Dermal Fillers, Sculptra, Juvederm, Restylane

"I've been to other salons to have stuff done, and it feels overdone. I like the natural results I get every time here at Halo." —Tracy S., Glenview

Tracy has been coming to Halo medical spa since we opened in 2014. She likes the "more medical feel rather than the aesthetic fluff feel," she says. More importantly, she loves the results she's seen. "I've been to other salons to have stuff done, and it feels overdone. I like the natural results I get every time here at Halo."

The results Tracy is seeing are the product of initial conversations and ongoing planning with Dr. B that included Sculptra, Liquid Face Lift treatments and Halo Laser. Sculptra and Liquid Face Lift help you look younger by restoring volume to your face using naturally occurring hyaluronic acids or other natural substances, while the laser treatments address a number of skin discolorations and sun damage.

"I feel like Halo is a step ahead of other places," Tracy says of the combination approach to treatment. "They have a lot more options than just one product. They're really innovative at combining things."

The real test of any anti-aging treatment is: Does it work? Tracy can clearly track her results because of the extensive before and after photos we took. This gives her baseline data so she can clearly see the changes over time. It also gives the doctor the ability to continuously review and refine her custom plan. This goes back to our primary goal: optimum results with minimal treatment. "This is important because the results are subtle over time," Tracy says. "You don't remember what it was like in the beginning."

In Tracy's case, the laser treatments have cleared up years of sun damage, and the Sculptra and Liquid Face Lift have made the lines, or folds, by her nose much less prominent. (Read the full story on Tracy's experience with Halo.)

Look Younger with Face Fillers

During treatment, the filler gel is delivered under the skin to provide a smooth, natural look and feel. Results vary by patient by can last for up to 12 months or longer. Fillers are truly an instant way to redefine your natural beauty. Using a dermal filler our skilled physicians can contour cheeks, smooth wrinkles and in many cases, simulate the effects of cosmetic surgery without going “under the knife” and without the need for downtime, risks or costs associated with an involved surgical procedure.

One of our clients, who asked that we not use her name, did a dermal filler and PRP Facelift combination. She is thrilled with how much younger she looks and says the combo treatment made her skin plumper and more youthful-looking right on the same day.

After looking at old pictures during her recent move, she could clearly see the difference in herself. She firmly believes she looks 10 years younger. “When I look in the mirror in the morning, I feel like the best version of myself,” she says. “The outside now matches how I feel on the inside, energized and eager to serve and to take on life’s challenges with confidence.” Read her complete story.

We use the following dermal fillers:

Juvederm® XC Dermal Filler

Juvéderm injectable gel is a “next-generation” dermal filler. The smooth consistency gel helps to instantly restore your skin’s volume and smooth away facial wrinkles and folds, like your “smile lines” and nasolabial folds—the creases that run from the bottom of your nose to the corners of your mouth). Juvéderm is also made of hyaluronic acid—a naturally occurring substance in your skin that helps to add volume and hydration.

Juvederm XC is a dermal filler containing lidocaine. This new formulation of Juvederm can provide a numbing effect just seconds after injection which makes for a more comfortable treatment. Juvéderm and Juvederm XC can last 6-12 months.

Radiesse® Dermal Filler

With Radiesse wrinkle filler, you welcome back your own natural collagen to smooth out the signs of aging. That’s because Radiesse wrinkle filler’s unique formulation stimulates collagenesis – the production of new collagen – which results in an increased volume for natural looking wrinkles.

Restylane® Dermal Filler

Today, many people are showing increasing interest in correcting wrinkles and folds, shaping facial contours and augmenting the lips. With Restylane, you receive a complete solution for tissue-tailored facial augmentation – a natural beauty lift using the body’s own material. The most popular areas to be filled with Restylane are: lips, naso-labial folds, “marionette lines,” and under eyes.

Restylane-L (which contains lidocaine for maximum comfort) is a crystal-clear, non-animal, biodegradable gel based on the natural substance, hyaluronic acid. The gel is injected into the skin in tiny amounts with a very fine needle. The result is instantaneous and produces a long-lasting, natural enhancement, gentle and safe to your skin. Results last up to 6-12 months.

