I love coming here for eye care. Dr. Griffiths and staff are amazing. For 20+ years, her early detection, treatment, and gentle care have kept my vision perfect. The peaceful atmosphere is unmatched.
Ronald Beaudway
Dermal Fillers for Facial Rejuvenation
Areas We Treat with Fillers
Different fillers are suited to different facial concerns. During your consultation, our eye doctors will assess your unique anatomy and recommend the right product for each area of concern.
The mid-face is one of the most commonly treated areas because it tends to flatten and descend with age, making the whole face look tired. Juvéderm Voluma XC is specifically designed for deep injection in the cheek area to lift and contour. RADIESSE is also well-suited for cheek augmentation due to its firmer consistency and collagen-stimulating properties.
The tear trough is the groove that runs from the inner corner of the eye downward toward the cheek, and when it deepens, it creates a hollowed or shadowed look. Belotero Balance is often preferred in this delicate zone because of its softer, more pliable consistency, which blends naturally with thin under-eye skin.
Nasolabial folds are the lines that run from the sides of the nose down to the corners of the mouth. These deepen as the cheeks lose support and gravity takes effect. Fillers placed strategically in this area and the surrounding mid-face can soften these folds and restore a smoother facial contour.
The temples often become sunken with age, contributing to a gaunt or skeletal appearance. Restoring volume in the temples improves overall facial balance. Our eye doctors evaluate the full face when planning treatment so that corrections in one area complement the others and results look natural.
Determining If Dermal Fillers Are Right for You
Not every patient is an ideal candidate for filler, and some concerns are better addressed with other treatments. A thorough consultation helps us understand your goals and determine the safest, most effective approach.
During your consultation, our eye doctors examine the cheek position, depth of hollows and folds, skin quality, and how volume loss is affecting the area around your eyes. We consider your bone structure and facial proportions so that treatment restores balance rather than simply adding bulk. Understanding your individual aging pattern allows us to create a personalized plan that addresses your most important concerns.
Certain health conditions require us to take extra precautions or may make filler treatment inadvisable. We ask about your full medical history before moving forward with any injectable procedure.
- Active skin infection or inflammation in the treatment area
- History of severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis
- Bleeding disorders or clotting problems
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Tendency toward keloid or excessive scarring
Certain medications and supplements increase the likelihood of bruising and bleeding during injections. We typically recommend stopping aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E, fish oil, and ginkgo biloba for approximately one week before your appointment, if your prescribing doctor agrees it is safe to do so. Never stop a prescription medication without first consulting the doctor who prescribed it.
If you take blood thinners for a medical condition, we will work with you and your primary care provider to determine the safest path forward. In some cases, we can proceed while accepting a slightly higher risk of bruising.
Fillers work best for structural volume loss. If your primary concern is muscle-related wrinkles such as crow's feet or forehead lines, BOTOX Cosmetic or Xeomin may be more effective. Significant skin laxity may call for a different type of treatment entirely, and some patients benefit from a combination approach. Our eye doctors will walk you through all appropriate options so you can make an informed decision.
Patients with moderate volume loss and good skin elasticity typically respond very well to filler treatment. Those with more advanced aging, thinner skin, or significant sun damage may need more than one syringe or a series of sessions to reach their desired result.
- Moderate volume loss responds best to a single treatment session
- Severe deflation may require multiple syringes or follow-up visits
- Poor skin quality can limit how smooth the final result appears
- Conservative, goal-focused treatment leads to the most satisfying outcomes
What Happens During Your Filler Appointment
From your first consultation through the injection visit itself, we keep you informed and comfortable at every step. Knowing what to expect can help ease any anxiety and make the experience more pleasant.
Your first visit focuses on listening to your concerns and developing a customized treatment plan. We examine your facial structure, discuss how specific fillers can address your goals, and take photographs for comparison. This is the right time to ask questions about which product is recommended, what the procedure involves, and what realistic results look like for your situation.
On the day of your treatment, we thoroughly cleanse your skin to remove makeup, oil, and bacteria. Our eye doctors then mark precise injection points to guide accurate, symmetrical placement of the filler. Before photos are taken so we have a clear baseline for comparison at your follow-up visit.
We use very fine needles or blunt-tipped cannulas (thin, flexible tubes) to deposit small amounts of filler beneath the skin. You may feel a slight pinch or sensation of pressure as the product is injected. Most patients describe the discomfort as tolerable, comparable to a vaccination or blood draw.
Our eye doctors work methodically through each marked area, stepping back regularly to assess symmetry. Gentle massage helps distribute the filler evenly. The injection portion of the visit typically takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on the number of areas treated.
Juvéderm Voluma XC contains lidocaine, a local numbing agent, which helps reduce discomfort as the injection proceeds. We can also apply a topical numbing cream to your skin about 20 minutes before we begin. For patients who are particularly sensitive, we may use additional numbing techniques. We encourage you to tell us throughout the procedure if you need us to pause or adjust our approach.
Plan to spend approximately one hour at our office for a filler appointment. If topical numbing cream is being applied, add an extra 30 minutes to this estimate.
