What Are Fillers and What Can They Do?

Fillers are injectable treatments used to add volume, contour facial features, and soften wrinkles caused by aging or volume loss. Many are made of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body that helps keep skin plump and hydrated. Others stimulate collagen over time to gradually improve firmness and structure. At Blume Skin & Body, we offer a wide range of filler options, including Juvéderm® Fillers, Radiesse®, SkinVive®, Voluma®, and Volux®, among others, each designed to address specific concerns and deliver different types of results.

Botox vs. Fillers: What’s the Difference?

We often hear this question. Simply put, Botox® Injections, Daxxify, Dysport®, and Xeomin® are neuromodulators that relax muscles to smooth out expression lines like crow’s feet and frown lines. Fillers, on the other hand, are used to restore volume, contour features, and enhance the skin’s structure. Many patients use both together for a full-face refresh, but if volume or shape is your main concern, a filler is likely your starting point.

Best Starting Points Based on Your Concern Areas

Starting with Smile Lines or Cheeks? Try Juvéderm® or Voluma®

If you’re seeing deeper smile lines or noticing your cheeks look flatter than they used to, Juvéderm® Fillers or Voluma® can help. These products are designed to restore lift and structure to the midface, softening nasolabial folds and creating a more youthful contour without looking puffy or overfilled.

Tired Eyes? Undereye Filler Could Be Your First Step

The undereye area is one of the first places many people see signs of fatigue, whether it’s dark hollows, shadows, or volume loss. Volbella® Undereye Filler is a delicate, lightweight option that helps refresh this area without creating puffiness or noticeable swelling. It’s a subtle change that can make a big difference.

Ready for a Subtle Glow? SkinVive® or Hyperdilute Radiesse May be Ideal

You don’t need to wait for deep wrinkles to start using injectables. Treatments like SkinVive® hydrate the skin from within for a lasting glow, while Collagen Stimulating Radiesse at Blume Skin & Body can encourage natural collagen production over time. These are great entry points if you want to maintain your skin’s health and firmness proactively.

Chin or Jawline Definition? Consider Volux® or Radiesse®

For patients interested in refining their profile or boosting chin projection, Volux® and Radiesse® offer non-surgical solutions to define the lower face. These treatments help contour the jawline and improve balance, making them a favorite for both men and women seeking subtle structure.

Complementary Treatments That Pair Well with Fillers

While fillers do a lot on their own, combining them with other treatments can take your results even further. These options help enhance skin tone, texture, and overall glow for a more complete, refreshed look.

Anti-Aging Lasers

Many patients enhance their filler results with skin-tightening or resurfacing lasers. Options like Sciton MOXI®, Lumenis® SmoothGlo, and Ultherapy PRIME® can improve skin texture, stimulate collagen, and address pigmentation issues to create an even more radiant result.

Facials and Skin Prep

Proper skin care can enhance your filler results and help them last longer. Treatments such as HydraFacial®, DiamondGlow, and Chemical Peel Treatments are ideal both before and after injectables to prep the skin and promote long-term skin health.

Men’s Services

Men are increasingly seeking out injectables, often with a focus on jawline enhancement, under-eye improvement, or subtle wrinkle reduction. At Blume Skin & Body, our Men’s Services are tailored to masculine features and goals, making filler a popular first step for guys looking to refresh without downtime.

Real Results, Real People

One of the best ways to understand what fillers can do is by seeing the results for yourself. Our gallery features real patients who started their journey at Blume Skin & Body and found the confidence boost they were looking for. Whether you’re hoping for a refreshed glow or more defined features, there’s a place to start and our team can help guide you there!

Still Not Sure? Let’s Talk About It

Injectables aren’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why we start with a conversation. During your consultation, our experienced team will listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and help you create a plan that aligns with your goals and comfort level. Whether you’re filler-curious or ready to take the next step, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

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If you’ve experienced collagen loss due to aging, you may have looked into a wide array of treatments. You may be asking yourself “Do I Need Filler or Ultherapy?”

The good news is, you don’t have to choose….do both and get twice the results with the 3D Collagen Boost!!

As we age, our collagen production slows down, starting in our late 20’s. As we get older, that process slows down more and more. Collagen loss looks like less volume, loose skin, thin skin, skin laxity and drooping skin. Collagen supplements and powders have become extremely popularized, however there are limitations to what those can truly do for your skin. The best results come from treatments that can replace volume loss, and help our bodies to actually produce more collagen again, giving us long-lasting results.

