Cosmetic Services
Dermal Fillers

The use of dermal fillers in Lone Tree and Denver, including Juvederm^®, Restylane^®, Lyft^®, Voluma^®, Belotero^®, Radiesse^®, and Sculptra^®, has revolutionized cosmetic dermatology. The old thinking was that tighter was better. Facelifts were overdone, leaving unnatural results with tight but still hollow faces. The fresh thinking is that in order to truly look younger, you need to RESTORE VOLUME. Pulling the skin tighter can help, but only up to a point. VOLUME is needed to hide shadows and concavities, reduce wrinkles, hollows, and folds, and lift sagging skin. Fillers can accomplish this without invasive surgery and best of all, with a NATURAL appearance.

Q:    Why choose Dr. Ort for my dermal filler treatment?

A:    The person who injects you is far more important than the actual brand of filler that is used. Many offices employ a nurse or other non-physician to inject fillers. All filler injections in our office are performed by Dr. Richard Ort, M.D., a board-certified, Harvard-trained dermatologist. Dr. Ort has a reputation in Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, Denver, and beyond Colorado as a master in the use of fillers to smooth facial lines and restore volume. To be a great injector, one must be an artist and appreciate the ideal human form as well as the changes that occur with age. Dr. Ort is an expert in facial anatomy and advanced injection techniques. He takes great care to provide natural-appearing, smooth results.

Q:    What is a cannula?

A:    Dr. Ort is one of the few doctors in Lone Tree and Denver who has advanced training and expertise in the use of cannulas to inject fillers. Unlike a needle, a cannula is not sharp and has a lower risk of causing a bruise or other side effects. Cannulas are especially useful for certain areas such as under the eyes where there is a higher risk for bruising. Compared to using a needle, a cannula requires more training, experience, and patience on the part of the injector, but the potential benefits to patients are undeniable.

Q:    What is volume loss?

A:    Look at a teenager and notice that their face appears smooth without shadows or harsh transitions. Then observe an elderly person with flat cheeks, deep folds, a down-turned smile, under-eye hollows, and sagging jowls. The main difference between old and young is LOSS OF VOLUME. Unfortunately, this occurs to all of us as we age due to gradual loss of collagen, fat, muscle, and bone. The good news is that fillers can replenish the lost volume and turn back the hands of time!

Q:    Where are fillers used?

A:    Fillers are used to rejuvenate and lift the face, including the cheeks, temples, under eye hollows, brows, lips, jowls, and corners of the mouth. Individual lines can also be filled, such as the nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and vertical lip lines. Filler also work well to rejuvenate the hands.

Q:    What different fillers are available?

1. Restylane^® / Juvederm^® Ultra / Belotero^® Balance
   These are the most widely used fillers, consisting of hyaluronic acid (HA), which binds to water. They work well to fill superficial lines and wrinkles, hollows under the eyes, and for lip augmentation. Typical duration is 6 months or more. An advantage of HA fillers is that they can be immediately dissolved if needed with injection of hyaluronidase. Note: Any office which performs filler injections should have hyaluronidase on hand. Many offices do not. Caveat emptor (let the buyer beware).
2. Restylane^® Lyft / Juvederm^® Ultra Plus
   These are thicker HA fillers. They are injected deeper in the skin, provide a more robust fill for deeper folds or wrinkles, and last for a longer period of time. Restylane Lyft is excellent for cheek augmentation, providing robust structure and lifting sagging skin.
3. Juvederm^® Voluma
   Another HA filler, has a high degree of cross linking, which gives nice lifting capability and potentially has a longer duration (up to two years). Voluma is an excellent filler to restore cheek volume, recreate contour, and lift sagging tissue.
4. Radiesse^®
   Consists of calcium hydroxylapetite, a component of bone, but it stays soft in tissue. It is a robust, long-lasting filler for deeper folds and hollows and for cheek augmentation. It is also used for rejuvenation of the hands to hide visible tendons and veins.
5. Sculptra^®
   A unique filler, which consists of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and stimulates production of the patient's own collagen. Used to restore lost volume throughout the face to provide full-face rejuvenation. It requires multiple treatment sessions, about one month apart, for best results. Results can last up to 2 years or longer. It can also be used to rejuvenate the neck and chest.
6. Kool-tox ^℠ (Botox^® / Xeomin^® / Dysport^®)
   Kool-tox ^℠ is Dr. Ort's advanced, non-invasive method of admininstering botulinum toxin. This treatment is not a filler, but it works very well in combination with fillers and can actually make fillers last longer. Kool-ToxSM smooths the skin by relaxing the muscles which cause wrinkles. It is used to reduce frown lines, forehead lines, crow's feet, and other problem areas.

Q:    Are fillers safe?

A:    Fillers have been safely used in millions of patients over the last twenty years. However, all cosmetic treatments have risk. We recommend that you review our consent form prior to your treatment. Dr. Ort has a conservative philosophy and takes special precautions to reduce the risk of any complications. Minor problems such as bruising can occur after treatment but typically resolve on their own. In expert hands, serious complications are extremely rare.

Q:    What should I do to prepare for filler treatment?

A:    To reduce the risk of bruising, please follow these instructions:
-If you take ASPIRIN, stop it two weeks prior to treatment. (Do not stop aspirin if you are taking it for medical reasons on the order of your doctor).

-Stop taking anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen, naproxen, etc three days prior to treatment. (It is OK to continue Tylenol or acetaminophen).

-Stop taking Vitamin E, fish oil, and herbal medicines (including gingko, garlic, ginger, ginseng, ephedra & feverfew) two weeks prior to treatment.

-Do not schedule your filler treatment within one week of any important event.

-We do not recommend that you have any dental procedures for two weeks after a filler treatment.