Bellafill

Dr. Haworth has over a decade of experience with Bellafill®. Not only does it provide INSTANT RESULTS but it continues to work overtime by stimulating your own natural COLLAGEN PRODUCTION. Indeed, it is the LONGEST LASTING filler.

What is a Filler?

As the name of the category suggests, fillers work by filling those areas in the face and body perceived as lacking volume. Unlike Botox® and Dysport® which work by weakening facial muscles responsible for wrinkles and folds and lasers which work by altering the skin’s actual structural and chemical makeup, fillers physically FILL CONCAVITIES and highlight CONVEXITIES. Admittedly, there is a bewildering array of fillers on the market today bombarding both patients and physicians alike with claims of being the latest and greatest. However, both Dr. Haworth and his team at Self-Centered Aesthetics™ like to keep it as simple as possible. He has instilled in his team that the true efficacy of any particular filler lies in the hand controlling the syringe and not what is in it. No matter how “silky”, “lifting”, “smoothing” or “beautiful” the new filler is advertised to be, the end result is mainly controlled by the beauty injector and less by the substance itself. We embrace every person as a UNIQUE patient needing a CUSTOMIZED approach to filler placement. We go the extra mile to vet what we believe to be the BEST filler solution for each patient’s individual cosmetic concern. What we don’t do is simply provide a non-curated list of fillers available on the market today. Basically, there are two types of fillers: temporary ones and those that are more permanent. Among the temporaries are Radiesse® (calcium hydroxlapatite) and the hyaluronic acid (HA) based gel which include Belotero® and those of Restylane® and Juvéderm®. The more permanent fillers available in the US include both fat (which is performed with a surgical procedure called fat transfer) and Bellafill®.

What is Bellafill?

Bellafill® is the new name of Artefill® in the US and Canada. Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, which often dissolve within a few months, Bellafill® creates a LONG-LASTING improvement in your skin. It is composed of microscopic polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microspheres suspended within a base of smooth collagen gel. Once injected, Bellafill® IMMEDIATELY reduces the look of wrinkles, folds and smile lines-in fact it improves the appearance of any area that is being treated right after it is placed. Over time, your body uses the microspheres to create a “scaffold” onto which your own collagen can develop. This collagen, in turn, forms a foundation that RESTORES VOLUME to wrinkles, folds and scars (if they are depressed, course) reducing their appearance. These NATURAL-LOOKING results feel soft and SMOOTH through 5 years and beyond. Among the many concerns that can be treated with Bellafill® are:

• DEEP LINES and FOLDS such as the “nasolabial folds, or “parenthesis line,” marionette folds, “smokers lines” for those vertical wrinkles, frown lines, etc.
• The horizontal “necklace lines” or visible grooves that run transversely across the neck.
• Facial atrophy such as HOLLOW, gaunt CHEEKS, TEMPLE concavities and “tear troughs” or dark UNDER-EYE circles.
• Facial beautification including cheek augmentation, jawline ENHANCEMENT as well as nasal shape and SYMMETRY improvement (“nonsurgical nose job”).
• Rejuvenating long, atrophic flaccid earlobes.
• SCARS including those caused by acne.
• Aging of the HAND including hollowing, visible tendons and veins.

In the largest and longest study on injectable fillers, Bellafill® outperformed in patient satisfaction, longevity, and safety. At the end of the study, 83% of patients were still satisfied with their results 5 years later. Dr. Haworth and his team at Self-Centered Aesthetics™ believe that Bellafill® can basically provide not just very long-lasting but almost permanent results! *Individual results may vary. Some concerns which can be successfully treated with Radiesse® are FDA off-label uses.

PREPARATION

Unlike other fillers on the market, Bellafill® does require a SKIN TEST to determine if you have an allergy to its collagen component. During your initial consult, a minute bleb of Bellafill® is injected within the skin of your forearm similar to a TB or PPD test. Generally 2 to 4 weeks will be allowed to pass to assess whether you develop an allergy to it or not. If no allergy is detected, your Bellafill® treatment can proceed. In the thousands of patients that Dr. Haworth has injected with Bellafill®, only one developed an allergy to the skin test. Bellafill® treatments involve injecting the substance with either a very small needle or a blunt flexible cannula to keep bruising to a minimum. To further lessen the chance of getting a bruise, it is recommended you abstain from medications and supplements that could thin the blood. Common examples of these are listed below. We can provide you with a printed more comprehensive list of medications, vitamins and nutritional supplements to avoid 7-10 prior to your treatment. Of course, consult your physician before discontinuing any medications or supplements you may have been prescribed.