During the natural aging process, our body slows down the production of collagen, causing loose skin and wrinkles. At Blume Skin & Body, we love to treat volume loss, loose skin, thin skin, skin laxity and drooping skin at 3 different levels with our 3D Collagen Boost Package, which includes an Ultherapy treatment for the Face and Neck, 2 syringes of Radiesse filler, and a Neocutis Micro Firm Neck cream. This combination treatment will help you get long-lasting results in the office and at home!

Ultherapy

Ultherapy is the only non-invasive treatment approved by the FDA for lifting the skin on the neck, chin and brow/forehead. Ultherapy uses targeted ultrasound to lift and tighten loose skin, without any downtime! (Results vary from patient to patient). Ultherapy results last up to a year or two, with great results in patients with collagen loss.

Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound to generate a thermal effect under the skin. This has the ability to reach the lowest level of the skin, the basal layer, where the collagen loss is most prominent. The thermal effect essentially fires up the repair process in the skin that strengthens existing collagen and produces fresh, brand-new collagen. Here are a few stunning before and after photos that demonstrate the power of Ultherapy!

Ultherapy Full Face Before and After

Ultherapy Neck Treatment Before and After

Radiesse

Filler, or dermal fillers, are FDA-approved to add volume to areas where the volume has been depleted or lost. They also create a smoother and/or fuller appearance to the area that’s treated. Collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid are all imperative in keeping the skin smooth and tight. The combination of these injected into the skin ensures that your skin remains firm.

As stated above, our skin, over time, naturally loses elasticity as we get older. And as a result, fine lines and wrinkles will become more noticeable. Of course, genetics and lifestyle do play a large role in how our skin ages. Fillers can be used to help plump thinning lips, enhance cheek bones, restructure the chin, define the jaw line, and can create support for drooping skin. When diluted properly, it can be injected throughout the face to stimulate collagen growth.

Radiesse is a volumizing filler, and like many other fillers, it brings back instant volume to the skin for that instant gratification. What’s unique about Radiesse is that it also works under the skin to continue producing collagen, making it last up to one year!

3D Collagen Boost Before & After

Utilizing Ultherapy and Radiesse together will have even a bigger result than having one or the other alone. The 3D Collagen Boost addresses skin laxity and sagging, plus stimulates collagen while targeting deflation and volume loss.

Neocutis Neo Therapy Neck & Décolleté Tightening Cream

As a part of the 3D Collagen Boost package, you will also take home a Neocutis Neo Therapy Neck Cream. This cream supports the results of the Ultherapy treatment to improve skin texture and elasticity, continuing the reproduction of collagen, plus it adds moisture for supple skin. Overall, this neck cream is excellent to continue to tighten any saggy skin as well as diminish the appearance of age spots.

While there are several treatments to choose from, one treatment by itself can only do so much. By combining treatments, patients can have a purposeful treatment plan that is personalized to them, yielding longer lasting results. This 3D Collagen Boost Package is a trifecta of treatments that targets the aging process from every depth. Deep within the dermis, underneath the skin, and topically. This will help to fight collagen loss on 3 different levels.

If you think about your skin as a house, Ultherapy is like the foundation. Making sure the foundation is solid, secure and strong gives you the perfect base to start with. It stimulates your own collagen, creating a beautiful, lifting support. Radiesse Filler is like the insulation, adding more support and giving your home another protective layer. Top it off with the Neocutis Firming Neck cream, your house is now complete with stylish home décor!

At Blume Skin & Body we created the 3D Collagen Boost as an anti-aging package to fight collagen loss on 3 different levels. As always, results will vary from patient to patient. That’s why it is important to have a one-on-one consultation with your Licensed Ultherapist and Injector, to determine the best treatment for you!

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Spring is the season of rebirth and the award season. Of course, the testing process for the 2021 NewBeauty Awards during wasn’t the typical testing committees debating over 10,000 submissions.  This year all research and debate to choose the 280 winners was done virtually.  I can image that the panel was hyper-critical of their own image on the zoom meetings. The experts scrutinized thousands of products and procedures that deliver on their claims and solve our biggest beauty requests. This year more than ever we deserve to look and feel like the best versions of ourselves.

Each year hundreds of new product lines enter the skin care and treatment market. Instagram & Facebook bombard us with new advertising for products that are brand new and untested. Tik Tok has also entered the fray of so-called experts telling its viewers to use strange and unusual homemade remedies to cure all your beauty woes.  Unfortunately, once you click on the advertisement, you will see the product show up in your news feed for weeks.

