Injectable Fillers San Diego
The signs of aging are often associated with signs of volume loss. As we age, we lose volume in most areas of our face including the cheeks, under the eyes, around the mouth, and the lips. Modern injectable fillers use synthetically derived products that naturally occur in our bodies to restore youthful contours to our face and fill in deep wrinkles. These products are slowly absorbed by our bodies and broken down by water to naturally occurring elements of our skin.
The Best Candidates for Dermal Fillers
- Are healthy and not taking any blood thinner medications
- Are motivated to improve your appearance with injectable fillers
- Have lines and wrinkles in the face that don’t go away with BOTOX® Cosmetic
- Have lost volume in the face, lips, or hands with aging or weight loss
- Work in a competitive industry where appearance is an important part of your job
With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Gallus is a board certified plastic surgeon and Castle Connolly Top Doctor. She will partner with you to develop a tailored surgical plan that prioritizes your safety and results.
Your Injectable Filler Options
The great thing about injectable fillers are there are so many options. The worst thing about injectable fillers is that there are so many options! New products are being FDA approved every year, expanding the options that can be individually tailored to your unique needs.
The most common fillers are derived from hyaluronic acid. Some fillers are made from other substances such as hydroxyapatite or Poly-L lactic acid. The family of hyaluronic acid fillers are most common and act by attracting water molecules to bind to the filler gel and increase volume. The body then slowly absorbs the filler and the volume gradually goes away. To some degree fillers are also thought to stimulate new collagen growth by your own skin to leave a lasting effect beyond the expected life of the filler. Fillers come in different consistencies and are used in different areas of the face and body based on their thickness, pliability, and rate of absorption.
This makes your assessment and plan for non-invasive facial rejuvenation an individually tailored approach that takes into consideration your short and long term goals. At Restore SD Plastic Surgery we will take the time to educate you about your many options to help you look and feel your best.
“I have been going to Dr. Gallus since 2019 for treatments including Botox, fillers, IPL, and microneedling with radio frequency. My results since switching to Dr. Gallus have been better than my previous aesthetic doctor. I look much more natural and have very little, if any bruising after injectables. Also, I love the office staff! It’s a very down to earth, relaxed and fun atmosphere.”
—Actual patient of Dr. Gallus
The Injectable Filler Procedure
Injectable fillers are performed in the office by our expert staff in comfortable surroundings to restore you to a refreshed and youthful look. Injections are an art, and we have extensive experience and expertise in the finer points of fillers. The first time we see a patient for an injection procedure, we will work with you to find the ideal treatment plan and then refine your goals over time. You will have photos taken with our VECTRA® 3D imaging system and discuss treatment areas and options while viewing your photo series. This ensures you can address all areas of concern with your provider. With our state of the art Canfield software, potential results can be viewed, helping you to visualize possible outcomes.
Do filler injections cause pain or brusing?
Most fillers have local anesthesia as part of their formulation, making the procedure relatively painless. We make every effort to ensure your experience is as comfortable as possible by using ice and other modalities as needed. We also offer Pro-Nox, a patient-controlled pain management system that allows you to administer your own pain relief during your treatment. Learn more about Pro-Nox here»
Often blunt-tip cannulas can be used to assist in a smoother and safer application of product and minimize the potential for bruising. Fillers are injected in the office and aside from occasional bruising, there is no indication that you have had something done besides an improved facial contour.
Recovery After Dermal Fillers
Filler injections are ideal because they have very little downtime and can be done in the office. After your injection, you will have a cooling mask or ice pack to help settle down the mild discomfort that can accompany the procedure. You will be able to carry on with your usual day but are not allowed to perform any strenuous exercise or physical activity for the remainder of the day. Filler results are visible right away although there might be some increased swelling in the injected area over the next few days. You may notice some bruising around the injection sites and this subsides very quickly.
Combining Dermal Fillers with other Procedures
Fillers complement other Facial Rejuvenation procedures to restore youth and vitality to your appearance. Fillers are often combined with neuromodulators (such as BOTOX® Cosmetic) and laser skin resurfacing. If you have been looking for a new BFF, talk to us about our multi-modal BFF approach to non-invasive facial rejuvenation – BOTOX® Cosmetic, Fillers, and Fractionated Laser treatment. Combined with an individualized skin care regimen, the BFF approach can maximize your non-invasive facial rejuvenation results.
What happens at my injectable filler consultation?
During your initial facial rejuvenation consultation, your Restore SD provider will perform a detailed facial and skin examination as well as review your medical history and any medications you are taking. You will have photos taken with our VECTRA® 3D imaging system and discuss treatment areas and options while viewing your photo series. This ensures you can address all areas of concern with your provider. With our state of the art Canfield software, potential results can be viewed, helping you to visualize possible outcomes. After a treatment plan is devised you will be able to receive treatment that day in the office.
Why should I choose Restore SD for my injectable filler?
Getting filler injections from a provider who took a weekend course and wants to make a quick buck may be cheaper, but you may not be getting authentic filler product and your provider may not be well versed in anatomy or able to take care of any complications.
