Injectable Fillers in Chicago, Illinois

If you’ve been concerned about the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, an inevitable part of the aging process, facial fillers may help.

Fillers are a minimally-invasive and safe way to rewind the clock. Because the results aren’t permanent, you have the freedom to decide whether or not it is the right solution for you without a long-term commitment. For this reason, injectable fillers are a popular first step for those wanting to reverse some of the signs of aging without having surgery.

Facial fillers are designed to smooth lines and wrinkles and restore volume to the face. They work in a different way than injectable botulinum toxins, such as Botox® and Dysport® that work by temporarily paralyzing facial muscles. 

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What are injectable fillers?

Injectable fillers, often called dermal fillers, are widely available in IL, and they are the best way to reduce the appearance of facial lines. Facial fillers also work to restore volume in areas of the face where there has been fat loss.

This loss of subcutaneous fat is part of the natural aging process and brings the muscles of the face closer to the surface of the skin, making crow’s feet and smile lines much more apparent. Loss of elasticity adds to lines and wrinkles through stretching of the skin, as well as other factors, such as lifestyle and sun damage.

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What Can Be Treated with Injectable Fillers?

Dermal fillers can address a number of concerns, such as: Thin lips; Facial lines and wrinkles; Recessed scars; Dark areas under the eyes.

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Benefits of Injectable Fillers

Dermal fillers are minimally-invasive interventions that may mitigate the early signs of aging, and they can be performed alongside other facial rejuvenation procedures. These soft tissue fillers may delay the need for a facelift. 

It is important to remember that dermal fillers are temporary treatments, and you will need routine follow-up injections to maintain the results. There are other surgical procedures that should be considered if you are looking for longer-lasting results, such as a brow lift, eye lift, or facelift.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Injectable Fillers

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Pros

  • Hyaluronic acid used in most fillers occurs naturally in our bodies and dissolves over time
  • Minimally-invasive procedure that requires little to no downtime
  • Very few risks or side-effects
  • Quick and relatively painless
  • Results only last for a couple of months - if you don’t like the results, they will fade naturally over time (or can be reversed immediately with hyaluronidase)

Cons

  • Temporary treatment that requires ongoing injections - it can become expensive to maintain the results
  • Not all fillers give the same results - consult with a well-respected doctor before undergoing treatment
  • Some patients experience side effects, including allergic reactions, hard lumps, bruising, and redness


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Injectable Fillers FAQs in IL

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  • What are the different types of facial fillers?

    There are a number of different types of fillers that are categorized according to active ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, Poly-L lactic acid, polymethylmethacrylate, and fat.

    Hyaluronic Acid (HA)

    Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the skin, helping it stay plump and hydrated. Fillers that use hyaluronic acid are usually soft and gel-like and offer temporary results that last between six and twelve months. The HA is slowly absorbed by your body. The most popular types of hyaluronic acid fillers are Juvéderm®, Restylane®, and Belotero® Balance.

    Juvéderm®

    Juvéderm® dermal filler targets different areas of the face, and the results can be seen immediately after treatment.

    • Juvéderm® Ultra XC – plumps lips, lasts for six months to one year
    • Juvéderm® Voluma XC – offers cheek contouring, lasts up to two years
    • Juvéderm® Volbella XC – adds volume and smooths vertical lip lines, lasts up to one year
    • Juvéderm® Vollure XC – smooths nasolabial folds, lasts up to 18 months 

    Restylane®

    The range of Restylane® fillers contains different ingredients that are designed to target specific areas. The results typically take a couple of days to appear.

    • Restylane® Silk – adds volume to the lip area and smooths fine lines, lasts six months
    • Restylane® Refyne – smooths nasolabial fold, lasts up to one year
    • Restylane® Defyne – for deep lines and wrinkles, lasts up to one year
    • Restylane® Lyft – used for cheeks and hands, lasts up to 18 months

    Belotero® Balance

    Belotero® Balance is used for delicate areas, such as under the eyes, as well as to fill fine lines in the face and neck. You can expect results to last around six months.

    Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA)

    Calcium hydroxylapatite occurs naturally in the body, primarily in our teeth and bones. The calcium particles are microscopically ground then suspended in a smooth gel. The consistency of the filler is thicker than hyaluronic acid fillers and tends to offer longer-lasting results. It stimulates the natural production of collagen, and it is most frequently used to smooth deeper lines and wrinkles. Radiesse® is the most well-known brand of CaHA filler and lasts up to one year. It offers the higher “liftability” compared to other fillers, which is why it is often used to augment jawlines and cheekbones.

    Poly-L-lactic Acid

    Poly-L-lactic acid is a biodegradable synthetic substance that has been used for many years for medical applications, such as synthetic stitches. It is classified as a “collagen stimulator.” These fillers help your body rebuild natural collagen, while the filler gel itself dissolves within a few days. Poly-L-lactic acid fillers are used for deeper wrinkles, and the results can last up to two years. Sculptra® Aesthetic is a well-known FDA-approved poly-l-lactic acid product

    Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)

    Polymethylmethacrylat (PMMA)is a synthetic biocompatible compound has been used in medicine for about a century. As a dermal filler, PMMA is used in the form of a microsphere that remains below the skin to provide support. The fillers also contain collagen to offer structure and firmness. 

    Bellafill® is the most common PMMA filler. It is made from a combination of bovine collagen and microspheres. It’s longer-lasting than HA fillers, although it can cause allergic reactions in some patients.

    Facial Fat Transfer

    Also called autologous fat injections or facial fat grafting, facial fat transfer is the only form of filler injections that requires surgery. For this treatment, your own fat is harvested, usually through liposuction, then purified and injected into the face. The fat is used to restore volume to areas of the face, such as the temples, cheeks, and lower eyelids Facial fat transfer is also used for pitted facial scars and to fill in nasolabial folds. Facial fat transfer has a downtime of approximately one week, and the procedure can take up to two hours.

  • What can I expect from my appointment?

    Before the treatment, meet with your doctor to discuss your goals, as well as any concerns. The surgeon evaluates the area and takes a full medical history.

    During the treatment, the area is cleaned, and a topical anesthesia is applied to numb the area. Many of the different dermal fillers contain lidocaine, a mild anesthetic designed to minimize discomfort during and after your treatment. The doctor strategically injects small amounts of the filler under the skin. You may notice the results immediately after the injections.

    The entire procedure takes 30 to 60 minutes, with the exception of fat filler injections, which take around two hours.

  • How long do injectable fillers last?

    The longevity of facial fillers depends on the type of dermal filler. Some last between six and twelve months, and others last up to two years. With most facial fillers, even after the effects of the fillers have ended, there will still be some anti-aging benefits as most contain hyaluronic acid and other ingredients that help stimulate elastin and collagen.

  • Are facial fillers safe?

    Dermal fillers are considered to be safe, and severe complications from fillers are uncommon. Some patients have symptoms after the injections, such as bruising, redness, pain, swelling, and itching. In some cases, there may be skin rashes, infections, discoloration, pigmentation changes, and lumps.

  • Do fillers boost collagen production?

    Some facial fillers stimulate the production of collagen by stretching fibroblast cells that are responsible for the production of collagen. So, not only do dermal fillers produce immediate results, but they also contribute to the creation of thicker, more youthful-looking skin.

  • How long does it take to see the full effects of facial fillers?

    While the visible results of dermal fillers immediate, it can take up to four weeks to see the full results. This is because the filler takes time to integrate into the facial tissue, with some types being more cohesive than others. Injectables may cause some initial swelling and bruising around the injection sites, and these symptoms may last up to two weeks. 

  • How can you get the most from your injectable fillers?

    Hydrate before and after the treatment. Hyaluronic acid in fillers binds with water, and being hydrated may help enhance the results. Your skin is the last organ that receives water, so hydration, over and above your regular water consumption, will have an effect on the results.

    After getting injectable fillers, be gentle when cleansing and caring for your face. For the first two weeks after treatment, avoid facials, waxing, laser, and high temperatures, such as hot showers and saunas. Also, avoid exercise for the first 24 hours.

  • Do Botox® and dermal fillers work together?