- Check-in and skin preparation take about 10 to 15 minutes
- Topical numbing, if used, requires an additional 20 to 30 minutes
- The injection procedure itself lasts 15 to 30 minutes
- Post-treatment review and instructions take about 10 minutes
- Most patients are able to drive themselves home immediately after
Aftercare, Recovery, and Monitoring Your Results
Following a few simple aftercare steps in the days after your treatment helps minimize side effects and supports the best possible outcome. We provide written instructions and are available to answer questions as you recover.
Swelling, redness, and tenderness at the injection sites are normal and expected after filler treatment. Small bumps may be noticeable where the product was placed, but these typically smooth out within a few days. Bruising is possible, particularly if you are naturally prone to it or were taking any supplements that affect clotting.
Most side effects resolve within one week without any specific treatment. The treated areas may feel firm initially but will soften as the filler integrates with surrounding tissue. Minor asymmetry right after injection often corrects itself once swelling subsides.
Applying ice packs for 10 minutes at a time during the first day helps reduce swelling and discomfort. Keep your head elevated, including while sleeping, for the first few nights. Staying well hydrated supports the hyaluronic acid in products like Juvéderm Voluma XC and Belotero Balance.
- Avoid touching or massaging treated areas unless specifically instructed to do so
- Sleep with your head elevated on extra pillows for the first two to three nights
- Apply ice packs intermittently during the first 24 hours
- Avoid wearing makeup for at least 12 hours after your injections
Strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, and activities that increase blood flow to the face should be avoided for 24 to 48 hours after treatment. Hot yoga, running, saunas, steam rooms, and very hot showers can worsen swelling and potentially affect how the filler settles. Most patients can return to their full normal routine after two days if swelling has improved.
You will see an immediate improvement after your injections, but your final result becomes clear once all swelling has resolved, which usually takes about two weeks. The filler continues to integrate with surrounding tissues during this time. Some patients notice delayed swelling that peaks a few days after treatment and then gradually subsides, which is a normal part of healing.
We schedule a follow-up visit approximately two weeks after your initial treatment to assess your results and check for symmetry. This appointment is also an opportunity to discuss whether any minor touch-up injections would improve your outcome. Planning ahead for future maintenance sessions helps you sustain the improvements you have achieved.
Serious complications from dermal fillers are rare but do occur. Contact us right away if you notice severe pain, skin that is turning white or a different color, or sudden changes in your vision. These may indicate vascular compromise, a condition in which filler has affected blood supply to surrounding tissue, and it requires urgent treatment.
Signs of infection, including increasing redness, warmth, pus, or fever developing several days after your procedure, also require prompt evaluation. If you experience difficulty breathing, widespread hives, or swelling of the lips and tongue, go to an emergency room immediately. Early intervention is critical for protecting both your health and your cosmetic result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to questions we hear often from patients considering dermal filler treatment. If your question is not covered here, we are happy to address it during your consultation.
The best filler depends on the specific area being treated, the depth of volume loss, and your skin quality. Juvéderm Voluma XC is typically used for deeper structural lift in the cheeks, RADIESSE works well in areas that benefit from both immediate volume and longer-term collagen stimulation, and Belotero Balance is suited for delicate zones like the under-eye area where a softer result is needed. Our eye doctors may recommend one product or a combination of products based on a full assessment of your face during your consultation visit.
Yes, both Juvéderm Voluma XC and Belotero Balance are made from hyaluronic acid and can be dissolved using an enzyme called hyaluronidase if needed. This can be done to address a complication or simply because you are unhappy with the result. Dissolution typically takes effect within 24 to 48 hours. RADIESSE, which is calcium-based, does not dissolve the same way, which is worth discussing before choosing that product for a first-time treatment.
Combining dermal fillers with BOTOX Cosmetic or Xeomin in a single visit is generally safe and is often a practical choice when multiple concerns need to be addressed. Fillers restore lost volume while neurotoxins like BOTOX relax the muscles responsible for expression-related wrinkles. Treating both in one session can produce a more balanced, harmonious result. Your eye doctor will advise whether combining treatments is appropriate for your specific situation.
Expect some visible swelling, possible bruising, and mild redness for the first several days. Results right after injection may look slightly asymmetric or overfilled, which is a normal part of the healing process and not necessarily a sign of how your final results will appear. Most patients feel comfortable returning to work or social activities within one to three days, though makeup coverage can help during that window. Scheduling your appointment at least two weeks before any major event gives swelling adequate time to fully resolve.
Maintenance treatments are needed because your body gradually breaks down the filler over time, but the interval between sessions may lengthen with repeated treatments. Some research suggests that regular filler use can stimulate your own collagen production, which may mean you need less product per session as the years go on. Most patients find that scheduling touch-up visits once or twice a year is enough to sustain the improvement they are looking for.
Schedule a Filler Consultation at NewView Eye Center
Our team at NewView Eye Center brings the same precision and care to cosmetic injectable treatments that we apply to every aspect of eye and facial health. We serve patients throughout Northern Virginia who are looking for personalized, expertly guided aesthetic care in a physician-led practice. If you are ready to explore what dermal fillers can do for you, we invite you to schedule a consultation so we can develop a plan that fits your goals and your face.
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