Sculptra®

Sculptra Aesthetic stimulates your skin’s natural collagen production to increase overall facial volume. Unlike the hyaluronic acid-based treatments, Sculptra is poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) based. It works deep within the skin to stimulate collagen production. This treatment works subtly over time and can produce results that last for more than two years. In a major clinical study, patients were still showing improvement 25 months after their last injection.

Volbella®

Volbella^® is an injectable filler based on hyaluronic acid (HA) that provides a desirable improvement in the lip contour, boosting volume, smoothing vertical creases (smoker’s lines), and achieving symmetry – all in a single comfortable treatment.

Volbella is ideal for smoother, softer consistency that mimics the natural feel of your lips for a longer time.

Juvederm FAQs

What is Juvederm?

At Halo, we use a family of Juvederm products: Voluma XC, Juvederm XC and Ultra XC. These are a type of injectable dermal filler that add volume back to the skin. They are made from hyaluronic acid, which is a natural substance in the skin that helps it stay hydrated, soft and firm. The uses of each include:

Voluma XC: This product focuses on the cheek area, giving volume and lift specifically to the cheeks.
Juvederm XC: This treatment focuses on moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. It’s a common treatment of the “smile lines” or “parentheses lines” around the nose and mouth.
Ultra XC: This injectable gel temporarily adds volume and fullness to the lips. It can also work on moderate to severe parentheses lines.

At Halo, we specifically use Juvederm for treatments like ear lobe filler, fuller lips, liquid face lifts and wrinkle filler.

What is it Like to Get a Juvederm Treatment?

You’ll start with a consultation to go over any areas of concern and a facial analysis. Times can vary for how long treatments take based on what you are having treated. The injections can take from about 15 minutes to 60 minutes.

What are the Results?

Results happen immediately and may last from one to two years. Results do vary based on which product you are using:

Voluma XC: Results last up to two years.
Juvederm XC: Results last up to one year.
Ultra XC: Results last up to one year.

What Does Juvederm Feel Like?

The XC line of Juvederm injections have lidocaine added to help reduce any pain associated with the procedure. Topical numbing cream and ice are also common ways to reduce the pain of the actual injections.

Does Juvederm Have Side Effects?

Side Effects can vary based on which products you are getting.
With Voluma XC, the most common reactions included swelling, tenderness, firmness, lumps, bruising, pain, redness, discoloration and itching at the injection site. Side effects are usually moderate and last 2 to 4 weeks.

Juvederm XC has similar injection site symptoms for possible side effects, but they are mild to moderate and tend to last less than 7 days. Ultra XC comes with some possible side effects of tenderness, swelling, firmness, bruising or bumps at the injection site. They tend to be mild to moderate and last 14 days or less.

Your Halo team member can discuss these and other possible side effects and address any concerns you may have with them.

Radiesse FAQs

What Does Radiesse Do?

Radiesse is a type of injected dermal filler that adds volume to the skin to help smooth moderate to severe wrinkles and folds. It can be used to treat smile lines, marionette lines, corners of the mouth, pre-jowl folds and chin wrinkles.

What is Radiesse?

Radiesse is made of calcium-based microspheres that are similar to minerals found in the body, which are suspended in a water-based gel. Allergy testing is actually not required because the microspheres are so similar to what is found in the body.

Over time, the body will absorb the gel and those microspheres. What’s left behind is natural collagen because the injections stimulate the body to produce natural collagen. This leads to longer-lasting results than some other dermal fillers.

How Does a Radiesse Treatment Work?

The injection is a fast procedure. Many patients simply do it over their lunch hour and are right back to work. It can also be given with an anesthetic so that it’s a more comfortable experience.

What Are the Results of a Radiesse Treatment?

You’ll notice the results right upon injection. The filler itself restores volume to smooth out lines and wrinkles. Results can last up to a year or more in many cases.

Does Radiesse Have Side Effects?

The most common side effects include bruising, swelling, redness, pain, tenderness and itching. They tend to be mild and last for a short time. Other side effects are possible.

