Do you ever want something without knowing what it is? In my experience speaking to patients, I’ve learned that oftentimes folks don’t really know what procedure they’re interested in having. Our conversations would go a little like:
Me: What procedure are you interested in?
Patient: All of them! Whatever you’ve got.
Me: Is there a particular area you’d like to focus on?
Patient: Mmm, I’m not sure… I want to look younger, like myself a few years ago. I’ve been noticing changes to my appearance but I can’t quite put my finger on what exactly is changing.
With the abundance of cosmetic treatments offered, it makes sense that patients are left unsure of what exactly will give them the best result. This is part of the reason we have consultations. It allows us to give you the chance to voice your concerns and for us come up with a suitable treatment plan.
Today, we’ll look at our beautiful patient coordinator Michelle, and how Dr. Goyal was able to tailor a custom plan to achieve great results.
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You’ve Got a Friend in Filler
Michelle came into her appointment wanting to focus on her face. Dermal filler is an incredibly versatile treatment that allows practitioners to accomplish a host of results when it comes to our faces.
Most fillers involve a hyaluronic acid base which may be crosslinked to other molecules depending on the use of the filler. If the intention is volume, like in lip filler, then certain bonds are desired. If the intention is structure, like in jaw and cheek filler, then a different linkage comes into play.
The Treatment Game Plan
After conducting an assessment and listening to Michelle’s goals, Dr. Goyal developed a game plan.
The team players? 5 syringes of filler.
Now this may sound excessive. 5 whole needles filled to the brim with Hyaluronic Acid?! I don’t want to look like a completely different person!
Bear in mind that each syringe is only a teaspoon of product, some of which is lost during the transfer process (when your body dissolves and shapes itself around the foreign molecules). Plus, in Michelle’s case, the filler was going to be distributed across her whole face.
Et Tu Botox?
We sing the praises of this little guy so frequently, you might be wondering why a neuromodulator like Botox wasn’t considered for Michelle?
Everybody is different, and each person’s goals will vary. Michelle didn’t have many deep wrinkles or fine lines. Her concerns didn’t have much to do with muscle activity–which is the target of Botox.
Michelle was more interested in the natural loss of volume and skin elasticity that comes with the aging process. The perfect concern to be tackled by filler. This is why the consultation process is so valuable. In fact, some patients come in thinking they want a certain procedure, but they learn that another intervention will better address their concern.
Positioning the Injections
The placement of the product is key to a good outcome. Dr. Goyal targets Michelle’s temples, her cheekbones, her mid-face, and her brow region. This technique addresses the hollowness in key areas around the face, particularly near the brows. Placement of filler in this region is advantageous because it has a universal lifting effect. The problem is, not many practitioners are trained in this challenging technique, so they often don’t employ it.
Along with filling up the hollow spots, so to speak, the filler works to support Michelle’s face, essentially creating a scaffolding for her tissue. She is left with a rounder, youthful forehead (even though no Botox was enlisted), and a softer chin (even though that area wasn’t directly targeted). She’s beautiful both before and after—the difference is some major skin goals achieved and a warm touch of radiant confidence.
So there you have it. You can look fantastic and totally natural with a 5-syringe treatment, all thanks to an individualized care plan, a well trained practitioner, and some handy dandy HA.
Got questions?
We’re here for you.