At Restore SD Plastic Surgery, we take the time to listen to your goals and partner with you to achieve the best possible results. We stand by our products and our experience. Allow us to deliver a safe, quality, and age-appropriate facial rejuvenation that will leave you looking and feeling younger and more self-confident. Injectable fillers are wonderful procedures that can soften facial features and stave off some of the inevitable parts of the aging process.
We believe in a natural approach that results in an age-appropriate appearance. We don’t endorse an overdone appearance or a completely expressionless face. As a Board Certified plastic surgeon with over a decade of experience, Dr. Gallus is intimately familiar with the precise anatomy and techniques to deliver a safe, consistent, and reliable result.
Call 858-224-2281 or contact us online to schedule your appointment today.
Injectable Dermal filler FAQs
Are injectable fillers expensive?
Our pricing for injectable fillers reflects our years of experience and precise knowledge of the anatomy necessary to provide you with a safe, reliable, and consistent experience. At Restore SD Plastic Surgery we believe in safety, training, and proper credentials for every injector. This ensures that your cost is minimized by strategic use to create a natural result. We also stand by our products, and the cost reflects the use of genuine product obtained legally. We will not sacrifice the safety of our patients by cost-cutting measures such as counterfeit filler, over-diluted filler, or product that is obtained overseas.
Do injectable fillers hurt?
Your comfort is our top priority at Restore SD Plastic Surgery! Rest assured that most patients report the discomfort from filler injections as being very minimal. Most formulations contain local numbing medication. Your treatment will take place in a calming environment and you will be provided with a cooling pack for the treatment areas before and after the injections to minimize any pain or bruising.
Your Safety = Beautiful Results
Injectable Fillers at Restore SD
At Restore SD Plastic Surgery, patient safety comes first. Board-certified plastic surgeon and former Navy plastic surgeon Dr. Katerina Gallus operates in a private, on-site Quad A-accredited surgery center, with state-of-the-art equipment and LED surgical lighting. She proudly works with a board-certified anesthesiologist and holds privileges at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.
Learn more about Dermal Fillers
I am considering filler injections for the first time – what do I need to know?
Treatment with injectable filler is a wonderful way to look and feel younger and is maximized by being combined with an individualized skin care program. If you are new to fillers, it is important to know that you will see effects right away but it can take a few days for associated swelling to subside. For our first-time patients, we recommend that you come back to the office in a week or two to assess your result and see if there are any little areas that need touching up to optimize your results. Finding the right balance of volume, frequency of treatment, and treatment areas can take a couple of visits as part of your ongoing maintenance plan. Become a member of our patient loyalty program and get the inside scoop on special offers and priority scheduling!
How long do the effects of injectable fillers last?
Injectable fillers can last anywhere from four to eighteen months. Some of our patients swear that either JUVÉDERM® or Restylane® works better for them. We encourage you to try both as part of your ongoing maintenance plan and see if you notice a difference. Both fillers are comparably priced so you don’t need to worry about changing products to manage cost. JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC is specifically designed for cheek volume restoration and the effects can last up to 18 months. Most other fillers last around 6 months.
- Key Benefits
- Glossary
- Restore lost volume to areas of the face for a fuller, more youthful appearance
- Fill in wrinkles and fine lines to reduce signs of aging
- Sculpt and contour the jawline and cheeks
- Add natural-looking shape and volume to the lips
- Belotero: A brand of hyaluronic acid dermal filler known for its ability to integrate into the skin for subtle correction of moderate-to-severe facial wrinkles and folds.
- Biocompatible: Referring to materials that do not harm the body; many dermal fillers are made from substances that are biocompatible, mimicking naturally occurring substances in the skin.
- Collagen Fillers: Injectable products made from collagen, a natural protein that provides structure and firmness to the skin, used to diminish wrinkles and restore facial volume.
- Cross-Linking: The process that stabilizes the gel in hyaluronic acid fillers, affecting their longevity and the consistency of the product.
- Dermal Fillers: Injectable substances used to smooth wrinkles, restore facial volume, enhance contours, and improve the appearance of scars.
- Hyaluronic Acid (HA): A naturally occurring substance in the skin that retains moisture and adds volume, widely used in dermal fillers for its natural look and feel.
- Injection Sites: Specific areas on the face where fillers are injected to achieve desired aesthetic results, such as the lips, cheeks, and nasolabial folds.
- Juvederm: A family of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers used to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, and to enhance lips and cheeks.
- Lip Fillers: Dermal fillers specifically formulated to augment and enhance the shape and volume of the lips.
- Nasolabial Folds: Deep creases running from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth, commonly treated with fillers for a smoother appearance.
- Non-Surgical: Procedures or treatments that do not require surgical incisions or removal of tissue, such as injectable filler treatments.
- Poly-L-lactic Acid: A synthetic, biodegradable substance used in Sculptra, a type of injectable filler that stimulates the body’s own collagen production for gradual and long-lasting results.
- Restylane: A line of hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers designed to address wrinkles, facial folds, and volume loss, as well as enhancing lips and cheeks.