    Botox® and other neurotoxins relax muscle activity at the site of the injection to reduce lines and wrinkles, such as crow’s feet and frown lines. Dermal fillers are different in that they fill in wrinkles and lines. Botox® and injectable fillers complement each other because they work on different types of wrinkles. Botox® relaxes dynamic wrinkles that are caused by facial movements, and dermal fillers smooth static wrinkles and restore lost volume. The combination allows you to address multiple areas of your face.

    Please note that there are specific laws that govern the use of facial fillers in [STATE], so it’s important to work with a doctor who has the right qualifications, meets the state’s medical requirements, and has years of experience in injectable filler procedures. 

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Patient testimonials

Read real reviews from the Anzolo community

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ 1.0
Nov 23, 2024
Doctor who is into deceitful behavior

If you want to get maimed, mutilated and traumatized, Sidle is a great choice for all of that. I went to Sidle wanting to get a surgery to fix my deviated septum. I was always happy with the front profile of my nose for the most part, but I never really liked the side profile so while I was at it I decided to get a small 1-2mm bump shaved down as well as a minor reduction in the size of the tip. I figured hey, these are some small changes, I'm paying a ton of money for a surgeon at a reputable hospital, and I've seen people get cheap rhinoplasties go from horrid looking noses to beautiful noses so I'm sure nothing bad could happen. I was wrong. Biggest regret of my life.

One thing that really set off a red flag was without asking for my permission, he told me he tried a new technique on me after the surgery. He also told me he "straightened" my nose with extended spreader grafts which was something I never asked for. While I was pissed at the time turns out that's the least of my concerns.

As my nose healed from the surgery, it started looking droopy and my breathing which was the reason I went into him in the first place, was much worse than when I started. I told him and he offered to do a revision for free, and when I asked him about the process he said it would be while I was awake. That kind of set off red flags because I've never heard of anyone getting any kind of nose work done while awake but he assured me it was normal and that he does many revisions (which should have also been a red flag) that way. When the surgery was over, it did look less droopy but now I had a huge dent on the side of my nose, a huge swelling on the inside that completely blocked my breathing in one nostril, as he aggressively expanded valves, and a huge dent on the tip. Plus it just looks asymmetrical when you compare both side profiles. When I asked him about it, he said that the swelling blocking my breathing could just be an infection and the bumps and dents will go away and if not to come back to him and he will fix it easily. Now that I have entered the medical field myself looking back I am realizing how little his explanations made sense. I mean if there is an infection why didn't he give me antibiotics? Why didn't he have any concern for it spreading? How would an infection to the point of inflammation go away by itself with no medication? Either he was bullsh**ing about the infection thing to shut me up or he is grossly incompetent. I'm thinking it was the former because he seems smart enough.

None of these things resolved on their own, so I saw him again and what really alarmed me this time was how he completely changed his stories. He said the dent must have been there all along (no it wasn't) and he changed his story about the swelling from being a possible infection to denying he ever said that and saying it was scaring. He offered to fix just the scarring on the inside of my nose (said he could do nothing about the bump and dent) and I scheduled it, but the more I thought about it the more I realized that with all these red flags I'd be an idiot to let him touch my nose a third time and make things even worse so I backed out last minute. I will never let him touch me again.

I never felt self-conscious about my nose before the surgery except from the side, and ever since he touched it, now I have these annoying flaws that do make me feel self-conscious and it sucks. My nose doesn't even look like the initial imaging we came up with when I described what I wanted and it does not look as feminine as my original nose. Plus my breathing is so much worse than I started and I can't feel the tip of my nose anymore. I wasted my money, my time and my health with not one but two procedures from this fraud. There is no reversal of harm and damage that Sidle has done to me. At the end of the day, that psychopath has caused me so much injury, harm and trauma that nothing in the world that can remedy it. Avoid at all costs.

