More syringes of filler means less natural results, right? Not necessarily. Here’s why I am transitioning away from “per syringe” treatments into full face rejuvenation with filler.
After six years of my practice, hundreds of patients and countless syringes injected, I am switching things up. As my practice both as a Naturopathic Doctor and as a cosmetic injector has been built on transparency, I feel it’s apparent that I share exactly how this transition will affect your filler treatments with me.
Have you ever stayed at an all inclusive resort? I mean a true all inclusive where the premium shelf drinks can flow, all the restaurant options are included. Pretty great right? If you want that extra appetizer, you don’t hesitate. If the margarita isn’t doing the trick, you can have them remake it or switch to a gin martini without hesitation.
Now, have you ever been on a cruise? The drink packages are so outrageous that unless you are consuming 15 cocktails a day, it just doesn’t add up (I promise I have a point and I’m almost there). Once the cruise line has you on their ship, it can feel like they are looking to ring out all the upcharges they can. So what do you do? Your margarita might not be hitting the spot, but at $20 USD you drink it and don’t ask for another. The cost of that margarita impacts your experience.
Your filler is a margarita. Let me explain…
Since its beginning, the cosmetic industry adopted a per unit or per syringe pricing model. We, as cosmetic injectors, offer our patients guidance on the number of syringes they may need and offer galleries of transformations stating exactly how much product was used (guilty). Our pricing models have been set up to be based on per syringe, not per treatment.
So what’s the problem? We are individuals; the jaw contouring results one person may get from two syringes of Revanesse Contour/Shape/Outline may not be reflective of what you would get with the same amount of product, which can lead to some major disappointment. As cosmetic injectors, we can only make educated guesses of the amount of product you will need to achieve your desired results—and it is only once we get to know how your body reacts to products, that these guesses become a whole lot more accurate.
Since filler provides almost immediate results (keep in mind swelling does prevent us from fully knowing the settled results), we can almost immediately recognize if our patient would benefit from another quarter, half or even full syringe. While this information can be provided to you, as the patient, it may feel like a cruise-specialty-restaurant upsell that leaves a sour taste in your mouth—and therefore, is often avoided.
So let me ask you this, would you prefer decisions regarding your cosmetic injection treatments be based on an estimated product amount (and therefore, cost) or based on what will provide you with the best results? Do you prefer all-inclusive cocktails or humming and hawing about whether you want to spend another $20 USD on that second margarita?
As a cosmetic injector, I’d rather provide you the BEST results every single treatment, despite the amount of product that might be needed. I don’t want your treatments and results to be limited by syringe or budget. I’d rather provide you with the best results, adding that extra quarter syringe here or there based on my expertise, not on your wallet. I want to remove the pressure from both you and I by taking the cost out of the equation. The only aspects that have a right to be in the decision making process for your filler treatment is your desired results and my professional expertise.
Full face rejuvenation is all inclusive, there is a set price with no limit on the amount of syringes used. As soon as we include estimates of the number of syringes a result will take, we limit ourselves from the artistry of cosmetic injections. Which brings me to the second reason I am opting for this new treatment method.
What is full face rejuvenation with filler?
One of the most common requests I hear in my practice in Parksville, Nanaimo and Langley alike is: “I’d like fuller lips.” And I can’t stress how much I love injecting lips, especially for my lovely first-timers. It’s such a rush seeing their instant confidence post-treatment. But in some cases, there comes a point where I would be doing my patient a disservice if I didn’t suggest other treatments or fillers to compliment their fuller lips to maintain the most natural-looking results.
As you know, if you’ve been a patient of mine or followed me for any period of time, I have a very natural approach to cosmetic injections. I simply prefer more natural looking results and want to help my patients maintain those results as they age without it turning “overdone.” For years, I thought more natural results meant: less is more. But that’s not necessarily the case when it comes to fillers. Ready for a belief-shattering statement? Using more syringes of filler can often mean more-natural looking results.
