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How Can You Get the Most Natural Results from Facial Fillers?

Can dermal fillers look natural? Our Arizona-based team at Ironwood Dermatology is aware that many patients prefer their filler results to look as subtle and natural as possible rather than overdone. The goal is to enhance the face and emphasize your natural beauty without ending up with a pillow face or “duck lips” appearance. “Pillow face” is a term that’s used to describe that unnatural look with overly pronounced lips and cheeks that you can get from overusing fillers. 

Of course, most of us would prefer to avoid that look—but is it possible to get fillers that are so subtle others notice the change but aren’t sure why? The answer is yes. It’s entirely possible to achieve natural-looking results from injectables if you want to get a youthful, rejuvenated look. There’s no need to be afraid of ending up with results that look overly “fake” from fillers, especially when you work with highly trained and experienced injectors—such as the Ironwood Dermatology team—who know that fillers are customizable so they can be as subtle or as detectable as you would like them to be. 

Here are a few more tips for avoiding duck lips:

Take a “Less is More” Approach

Getting great results from fillers won’t necessarily be about using lots of the product. Injecting the right amount of filler is critical, which is where choosing an experienced provider comes in. The anatomical placement of the filler and the type of filler used are both important aspects that should be considered. 

Get a Treatment Plan

You will need a detailed, well-thought-out plan to ensure that your fillers look natural. Work closely with your injector to explain your goals and understand the possibilities. The results should enhance the balance of the face and provide support when they’re done correctly.

Use the Right Ratios 

When it comes to adding volume—especially lip injections—there are specific ratios that will provide the most natural look. There should be a 1:1 ratio between the outer corners of the top and bottom lip. The lower lip should always be larger than the upper lip, and the skin should have some variation since a perfectly smooth, shiny appearance would not look natural. 

Talk to our Arizona-based team at Ironwood Dermatology for more details about what fillers can do and how to get ideal results from the treatment. Call us at 520.618.1630 or submit a contact form to schedule a consultation. 

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5 Tips for Soothing Dry Lips After Lip Injections

The air is particularly dry and cool during wintertime in Arizona. These weather conditions can take a negative toll on the thin, delicate skin of the lips, leading them to become tight and chapped—even for people who haven’t recently had lip fillers. Our Tucson and Oro Valley area injectors recommend giving your lips some extra attention during the colder season, especially if you’ve had lip injections. Here’s what you can typically expect after a filler session, as well as some simple tricks for keeping your lips hydrated and soft.

For patients who have always wanted to give their lips a poutier appearance or more defined shape, lip fillers are the gold standard for achieving this look. One of the aspects of lip injections that patients are most curious about before having the procedure is what their lips will feel like after they’ve received their injections.

Although one of the benefits of an injectable procedure is that there’s no actual recovery time needed after, there are some short-term side effects to consider, such as mild bruising and swelling. Simply put, your lips can feel “weird” at first, but each person has a different experience depending on a range of factors.

Despite the hyaluronic acid that fillers contain, which is designed to retain water in the skin, post-lip injection dryness is a rare side effect that happens to some people—and can persist for a few days after you’ve had fillers like JUVEDERM®. This can be more likely if you already naturally tend to have drier lips. The flaky, dry feeling could be happening as a result of the skin stretching due to swelling and added volume, as well as licking your lips more often after fillers, or because of the lip products you’ve been using.

If your lips are looking and feeling uncomfortably dry, here’s what you can do:

  • Apply a thick ointment, like white petroleum jelly, several times during the day
  • Apply moisturizing ingredients like vitamin E, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and shea butter
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Stick to non-irritating lip balms and lipsticks that are fragrance free and hypoallergenic
  • Avoid ingredients that dry or irritate the lips, such as eucalyptus, menthol, and salicylic acid

Need more advice on aftercare for lip injections? Our Tucson-area providers at Ironwood Dermatology can guide you on everything that’s involved in healing and maintenance for lip fillers. Call 520.618.1630, or submit a contact form to request a consultation.

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What Are the Most Common Skincare Mistakes?

It can sometimes seem like everyone is obsessed with skincare these days, but it’s more than just a passing trend. There are very good reasons behind this movement toward protecting and enhancing our body’s outer covering. It’s so important to give your skin the attention it needs consistently, not just for cosmetic reasons (such as making your pores appear tinier and defying the aging process), but also for the sake of your overall health. Even though we might think we’re doing our skin good, sometimes we’re actually harming it without knowing. Understanding where you’re going wrong can help you to keep your skin calm, avoid intense breakouts, and enjoy your most stunning complexion. At Ironwood Dermatology, our team provides aesthetic treatments like neuromodulators and injectable fillers for Tucson and Oro Valley area patients, and we can also assess your skin to help you develop a skincare routine that’s customized for your needs.

With that in mind, here are some of the most typical beauty mistakes most people make—most likely without even realizing it.

Overdoing Exfoliation Techniques

As any experienced skin professional will tell you, regular exfoliation is the key to maintaining clear, glowing skin instead of being left with a dull, washed-out, and uneven look. Exfoliation removes dry skin, dead cells, and dirt that clog the pores. Just remember that too much exfoliation with harsh mechanical techniques or chemicals can harm the skin’s moisture barrier.

Forgetting the Neck

The neck has thinner skin and is one of the areas that shows the most pronounced signs of aging. Don’t forget to cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize, and use sunscreen on the neck area.

Skipping Toner

One of the biggest misconceptions people have is that toners are useless. Actually, toners can be a crucial part of your skincare routine because they help to close the pores after you’ve finished cleansing and prevent any remaining dirt or impurities from getting in. They also prevent your skin from becoming dried out and boost the effects of serums or moisturizers. If you’re not using toner, your skin might become dehydrated.

Looking for more advice on keeping your skin healthy and looking young? Call us at Ironwood Dermatology at 520.618.1630, or submit a contact form online to schedule an initial consultation.

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BOTOX® vs. Dermal Fillers: How Long Do They Last?

There are many factors that set BOTOX® and dermal fillers apart—including how they work and what they treat—but a question patients frequently ask at Ironwood Dermatology is “How long will it last?”

Keeping in mind that BOTOX® Cosmetic is for inhibiting muscle activity and that dermal fillers come in a wide variety of volume-adding formulas, it can be wise to track which effects last the shortest and longest, especially for patients who want to maintain a more youthful-looking face for the long term. Scheduling maintenance visits is easier when you have a good idea of how long your forehead will appear smooth or jawline should have extra definition.

First, BOTOX®. Tucson-area women and men regularly choose this treatment for their forehead and frown lines, as well as their crow’s feet. After a brief session with one of our injectors, you can expect three to four months of smooth skin, worry-free. After that time, the targeted muscles will start moving again, leading to visible furrows and wrinkles whenever you frown or make similar facial expressions.

Dermal fillers, on the other hand, tend to be longer lasting. Juvederm®, for example, has several gel fillers that go the distance, including Volbella (which enhances lips and smooths out vertical lip lines for up to a year), Vollure (which reduces the appearance of nasolabial folds and more for up to 18 months), and Voluma (which adds volume to the midface and lasts up to two years).

With this in mind, you may have several BOTOX® sessions between visits for dermal filler injections.

A member of the Ironwood Dermatology team can work with you to ensure your schedule is as seamless as possible, which means you can enjoy an overall youthful-looking face with no interruption to the smooth look in just one area.

To learn more about dermal fillers, BOTOX®, and more, contact the Tucson-based Ironwood Dermatology online or call 520.618.1630.