- Reversible Fillers: Fillers, especially those based on hyaluronic acid, that can be dissolved with an enzyme (hyaluronidase), allowing for the adjustment or reversal of effects if necessary.
- RHA: Resilient Hyaluronic Acid, a newer generation of hyaluronic acid fillers designed to adapt to facial dynamics and movements for a more natural look.
- Sculptra: A poly-L-lactic acid filler that stimulates collagen production to restore facial volume gradually and is particularly effective for treating deep lines, wrinkles, and volume loss.
- Soft Tissue Fillers: Another term for dermal fillers, emphasizing their application in adding volume and smoothing lines in the soft tissues of the face.
- Volume Loss: The decrease in facial volume due to aging, characterized by hollowing or sagging areas that can be addressed with dermal fillers.
What is the difference between Juvederm, Restylane, and Belotero?
All three are hyaluronic acid fillers with subtle differences in consistency and pliability. All are effective for treating areas of the face. The subtle differences make each particularly suited to an individualized treatment plan that may include one or more of these fillers to optimize your result.
Do I need more filler injections to get my desired look?
By all means, come into the office and let us have a look. Your results and happiness are important to us, and finding the right balance of volume, frequency of treatment, and treatment areas can take a couple of visits as part of your ongoing maintenance plan. We believe in erring on the side of under-treating rather than giving you an overdone and artificial appearance. Once you purchase the filler, it is yours. We can store the unused portion for a time recommended by the manufacturer for each product. Performing filler treatments is a delicate and fine art. Rather than overdo it, we would rather have you come back after a couple of weeks for subtle touch-ups that enhance your natural look. Become a member of our patient loyalty program and get the inside scoop on special offers and priority scheduling!
I had filler injections done elsewhere last week and I think it is too much!
If you are unhappy with the filler and a hyaluronic-based injectable was used (Restylane®, JUVÉDERM®, BELOTERO BALANCE®) we can inject a substance that dissolves the filler. We believe in erring on the side of under-treating rather than giving you and overdone and artificial appearance to avoid this situation.
What if you don’t use all of the injectable filler at one setting?
Once you have purchased the filler it is yours! We can store the unused portion in the office for the period of time allowed by the manufacturer. Coming back a few weeks later to use the rest of the product can alleviate an overdone or artificial appearance and enhance your natural look.
I don’t want to get injectable filler every 6 months, is there a more permanent solution?
Fat grafting utilizing fat from your own body can be a more permanent solution in some situations. Unlike fillers, there is some downtime associated with this in-office procedure. After trying absorbable fillers for several sessions, you may want to discuss fat grafting as a more definitive solution for restoring volume in the cheeks, lips, hands, and under the eyes. Dr. Gallus will happily talk with you to see if fat grafting may be an option.
Schedule your consultation!
Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Katerina Gallus holds over 15 years of experience as a cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon. Her priority is taking the time to listen to your goals and partner with you to develop the best and safest treatment plan that will optimize your results and leave you looking and feeling your best. To learn what our injectors can do for you, schedule a consultation at our San Diego. Call our office at 858-224-2281 or reach out online.
Call to schedule your consultation today »
References »
Ballin AC, Cazzaniga A, Brandt FS. Long-term efficacy, safety and durability of Juvéderm® XC. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2013 Aug 5;6:183-9. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S33568. PMID: 23946665; PMCID: PMC3739705.
Hamman MS, Goldman MP. Minimizing bruising following fillers and other cosmetic injectables. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2013 Aug;6(8):16-8.
Kapoor KM, Saputra DI, Porter CE, Colucci L, Stone C, Brenninkmeijer EEA, Sloane J, Sayed K, Winaya KK, Bertossi D. Treating Aging Changes of Facial Anatomical Layers with Hyaluronic Acid Fillers. 2021. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S294812.
Kim JE, Sykes JM. Hyaluronic acid fillers: history and overview. Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine. 2011 Dec;27(6):523-8. doi: 10.1055/s-0031-1298785.
Safran T, Swift A, Cotofana S, Nikolis A. Evaluating safety in hyaluronic acid lip injections. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety. 2021 Dec;20(12):1473-1486. doi: 10.1080/14740338.2021.1962283.
Matecka M, Lelonkiewicz M, Pieczyńska A, Pawlaczyk M. Subjective Evaluation of the Results of Injectable Hyaluronic Acid Fillers for the Face. Clin Interv Aging. 2020 Jan 13;15:39-45. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S233405. PMID: 32021131; PMCID: PMC6968800.
Gold MH. Use of hyaluronic acid fillers for the treatment of the aging face. Clin Interv Aging. 2007;2(3):369-76. doi: 10.2147/cia.s1244. PMID: 18044187; PMCID: PMC2685277.
Solish N, Bertucci V, Percec I, Wagner T, Nogueira A, Mashburn J. Dynamics of hyaluronic acid fillers formulated to maintain natural facial expression. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2019 Jun;18(3):738-746. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12961. Epub 2019 Apr 29. PMID: 31033110; PMCID: PMC6850461.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Katerina Gallus — Updated on Jul 17, 2025
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