Kathy E. on Douglas Sidle, MD via AnzoloMed

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ 1.0
Nov 23, 2024
Dishonest provider Sidle

Dishonest provider! I first went to Sidle wanting to get a surgery to fix my deviated septum. I was always happy with the front profile of my nose for the most part, but I never really liked the side profile so while I was at it I decided to get a small 1-2mm bump shaved down as well as a minor reduction in the size of the tip. I figured hey, these are some small changes, I'm paying a ton of money for a surgeon at a reputable hospital, and I've seen people get cheap rhinoplasties go from horrid looking noses to beautiful noses so I'm sure nothing bad could happen. I was wrong. Biggest regret of my life.

One thing that really set off a red flag was without asking for my permission, he told me he tried a new technique on me after the surgery. He also told me he "straightened" my nose with extended spreader grafts which was something I never asked for. While I was pissed at the time turns out that's the least of my concerns.

As my nose healed from the surgery, it started looking droopy and my breathing which was the reason I went into him in the first place, was much worse than when I started. I told him and he offered to do a revision for free, and when I asked him about the process he said it would be while I was awake. That kind of set off red flags because I've never heard of anyone getting any kind of nose work done while awake but he assured me it was normal and that he does many revisions (which should have also been a red flag) that way. When the surgery was over, it did look less droopy but now I had a huge dent on the side of my nose, a huge swelling on the inside that completely blocked my breathing in one nostril, as he aggressively expanded valves, and a huge dent on the tip. Plus it just looks asymmetrical when you compare both side profiles. When I asked him about it, he said that the swelling blocking my breathing could just be an infection and the bumps and dents will go away and if not to come back to him and he will fix it easily. Now that I have entered the medical field myself looking back I am realizing how little his explanations made sense. I mean if there is an infection why didn't he give me antibiotics? Why didn't he have any concern for it spreading? How would an infection to the point of inflammation go away by itself with no medication? Either he was bullshitting about the infection thing to shut me up or he is grossly incompetent. I'm thinking it was the former because he seems smart enough.

None of these things resolved on their own, so I saw him again and what really alarmed me this time was how he completely changed his stories. He said the dent must have been there all along (no it wasn't) and he changed his story about the swelling from being a possible infection to denying he ever said that and saying it was scaring. He offered to fix just the scarring on the inside of my nose (said he could do nothing about the bump and dent) and I scheduled it, but the more I thought about it the more I realized that with all these red flags I'd be an idiot to let him touch my nose a third time and make things even worse so I backed out last minute. I'd rather spend another 10,000 then let him touch it again.

I never felt self-conscious about my nose before the surgery except from the side, and ever since he touched it, now I have these annoying flaws that do make me feel self-conscious and it sucks. My nose doesn't even look like the initial imaging we came up with when I described what I wanted and it does not look as feminine as my original nose. Plus my breathing is much worse than I started and I can't feel the tip of my nose anymore. My nose is by no means hideous thank god, but I'm pissed because I just wanted very minor changes to fix some minor flaws and my nose looks worse than what I went in with which means I wasted my money and my time with not one but two procedures.

The reason I am writing this review now after a couple of years is because 1) its finally fully healed and the issues I had with it are still here 2) I now have to spend another 10,000 on a revision and take off from school again just because of these dents and bumps all over the place that are making me self conscious and most importantly to take care of my breathing going to shit after this surgery, 3) tbh,I didn't want people knowing I got a rhinoplasty so I was hesitant to write this review.

This time after meticulously interviewing several top surgeons to do my revision they all agreed the work was sloppy and there are definitely things that need to be fixed, so it's not just me being overdramatic. Lesson I learned is never let a surgeon touch your nose for very minor things especially if you were never self-conscious about it before because they have no accountability for how it turns out or for wasting your time and money. See Jennifer's review below, her experience was very similar to mine. Also,all the people who talked about him bullshitting you when things go wrong aka "infection".

Kathy E. on Douglas Sidle, MD via AnzoloMed

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5.0
Nov 23, 2024

Five stars are not enough!

Several years ago (5 or 6 or 7), Dr Sidle performed numerous procedures on my face--facelift, eye lift, chemical peel, chin...

Anne C. on Douglas Sidle, MD via Yelp

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5.0
Nov 23, 2024

I'm a busy professional with a demanding schedule so I was concerned with advanced planning, responsiveness and making sure that I received the best...

Jorge L. on Douglas Sidle, MD via Yelp

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