Dermal Fillers in Richmond, BC

Most people find fillers well tolerated. Numbing cream is applied beforehand, and many hyaluronic acid fillers also contain lidocaine, a local anaesthetic, so discomfort tends to ease as the treatment goes on. You may feel pressure or a brief sting, and areas such as the lips are usually more sensitive than the cheeks or chin. Tell your physician if you are anxious about pain so the plan can allow for it.

Results typically last about 9 to 18 months, depending on the product, the area and your metabolism. Softer gels in mobile areas such as the lips tend to fade sooner than firmer gels in the cheeks or chin, so many people return for maintenance at some point in that window rather than on a fixed schedule. Your physician reviews how the filler has settled and advises when, or whether, a top-up makes sense.

Common areas are the cheeks and midface, lips, chin and jawline, under-eyes (tear troughs), temples, nasolabial folds and marionette lines, and fine lines. Each area uses a gel with a different firmness and is placed at a different depth, so your physician chooses the product and technique area by area after assessing your face.

You see a change straight away, but the area usually looks a little fuller at first because of swelling. Swelling and any bruising typically settle over several days, and the result is usually judged at about 2 weeks, once the gel has integrated. Lips and under-eyes can stay swollen a little longer than the cheeks or chin. Plan treatment at least 2 weeks before an important event.

Natural-looking enhancement is the goal. Your physician plans for proportion and facial balance, often supporting the midface or chin before treating individual lines, and uses conservative amounts that can be added to at a review. The aim is to look refreshed rather than "done".

The practical downsides are that fillers are temporary, so results need maintenance, and that swelling, tenderness and bruising are common for a few days. Small lumps can occur and often soften with time or adjustment. Over-treatment can look unnatural, and filler does not tighten loose skin. The serious but rare risk is filler blocking a blood vessel, which needs urgent treatment; hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with hyaluronidase. Fillers are not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, over active infection, or with a known allergy to hyaluronic acid or lidocaine.

The cost depends mainly on how much filler is needed (often counted in syringes), which product suits each area, how many areas are treated and whether the plan is staged over more than one visit. Because those choices depend on your anatomy and goals, a quote is given after a physician assesses your face at RAAC in Richmond, before any treatment. A plan that treats the cause of the concern, for example midface support rather than filling every line, can change how much product is needed.

Yes. Hyaluronic acid (HA) filler can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase if the result needs adjusting or in the rare case of a blocked blood vessel. Your physician advises whether dissolving is appropriate. This reversibility is one reason HA is a common choice for first-time filler treatment.

There is no single right filler for mature skin; the choice depends on what has changed. Where volume has been lost, physicians often support the cheeks and temples first with a firmer hyaluronic acid gel or a collagen-stimulating injectable such as Radiesse or Sculptra, then use softer gels or skin boosters for fine lines and crepey texture. Filler does not tighten loose skin, so energy-based skin tightening may be discussed alongside it. Your physician explains the options after an assessment.

Avoid touching or massaging the treated area for 24 hours, skip makeup for the first 24–48 hours, and avoid saunas, hot baths and strenuous exercise for 48 hours. Avoid alcohol and excessive sun or heat in the first day or two, and avoid dental work for 2 weeks. Contact your doctor promptly if you notice severe pain, skin whitening or colour change, or vision changes.

Check things you can verify rather than titles: a medical assessment of your face before anything is injected, the product name and amount shown to you and recorded, a clear plan for what happens if a complication occurs, written aftercare and a follow-up check. RAAC is a physician-led clinic at 5580 No. 3 Road in Richmond, about a 3-minute walk from Lansdowne Station on the Canada Line, a direct trip from downtown Vancouver. Consultations are available in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

They address different concerns. Fillers restore volume and contour, such as hollow cheeks or a flat chin, while anti-wrinkle injections relax the muscles that cause expression lines, such as frown lines. Many people benefit from a combination, and your physician recommends what suits your concern after an assessment.