I thought it would be helpful to highlight the 11^th Annual Beauty Awards from New Beauty Magazine, Spring-Summer 2021, with the products and procedures that Blume Skin & Body offers.

NewBeauty Awards for Best In-Office Treatments & Procedures

The Best Neurotoxin – Botox Cosmetic

For the past 19 years, Botox has been reducing frown lines, crow’s feet and smoothing foreheads everywhere. Botox is the most requested Neurotoxin, due to its consistency.  Xeomin is also a quality neurotoxin that Blume Skin & Body offers for our patients that are looking for a uniquely purified option that Gwyneth Paltrow prefers.

The Best Nonsurgical Skin Tightener – Ultherapy

Ultherapy is a Cult Classic and it has been an award winner for 7 years in a row. Patients looking for a neck, lower face & brow lift without going under the knife, Ultherapy is the answer. Ultherapy uses ultrasound energy to stimulate new collagen and tighten lax and wrinkled skin on the neck, chin, brow and décolleté without the need for surgery or downtime. Christie Brinkley has been a past spokesperson with many other celebrities admitting and recommending Ultherapy . The staff at Blume Skin & Body loves the Ultherapy procedure, it is also a great preventative treatment for the 30 -40-year-old age group looking for a countered jawline and collagen banking.  For the 50+ age group Ultherapy ultrasound skin tightening works to take a decade away.

The Best Noninvasive Fat Reducer – CoolSculpting

This noninvasive fat-fighter treatment has been the gold standard and FDA cleared for over 10 years; Blume Skin & Body has had CoolSculpting for 9 years. CoolSculpting freezes away unwanted fat cells practically everywhere on the body. The fat cells start to leave the body at 3 weeks may take 12 weeks to see your final results, but those fat cells are gone for good.

CoolSculpting at Blume Skin & Body is a relaxing experience with your own private suite. CoolSculpting is a great way to rid the body of that excess COVID-19 fat and get back to your 2019 body.

The Best Filler for Lip Lines – Juvederm Volbella

When you have smokers’ lines or your favorite lipstick bleeds into those tiny lines around your mouth, Juvederm Volbella is a great choice for smoothing those annoying lines. Juvederm Volbella can soften them without altering your natural facial expressions. This facial filler uses hyaluronic acid to instantly smooth unwanted grooves for a natural smooth look. Volbella is also a great lip filler for those patients looking for natural smooth lips without the duck look.

The Best Filler for Laugh Lines– Juvederm

Blume Skin & Body also offers Juvederm Ultra and Ultra Plus, Juvederm Voluma and Juvederm Vollure that are hyaluronic acid fillers that can soften deep nasal folds, give volume restoration, provide a subtle lift or enhance the jaw line and chin. A conversation with our excellent injectors can help you decide which product is best for you.

The Best Filler for Cheek Enhancement – Juvederm Voluma

The longest lasting and the first filler specifically developed for the cheek area, Juvederm Voluma thick and dense hyaluronic acid gel plumps and adds volume. If you weren’t genetically blessed with high cheek bones or your cheeks have deflated due to aging, Juvederm Voluma is the answer. Juvederm Voluma results can last up to two years.

The Best Filler for Hand Rejuvenation – Radiesse

To restore volume loss and smooth the skin on hands, Radiesse, a collagen stimulator is the best. Radiesse also makes the veins and crepiness less visible while boosting collagen over time. Blume Skin & Body also likes Radiesse along the jaw line to improve your profile.

The Best Scalp Treatment– HydraFacial Keravive                                                     

Combine the relaxing experience of a scalp massage with the results of a med-spa treatment you get with HydraFacial Keravive. The treatment utilizes the HydraFacial signature three-step method to cleanse and unclog follicles and infuse Keravive protein serum. It is suggested to combine the scalp treatment with the famous skin treatment. HydraFacial is a customizable treatment that cleanses, exfoliates, extracts and hydrates. In a short 30-minute treatment your pores are deep cleaned while skin is flooded with hydration. HydraFacial is like you monthly car wash to keep your skin healthy and youthful. At Blume Skin & Body your aesthetician can add Epidermal Leveling to further your treatment.

NewBeauty Awards for Best Skincare Products – Post-Procedure, Serums & Treatments

The Best Gel Cleanser – Epionce Lytic Gel Cleanser

This is the 5^th time this amazing willow bark-based cleanser has made the list. Epoince Lytic Gel Cleanser gently but effectively removes all of dirt, pollution and make-up from the day.

