WHAT IS BELOTERO?
Belotero is a prescription-required facial filler that can be injected to smooth out facial lines including moderate- to severe ones. It is most commonly used for the marionette lines and the nasolabial folds, or lines that run from the side of the nostrils down to the corners of the mouth. It is a hyaluronic acid, or HA, much like Juvederm or Restylane.
Within the body, HAs naturally occur in connective tissues. The molecules of an HA is sponge-like in constitution and absorbs water. The water it holds is what creates the volume underneath your skin and gives it fullness from underneath. Some professionals refer to hyaluronic acid as your body’s “inner moisturizer”. Just like collagen, this inner moisture diminishes with age. While it is in the skin abundantly during youth, it slowly stops as people age. As it diminishes, it can cause the “plumpness” of facial areas such as the cheeks to seem more hollow and sunken.
Belotero is able to supplement that fullness. It can fill the lines and wrinkles of these areas to restore a more youthful and vibrant appearance. What makes Belotero unique is that it is a proprietary formula that is uniquely smooth in gel-like makeup. It is effective at filling moderate- to severe wrinkles and lines within the facial area to provide a smooth and natural look. It’s perfect to soften lines and wrinkles and bring overall smoothness back.
IS BELOTERO FDA-APPROVED?
Belotero is approved by the FDA as an injectable filler approved in use of plumping facial folds and wrinkles. It was found to be highly effective with facial treatments as injected by trained professionals in proper medical settings.
HOW IS BELOTERO DIFFERENT FROM JUVEDERM, RESTYLANE AND SCULPTRA?
If you’re looking for solutions to facial filling, then you likely have come across many different options. Of course you should discuss your specific case with a trained professional who can assess your concerns in person, but there are some helpful tools to consider.
What makes Belotero different is that it is one of the easiest to use fillers on the market today. Some fillers can have a bluish hue to them. When injected too close to the surface of the skin, this blue color can shine through. It isn’t a major concern, but it can be detectable when scrutinizing the facial areas treated. Belotero does not have this color to it, so regardless of where your doctor injects it (depth into the skin) you won’t see this effect. Belotero is clear, so it never interferes with general look and is completely undetectable post-treatment.
You May Also Like: 13 Things You Need To Know Before Radiesse Injections
CANDIDATES FOR BELOTERO
Anyone with unwanted lines and wrinkles is a potential candidate for Belotero. It is a hyaluronic filler that is similar to Juvederm, Restylane and Perlane. In general, it is more effective for fine lines and superficial lines on the face. Frown lines, forehead lines and wrinkles, crow’s feet and laugh lines are all possible areas for treatment.
GENERAL BELOTERO TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS
Treatment with any filler requires a certain mindset. First of all, you have to be realistic in what you want. Fillers are great tools that help with your overall look of your face. They are invaluable when it comes to altering unwanted lines and wrinkles. They also can offer a “plumping” of your cheeks and chin areas. They are however limited by your physiology. Your doctor can discuss with you the possibilities and together you can decide if Belotero is right for you.
Secondly, when going in for injections it is required that you thoroughly vet your doctor. You want a doctor that has the credentials and the experience to handle the procedure. Not everyone is at the same level of expertise with different fillers. This is why you always should ask to see examples of what your doctor has done in the past involving medical procedures the same, or similar to the ones you require.
Thirdly, you also need to disclose to your doctor all medications you are currently taking. This includes prescription medicines that can affect your body and also herbal supplements you take. Many people forget about the herbal elements of their diet. These can be highly effective and that means they are important for disclosure. You also should inform your doctor if you have a history of skin reactions such as cysts, rashes, infection, cold sores or hives. Belotero treatment will be postponed until all skin reactions are completely gone.
Finally, to be an official candidate for Belotero you must have pronounced wrinkles, lines or hollowness in your face and neck areas. This product is ideal for moderate- to severe lines. If your lines are not considered substantial enough, your doctor may opt for lighter solutions.
MEDICAL AND HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
Belotero, like all filler injectables, has some medical considerations. One is that patients who have severe allergies are not good candidates for the substance. This includes those with a history of anaphylaxis or allergies to bacterial gram-positive proteins. If you are a good candidate however you may have some normal bruising, swelling and discoloration at the injection site. This is normal and usually lasts just a few days post-treatment. If you have problems beyond that, discuss them with your doctor.
You also will be cautioned to abstain from extensive sun or heat exposure, alcohol, aspirin or strenuous activity for 24 hours after treatment. Exposure to any of these can increase your injection-site symptoms. You may see more swelling, itching and redness. If you are prone to keloids or notable scarring you also should avoid treatment with Belotero.
With any injectable filler there is a chance of infection. Your doctor will work with you to minimize issues, but there is always a risk. If you have any other procedures done, such as chemical peels or laser treatments, be sure that your doctor is aware so he or she can schedule accordingly. Upon your pre-treatment consultation your doctor will give you a full list of potential health risks and risks that you specifically are undertaking.
Also Check Out: 9 Reasons Xeomin Will Change Your Life – A Patient’s Guide
COST AND FINANCING INFORMATION
Belotero is one of the most affordable fillers available. In general it costs about $500 per syringe. The number of syringes you’ll require is specific to the look that you want and number of areas you want treated. Some patients are fine with just one syringe, while others may require two or even three syringes. You should discuss with your doctor what you want and he or she will tell you the approximate amount of filler needed.
Remember also that financing options are usually available via your doctor’s business office. Discuss what the options available to you are and how you can manage costs. Usually you can find some method of spreading out payments or finding additional financing options.
