Collagen Fillers

* Actual Spa Lumina client

What are Collagen Fillers?

Most collagen fillers are made from NASHA gel (Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid). Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in your skin and other tissues. Hyaluronic acid plays an important role in giving volume to your skin, and thus contributing to it's youthful appearance.

Each of us has good natural lines that can be emphasized and improved. Collagen fillers can be used to give you a long-lasting and natural beauty lift - smoothing wrinkles and folds for a fuller, more sensuous form. Collagen fillers have been used in over 500,000 clients since 1996, and studies show that the vast majority are so pleased with their treatments, that they have more when the effect wears off. There is surprisingly minimal discomfort with the treatments.

Because the NASHA is produced by fermentation, there is no risk of transmitting diseases between species, or eliciting allergic reactions in clients who are sensitized to common foods, such as beef, chickens and eggs. They are acceptable to vegetarians. No skin testing is needed.

The sizes of the NASHA gel particles in collagen fillers are custom tailored to match the tissue structures in the skin being treated. Nutrients, oxygen and hormones pass freely between the gel particles, maintaining the health and vitality of your skin. Since the body has its own system for absorbing hyaluronic acid, it slowly disappears over time without a trace.

The injections may prick a little, but normally no anesthesia is needed for the treatment of wrinkles and folds. Most people report that the injections are relatively painless. Anesthetic cream may be applied to your skin if you wish for 20-30 minutes before treatment to reduce or prevent discomfort. To maximize your comfort and minimize the chance of bruising, Dr. Gandhi will only use 30 g needles (the smallest available) when performing collagen filler treatments. Some people find it helpful to take a couple of plain Tylenol and/or Advil an hour or two before treatment to reduce discomfort.

After the treatment some common injection-related reactions may occur, such as swelling, redness, pain, itching, discolouration, and tenderness at the injection site. These typically resolve spontaneously within one or two days after the injection. Other types of reactions are very rare, but about 1 in 2000 treated clients have experienced localized allergic like reactions. These reactions started about two to four weeks after the injection and last as long as two weeks.

* Actual Spa Lumina client

What is the difference between Collagen fillers and BOTOX^®?

BOTOX^® relaxes the muscles which cause many facial lines and unwanted facial expressions. Collagen fillers fill in the creases, gaps and scars to remove defects in the skin. Sometimes BOTOX^® is used in combination with collagen fillers when treating certain areas where permanent deep lines have resulted from overactivity of the muscles, for example some frown lines on the lower forehead or wrinkles around the lips.

Common uses for collagen fillers include:

• Correcting folds and wrinkles of the face
• Acne scars
• Nasolabial folds (between your nose, mouth and cheeks)
• Horizontal (upper forehead) frown lines
• Glabellar (lower forehead) frown lines
• Chin augmentation
• Depressed corners of the mouth, also known as marionette lines
• Lip enhancement, including treatment of the edges of the lips and wrinkles around the lips to stop lipstick from leaking from your lips onto the surrounding skin

Schedule a free consultation at Spa Lumina, to discuss any of these procedures in further detail.

Financing available through Medicard.