If you come to me for fuller lips and we work to build them up slowly over time into your dream lips, it is possible you may need filler in other areas of your face to help balance out the volume. I may recommend adding a touch of filler for a more projected chin so that your lips look harmonious to your facial structure. You could also need this support around the lips because the heaviness of the filler can cause unwanted lines or creases elsewhere.
Full facial rejuvenation, also known as the liquid facelift, allocates product for multiple areas of the face opposed to specific areas for a more harmonious, natural final result. This injection method considers the facial anatomy as a whole and how each area of the face transitions into the next. If a patient’s main concern is the lack of fullness of their under eyes, facial rejuvenation will address that area, but also the connected areas such as the temples and cheeks. This holistic approach to cosmetic injections cannot be accomplished with just one or two syringes.
With a background in facial anatomy through my education and practice as a Naturopathic Doctor, it has become a growing concern of mine—especially with how social media is impacting the extremes individuals are striving for—that we default to only treating a particular area. You don’t want to just treat the cheeks and have your face become disproportionate. Instead of a predetermined, limiting amount of product, full facial rejuvenation offers the ability and freedom for you to look uniform and natural like yourself; for your injector to provide you with the best products and amounts for your desired results; and for you to trust the process knowing you will never be charged more than expected.
Full facial rejuvenation allows for better profile balancing, using the best product and technique for the chin, nose and lips without fear of not using the full syringe you paid for. I completely understand the amount of willpower it takes knowing you paid for a full syringe but accepting your cosmetic injector’s professional recommendation to only use three quarters of it—let’s eliminate the pressure. Your filler is margarita from an all-inclusive resort, not the $20 USD cruise purchase, if you don’t finish all of it, that’s okay (but, I can usually find somewhere to put it 😉).
What should I expect during my full face rejuvenation appointment?
Full face rejuvenation treatments start the same as any treatment: with a consultation. During this time, we will discuss your concerns, goals and the treatment options best suited. Injection marks and a treatment plan will be made, but the estimate of number of syringes and cost will be missing from the process. Upper face, mid face, lower face and full face rejuvenation prices are set before the treatment begins, regardless of how much filler is used. Throughout your treatment, I will keep you informed of what types of filler I am using and how many syringes (if you’d like), but whether we use ten or fourteen syringes, your final cost remains the same.
An hour will be allotted for your full face facial rejuvenation treatment and will include a Lidocaine injection for numbing. The numbing process only takes a couple of minutes with this method. With more areas being treated simultaneously than what you are probably used to, you should expect to be tender for a week or so. Before we conclude your visit, we will review your post-treatment care instructions and you will also be emailed a comprehensive guide.
Four to six weeks post treatment, you are asked to come back in for a follow-up to review your results. Due to the nature of swelling during treatment, there may be an area that needs balancing. Consultations are charged at $100 and can be booked separate or incorporated into your treatment. If you book a consultation separately the $100 will go towards your partial/full face treatment. I am happy to speak with you about how we can address your aesthetic goals, and approach your treatment plan with a timeline that respects your budget.
What if I don’t want full face rejuvenation?
If you’re reading this right now and thinking “Heather, I don’t want to go this direction, I want to continue with my singular treatments,” I hear you. Let me reassure you that I will always offer an À la carte menu that will allow you to choose the specific area you’d like treated with fillers. Lips, under eyes, cheeks, jawline, are all included on this menu so you can focus your treatments on your priority concerns.
My hope for the cosmetic injection industry.
Though what you come in requesting may be a commonly desired result, how we achieve those results is not a common “one size fits all” solution. You will likely require a different combination of treatments, products and number of syringes than your sister, friends, or co-workers. My hope is that the industry begins to shed the per syringe concept and work toward prioritizing patient results. This will allow the provider to make the right call for techniques, modalities and products based on their expertise, without allowing price to impact the decision.
I believe a holistic approach is the only way to move forward with sustainable, natural results that are harmonious to each individual’s facial anatomy—especially given how social media is changing the cosmetic industry.
If you made it this far, thank you! I can’t tell you how excited I am to introduce this new treatment method to you. If you’d like to learn more, please feel free to book your consultation at the location most convenient to you:
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