THE BELOTERO TREATMENT PROCESS
As with any filler, you first will discuss your concerns with your qualified professional. He or she will create a customized plan for you that will restore your facial areas and eliminate lines. Always pick a doctor who has done the procedure you require many times before with a high level of success. You want to know that he or she knows how to achieve the look that you want.
You’ll meet with your doctor for an initial consultation. This is where you get to discuss what you want and where your doctor gets the opportunity to respond. He or she can tell you what is possible and what is not possible. You’ll decide on a treatment plan and your treatment goals. Then, your doctor will put together the right combination and amount of fillers needed to achieve your desired results.
There may be some instructions pre-treatment that your doctor will require you to follow. For example, you may be asked to not eat after midnight the night prior. You also may be asked to stop smoking or abstain from caffeine. Your doctor will let you know exactly what you should do well before you need to do it. You also should plan out your transportation to and from the office pre- and post-treatment.
When you arrive, your doctor will take you into the treatment area or room. Here, he or she will begin the injection process. Depending on how many areas require treatment, you should expect your appointment to last anywhere from 15-minutes to an hour. Your doctor will let you know how long you should plan on being in the office.
The nice thing about Belotero is that its results are immediate. You will be able to see what you’ll look like post-treatment while you’re still in the office. This is a huge benefit to those who are eager to unveil their new look. Your doctor will also discuss post-treatment with you. The good news is that Belotero comes with very little downtime. The only notable changes are possible swelling, redness, tenderness, bruising and itching. These all should subside on their own within a few days. If you do experience any longer or more intense effects, discuss your concerns immediately with your doctor.
Once your side-effects of injection subside, you can expect the results to last for up to 6 months. Areas that make a lot of movement may see more subsiding of the product, while areas that aren’t moved a lot may last longer.
Another Good Read: 3 Things To Consider Before Using A Botox Alternative
HOW DOES BELOTERO WORK?
Belotero is a filler that increases volume in the face and jaw areas. It works because of its make-up. It is a hyaluronic acid that is able to integrate into your skin tissue. It is similar to Juvederm and Restylane. These two injectables absorb water to plump the skin. Belotero on the other hand is a cohesive soft gel that does the actual filling of hollows. It too is a hyaluronic acid that can bind to the waters within the skin. It was specially formulated to produce a very smooth look to the skin by replacing structure and volume.
MAINTAINING RESULTS
One of the nicest things about fillers like Belotero is that there is very little maintenance needed after injection. Once your doctor finishes treatment you will immediately see the results. By this time you know what to expect because your doctor has explained it to you, but seeing your face for the first time is still usually elating. Individual results vary however in general, Belotero lasts around 6-months. This is affected by a lot of different factors though. Things like amount of movement can affect results. For example, if you talk a lot and put a lot of strain on your lip lines, then results may be shorter-lasting. That is why the general window of effectiveness is set at 6-12 months.
When you notice that Belotero is fading and your skin is losing its plumpness you should make an appointment to discuss it with your doctor. He or she will make a recommendation – to wait or to schedule another injection series. The goal is to not only treat your facial areas of concern, but to maintain your youthful look long-term.
RISKS AND BENEFITS
As with any product, there are natural risks based on your medical history that you should discuss with your doctor. In general though, the risks with Belotero are minimal. There may be some bruising, redness, swelling and nodules. All should subside within a few days to a few weeks post-treatment. There may be some added risks if you have specific health concerns, which is why you should discuss them with your doctor prior to having any type of treatment.
Despite the risks Belotero is very safe. There are no long-term risks. The safeguard with the product also is that if you don’t like the results there is an antidotal enzyme remedy called hyaluronidase that is able to dissolve Belotero.
What makes Belotero so valuable to the market is that it has relatively low risks and it can be counteracted easily. Also—it comes with a long list of benefits—ease of difficult lines and wrinkles on the forehead, crow’s feet, facial fullness, etc.
You May Also Like: How Botox-type Injectables Can Boost Your Confidence and Self-Esteem: A Complete Guide
BELOTERO FACTS
Here are some general answers to commonly asked questions regarding Belotero.
What is Belotero made of?
Belotero is a proprietary product created to answer a need in the filler market. It acts as an internal moisturizer for the skin that plumps it up from beneath the surface. It actually is a hyaluronic acid that is FDA-approved and safe to treat folds, wrinkles and hollows that are moderate-to-severe in nature. It is a gel so it has the strength needed to plump up hollow areas. In addition, it is clear so you won’t see any bluish hue from under the skin which can happen with other fillers.
Is Belotero treatment painful?
Treatment with Belotero is not painful. In fact, the most complaints stem from the injection rather than the filler. At the injection site there may be some tenderness, redness and discomfort post treatment. This should completely dissipate within a few days.
How is Belotero different from other injectables?
What makes Belotero different from other injectables is that it is clear and it is a thick gel. The clearness means that it won’t leave a bluish hue underneath the skin. This can happen with other products if they are injected too close to the top layer of the skin. The fact that Belotero is a gel means that it has the strength to plump the skin effectively.
Will I see results?
You will see immediate results. The best thing about fillers like this is that they can show you how you’ll look right away.
Is there downtime following treatment?
Post treatment you may experience injection-related symptoms such as swelling, bruising and discoloration. It should however be minimal and subside within a few days. Your doctor may also request that you avoid sun exposure, strenuous activity, alcohol, NSAIDS and aspirin for 24-hours post treatment.
How long will results last?
Results normally last up to 6-months, depending on the specific case and areas treated
Schedule a Consultation Today
Regardless of your age, in case you are not satisfied with how you look due to fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin, Belotero can rejuvenate your skin to help it look vibrant, young and beautiful. Schedule a consultation and let us create a treatment plan designed for you. Call Dr. Sheffield today at our Santa Barbara location (805) 318-3280.