Although allergy testing is not required for the microspheres themselves, people with a history of severe allergies are not recommended for the procedure. Your Halo team member will be able to discuss possible side effects with you and address your concerns.

Restylane FAQs

What is Restylane?

Restylane comes in a variety of different products, all used to treat fine lines and wrinkles on the face. At Halo, we also use it for larger, fuller lip treatments, liquid face lifts and dark under eye circles.

It’s a type of hyaluronic acid dermal filler. Restylane acts like your body’s naturally produced hyaluronic acid, which are natural sugars found in the skin. When used as an injection, it helps restore fullness and volume in the face. Restylane comes as a clear gel substance.

What Are the Results of Restylane?

Results may last up to 18 months for full treatment, up to 12 months for the cheeks and up to 6 months for facial wrinkles and folds. Most treatment sessions last less than an hour, and Restylane begins to work almost right away since the injection adds volume to the skin. However, different treatments and types of Restylane can have different results, so your Halo team member can go over your treatment options.

Does Restylane Have Side Effects?

Right after treatment, side effects can include swelling, redness, pain, bruising, itching at the injection site, tenderness and headache. These are mild typically. Different side effects may last longer depending on what you have treated, but side effects typically go away in less than 18 days at the most.

There are also people who should not use Restylane, such as women who are pregnant, and individuals with certain allergies or have bleeding disorders. Your Halo clinician can talk to you about possible side effects, how long they may last and whether Restylane is right for you.

How Many Restylane Treatments Will I Need?

You’ll usually need only about one or two sessions. Because Restylane eventually breaks down naturally over time, you and your Halo team member will need to discuss a maintenance schedule for treatments.

Sculptra FAQs

What Does Sculptra Treat?

Sculptra is a type of dermal filler that treats wrinkles both deep and shallow, as well as folds on the face. We can use it to treat “smile lines” (the folds between the nose and mouth), “marionette lines” (lines framing the mouth) and chin wrinkles.

How Many Sculptra Treatments Will I Need?

Typically, patients need a series of three treatment sessions over a few months. Your Halo team member will be able to tell you how many treatments and how many injections you’ll need at each session.

How Soon Do Results Show?

Results show gradually but can last for more than two years. Right after treatment, you may notice you look the same as you did. Full effects can be seen over months as the treatments are administered. Results are subtle, but you’ll noticeably begin to see a reduction in wrinkle lines. At Halo, we always take before and after photos so you can see the difference for yourself!

Are There Any Side Effects with Sculptra?

Sculptra is FDA approved and has been used around the world since 1999. It’s made from a synthetic compound called poly-L-lactic acid, which is absorbed naturally by the body. The treatment does not include human or animal components, so no allergy testing is needed before you begin treatment.

Side effects have been reported that include issues at the injection site like pain, swelling redness and lumps. Your Halo team member can discuss any concerns you may have about side effects.

What is the Downtime for Sculptra?

Many patients are able to wear makeup several hours after treatment. Common aftercare involves instructions like applying a cold pack for the first 24 hours after treatment to reduce swelling, massaging the treated area periodically for several days after treatment, and avoiding sunlight. As with all of our treatments, your Halo team member will be able to coach you through your specific aftercare needs.

Volbella FAQs

What is Volbella?

Volbella is an injection treatment for lip augmentation, which adds subtle volume to the lips. It also corrects perioral lines, often called “lipstick lines.” Volbella is made from hyaluronic acid, a natural substance already in the skin that helps keep the skin soft and full of volume. It can be used in adults over 21 years of age.

How Does Volbella Work?

Volbella is a clear gel that is injected into and around the lips using a fine needle. It plumps the lips and smooths the appearance of lines around the mouth. The treatment also includes a lidocaine gel that can minimize the discomfort of the injections.

What Are the Results Like?

Results last for up to 1 year. Your Halo team member can go over what you will expect to see for individual results.

Does Volbella Have Side Effects?

Some of the common side effects include reactions at the injection site, like swelling, tenderness, lumps, bruising, pain and itching. Side effects range from mild to moderate and generally last 30 days or less.