SUPPLEMENTS AND MEDICATION

Stop # Days Prior to Procedure:

• Fish Oil — 10 Days
• Aspirin Products — 7 Days
• Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen, other NSAIDS — 5-7 Days
• Vitamin E — 7 Days

Additional Considerations

• Although many patients do not bruise from a treatment, if a bruise should occur, it may be visible for as long as 7-10 days. Consider this when selecting a date for your treatment.
• Use of homeopathics including BROMELAIN, ARNICA and PYCNOGENOL can reduce swelling, bruising and inflammation while accelerating healing.
• Avoid heavy use of alcohol 10 days prior to treatment to decrease the chances of bruising and/or swelling.
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not receive treatment.
• If you have a history of oral herpes, we recommend you pre-treat with an anti-viral three days before your scheduled visit.
• We may advise you to stagger other treatments, such as laser, IPL, microdermabrasion and peels to a different day.

THE VISIT

If you are a new client, expect to be here at least 30 minutes. We will review your medical history, go over the procedure, expectations and answer any questions you may have. During your first visit, you will only be administered a Bellafill® allergy skin test in your forearm which is almost painless-that is, of course, if you are not going to be receiving any other separate treatments. You will be scheduled for a follow-up appointment within 2 to 4 weeks and if your allergy test is negative, your first true Bellafill® treatment may take anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes depending on the number of areas to be treated. Our expert injector will examine the soft tissue of your face to assess the depth of wrinkles and folds to determine your treatment. We will take pre and post treatment photographs to document the improvement once the treatment is complete. Though not required, our expert injector may use topical or injectable numbing agents prior in order to ensure patient comfort during the treatment. Some report that being injected with feels like a pinch. Either a needle (which is associated generally with less discomfort) or a cannula (which is associated with less bruising) will be recommended. Bellafill® will be carefully guided under your skin to augment, or fill, wrinkles, folds and scars. Bellafill® adds volume and shape to the treated area. Following the injection, treated areas may be gently massaged after 24-48 hours unless instructed otherwise by one of our expert beauty injectors. The procedure may take anywhere from 15-60 minutes depending on the number of areas to be injected. Upon injection, the collagen gel in Bellafill® adds INSTANT VOLUME to your lines or acne scars. Over time, your own collagen and other tissue use the PMMA microspheres as self-propagating support for LONG-LASTING smoothness. Individual results will vary-lip enhancement is not recommended with Bellafill.

AFTERCARE

• Swelling, redness, and tenderness may occur after your treatment and usually resolves within 72 hours.
• Cold compresses may be used immediately after treatment to reduce swelling and any discomfort.
• Avoid touching the treated area within 6 hours of treatment so you do not accidentally injure your skin. After that, the area can be gently washed with soap and water. Do not massage the injected areas for 48 hours unless instructed to do so by one of our team members.
• Until redness or swelling subsides completely, avoid exposure of the treated area to intense heat (sun lamp or sun bathing) or extreme cold weather.
• If you have suffered previously from facial cold sores, there is a risk that the needle punctures could contribute to another occurrence. Ask your treatment provider about medications that may minimize a recurrence.
• Avoid taking aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, St. John’s wort, and high doses of Vitamin E supplements for 3 days after treatment. These agents may increase the risk of bruising and bleeding at the injection site.
• Avoid aesthetic lasers, microdermabrasion, or IPL over areas with Bellafill® injectable for a minimum of 6 weeks after treatment unless advised to buy one of our professionals.

Side Effects

After the treatment, some temporary injection-related reactions may occur, including redness, pain, firmness, swelling, itching, brushing, discoloration, lumps and bumps. These are usually mild to moderate in nature and clear up on their own in 7 days or less. If you experience swelling at the injection site, you can apply a cold compress for a short period of time. As with any skin injections, there is a very low risk of infection. Rarely, granulomas (small, accumulations of collagen) may be noticed within the areas treated with Bellafill®. These usually appear two weeks after treatment. Fortunately, these generally can be easily reversed with an injection of a dilute steroid based combination. One of the risks with using any filler is unintentional injection into a blood vessel, and while exceedingly rare, the complications can be serious and may be permanent. These complications can include vision abnormalities, blindness, stroke, temporary scabs, or permanent scarring.

Get Started

As with all successful beauty injections, Bellafill® is first and foremost a technique-sensitive treatment. Look for someone who is licensed and trained and has experience treating patients with these medications. Your cost not only includes the price of the product, but more importantly, the skill and expertise of the specialist injector. Be wary of discount products or “cheap” Bellafill®—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Our team of medical professionals will take the time to understand your treatment goals and develop a treatment plan that is right for you.