Best Growth Factor Serum – SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum

This 5-in-1 product has it all! Its dual-chamber delivery system contains a new & improved growth factor with nourishing botanicals and peptides that support skin rejuvenation and it has no fragrance, so it works for all skin types.

Post Procedure Soothing Cream – NeoCutis Aftercare

Safe to use after ablative and non-ablative laser treatments, aftercare is very soothing and hydrating with the added benefits of growth factors for faster skin regeneration and healing.

Best Sunscreen – EltaMD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF46 

The Cult Classic EltaMD UV Clear works on all skin types and doesn’t leave behind a white cast or irritate your skin.

Best Sunscreen Stick– Colorscience Sunforgettable Total SPF 50 –

This an essential for all active types to protect against sun damage. This sunblock is mineral based without any chemicals and great to use on the lips also.

The Best Supplement for Hair Wellness – Nutrafol

This supplement establishes the right nutrient balance to improve strength, texture, density and shine.

New Treatments and Products

The following products and procedures are brand new this year, and received a great endorsement from New Beauty.

Dream Cream for Neck and Décolleté – Valmont V-Neck Cream

Tech Neck is a real thing and this luxury cream can help with firming and crepiness.

Snap Back – The latest age-defying tools and technologies that promise firmer, tighter skin.  The technique of combining treatments is recommended. Blume Skin & Body has been using several different medical devices for optimal results for years. For example, we combine Ultherapy for lifting and firming with Radio Frequency MicroNeedling for pores and texture and finally PhotoFacial (IPL) (BBL) for sun damage and redness.

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By re-volumizing these important facial structures with dermal fillers we can effectively create a liquid face lift, with a more balanced, and desirable face shape, for men this could mean a more masculine and defined jawline and for women a heart shaped face which minimizes the nose and accentuates the eyes. A well-proportioned chin can reduce the appearance of an overpowering nose, create definition between the face and neck, bring the focus away from jowls or a down turned mouth while redirecting the focus back up to the eyes.

When choosing your Aesthetic Injector, please take into consideration that these treatments are not completely without risk, so make sure to choose someone who is licensed and has received advanced training. In addition to this, your injector needs to have an artistic eye, an understanding of balance and proportions, and excellent communication skills in order to assess your unique needs and ensure that your goals are being met and your expectations are realistic. Our Nurse Injectors at Blume Skin and Body are continuously studying and staying up on the latest techniques to ensure your safety and create the most beautiful, natural outcomes possible.

The post Non-Surgical Jawline Contouring and Chin Augmentation appeared first on BLUME.

For my younger clients I love preventative treatments. The best wrinkle relaxer for frown lines, crows’ feet and forehead lines is a neurotoxin that relaxes the muscles for a youthful look. Blume Skin & Body offers three choices depending on the patient’s preference, Botox, Dysport or Xeomin.   For subtle enhancements we offer several treatments, a natural lip plump with a soft filler like Volbella or Restylane Refyne, combined with collagen stimulating treatments like Ultherapy or Microneedling and excellent Medical Grade Skin Care. By maintaining your skin quality with a healthy diet, sun avoidance, medical grade skin care routine and collagen boosting treatments, and just a “sprinkling” of injectables, you will be sure to keep a youthful, natural glow if that is what you are after.

That being said, there is always room for true augmentation if facial balancing or highlighting specific features is desired as well! We can create a more chiseled jawline, higher cheekbones, fuller lips, even balancing the profile with chin filler, you name it!  We keep up with the latest aesthetic trends through constant training and continuing education so that we can offer the most up to date treatments out there.

For my more mature patients my favorite approach is to replace volume loss from bone resorption, fat pad loss, and skin laxity due to sun damage and the natural aging process. I like to work from the top down to ensure proper ligament support and create a natural, not overfilled result. As our face ages, everything seems to converge around the mouth resulting in jowling and frown lines around the mouth. None of us want to look “done,” we just want to look like a refreshed version of ourselves, Right? To achieve this, we must use a combination of approaches to replace volume loss and improve our skin elasticity and quality. One of the most significant, yet often overlooked signs of aging is temple hollowing. Volume loss at the temple can play a role in eyes that look tired or sad, cheek sagging and even folds around the mouth. By re-volumizing the temples we can perk the eyes back up and provide necessary support to the lower face. Next I like to address any volume loss to the cheek and under eye, and work my way down to the jawline and chin and lips. Finally, we can use soft fillers, wrinkle relaxers, and customizable laser and skin care treatments to address fine lines and wrinkles.

