, your physician will evaluate your skin type and discuss your medical history. They can answer your questions and discuss your goals for the treatment. Consider using Allergan's Before and After Visualizer App (iPhone & Android) to create your own customized images and bring it to your consultation.

In the case of collagen, you may need to have a skin test one month before treatment to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction. Once the test demonstrates that you aren’t allergic, you’re free to proceed with your treatment. To get the best results possible, your experienced physician should understand the unique features of your face to ensure you get a tailored treatment program that is right for you.

Depending on your particular needs, your physician may recommend using a combination treatment, such as Botox Cosmetic® and a filler (aka a Soft Lift).

During Treatment

Depending on the area treated, there may be some discomfort. You may feel an initial sting but only for a moment. Your physician may use a local anaesthetic to numb the area for increased comfort. Depending on your treatment program, your physician might use a dental anaesthetic or topical anaesthetic similar to what’s used when you get a filling.

Hyaluronic acid and collagen treatments usually can be carried out in 15 to 30 minutes. The filler is injected into the skin with a very thin needle and as it enters the wrinkle or scar, it smoothes the area and gives natural volume to the fold or groove. Several injections may be needed, depending on the size of the area being treated.

Post-Treatment

After treatment with dermal fillers, results can be seen immediately; the lines on your face should appear minimized and smoothed out. If your treatment plan included lip enhancement, you’ll notice that your lips appear fuller and more defined. If your plan included adding volume to your cheeks, you will notice that your cheeks look more youthful and your face looks more fresh.

Immediately after treatment it’s perfectly normal to experience some minor and temporary effects like:

• stinging
• discolouration
• bruising
• mild to moderate redness
• swelling

Typically, these responses are temporary and, if they do occur, will usually go away within a couple of days. It’s also normal to experience temporary puffiness of the treated areas.

If any of these symptoms last more than a day or two, be sure to tell your physician. There’s a small risk of sensitivity to the filler. If you have a history of cold sores, you may experience an outbreak of cold sores after treatment. This can be minimized by the use of antiviral medicines before treatment.

To avoid other potential side effects, such as bacterial infection and lumps forming under the skin, make sure you have an experienced and knowledgeable physician.

If you have any concerns or questions, please contact the clinic immediately.

An individual consultation defines a patient's most effective treatment. Expected results are discussed and realistic treatments are established to suit your skin type and condition. Cost and duration of treatment is determined during your personal consultation where customized packages are created for each patient. It all depends on your needs and expectations: we provide expert recommendations – and you choose the right treatment for you.

A patient's optimal outcomes are typically based on regular followup treatments every five to ten months, and these are often at a lower cost since "maintenance" usually requires less injectable product than the initial treatment.

Price range and number of treatments can vary greatly with each patient – again, a personal consultation is required.

• Average treatment cost: $600 to $800 upwards (Hyaluronic Acid) for smile lines, depending on depth of lines and area covered.  Treatment (Hyaluronic Acid) will typically last six months to one year.

Taxes not included.

BRILLIANT DISTINCTIONS™ Programs

Lakeshore Vein & Aesthetics Clinic welcomes BRILLIANT DISTINCTIONS™ members. 

Brilliant Distinctions is a loyalty program where members can earn points on select Allergan products: Botox Cosmetic, Juvederm, Belkyra and Latisse. Offered exclusively to residents of Canada. Please see brilliantdistinctions.ca for more information, or contact us. Bottom line: great value and exclusive benefits.

Feel years younger: let us help you meet your needs with Medical Excellence and Beautiful Results: call us to book a consult.