Whether you are looking for prevention, maintenance, or augmentation, the first step is to come in for a consultation! Consultations are free and we can discuss areas of concern, make recommendations, and come up with a treatment plan for the year that is completely tailored to your timeline, goals, and budget.

The post Prevention, Maintenance, or Augmentation? appeared first on BLUME.

– If you have an important event within 7-10 days proceed with fillers with caution as you may get some bruising that will be there for the event.

– Stop all medications like aspirin, ibuprofen and fish oils about 5 days before your facial injections. If you have been advised by your doctor to take these medications, check with them before stopping. Applying Arnica Montana following injections or taking small oral doses a few days before and after injections may reduce the chances of bruising.

– Dental work two weeks before or planned to occur within two weeks after dermal fillers or PDO threads may increase the chance of bacterial infection.

– Flying on an airplane within 24 hours of injections may cause swelling due to the change in pressure. While not a serious side effect, you may be unhappy with the results until the swelling goes down.

– Ice always helps with swelling. Apply for 10 minutes every 30-45 minutes for best results.

And as always if you have any questions or concerns contact our office and we will be happy to assist you!

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There are multiple fillers that are used in the face such as: Juvederm, Sculptra, Restylane and Voluma. Radiesse is one of the ONLY fillers that is FDA approved for the face AND hands. Radiesse is a calcium based filler combined with a gel carrier that gives you immediate results.  As the gel carrier in the filler is absorbed the calcium spheres stimulate your body’s own collagen production, thus resulting in additional volume within a couple months.

The treatment takes about 15-30 mins, is virtually painless and there is minimal after care. You may experience some bruising, redness and /or swelling that may last for a couple days.  It is recommended to avoid vigorous use of the hands for the first 24 hours.  Ice is also helpful to reduce swelling and bruising for the first couple days.

We recommend starting with 1 syringe of Radiesse per hand and adding more if necessary.  Most patients will need 2-4 syringes depending on the volume desired.

Let us help give you the youthful hands you need to match your beautiful young face.

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Millennials are looking for “preventative aging” and are coming in for Botox and having anti-aging skin treatments, like they would for having a haircut or teeth cleaning.

Gen Xers are looking for “positive aging” and are embracing the need to have several treatments. With the advances of non-surgical treatments such as Ultherapy, laser skin resurfacing along with Botox, Xeomin and Facial Fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane and Radiesse, can help you look ten years younger.

Baby Boomers are looking for “reverse aging” and are more inclined to have more aggressive treatments. The Boomer that wishes to forgo or delay a surgical face lift has many great non-surgical options. Including the entire above mentioned plus: Lumenis M22 PhotoFractional, ResurFX, the Blume Liquid Lift and Thread Lift.

Everyone wants to enhance their natural beauty and keep their youthful glow. Blume Skin & Body has the equipment, tools and expert providers to assist you in your positive and proactive approach to aging.

The post Aging your choice – Prevent, Stop, and Reverse appeared first on BLUME.

There are many factors that can cause bruising such as depth of the injection, areas of major vessels, alcohol, over the counter and prescription medications*, etc. Any time a needle is put into the skin with facial fillers or even BOTOX there is a risk for bruising. Does the risk out way the reward of fuller cheeks and fewer wrinkles, I say yes!

That being said, here are a few ways to help avoid the amount of bruising and swelling.

• Discontinue the use of Advil, ibuprofen, aspirin, fish oils, vitamin E, etc. at least 5 days prior to your treatment as well as alcohol 24 hours or more prior to injections.

• Use Ocumend patches by Cearna after injections. These significantly help reduce the risk of bruising. The patches contain Arnica and Ledum to reduce bruising, pain and swelling. These patches contain 50 times the potency of competing products and are designed to reduce bruising by 90% if used correctly. We recommend purchasing a pack of 2 and applying immediately after facial fillers for 6 hours, then applying the second set before bed for another 6 hours.

• Start using PREVederm; a bruise minimizing serum by Neocutis twice daily for 1-2 weeks prior to injections. This serum contains Hamamelis Virginiana Extract to help prepare and strengthen your skin, reduce the appearance of bruising and puffiness as well as defend against oxidative stress.

As injectors we do our best to avoid bruising our patients when possible, however everyone’s anatomy varies, so while you may bruise one time, you may not the next.

*Please speak with your healthcare provider before stopping any prescribed anticoagulants or blood pressure medications.

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