Injectable Fillers

Injectable fillers are volumizing substances, which can be used to restore volume to specific areas of the face, fill wrinkles, and enhance the lips. When injected beneath the skin, they restore a smoother and more youthful appearance.


While there are a variety of injectable fillers available, Dr. O’Mara most commonly uses Juvederm®, Restylane® andPerlane®. These fillers are comprised of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring skin component. They may be used to improve a wide variety of skin imperfections including moderate to deep facial wrinkles, lines and folds. They can enhance the lips by improving the definition of the lip border or by adding fullness to the body of the lips. They can also volumize facial subunits like the cheeks. These injectable fillers are ideal for individuals with prominent nasolabial folds and fine lines around the mouth and lips, and are an ideal solution for improving prominent grooves between the lower eyelids and cheeks in patients who do not wish to undergo surgery. The results of Juvederm®, Restylane® and Perlane® last an average of ten months.


Dr. O’Mara performs all injectable fillers procedure himself in the office procedure room at Facial Plastic Surgery Of Beaumont, Texas. Treatment times take just five to ten minutes and a topical anesthetic is commonly used, though local anesthesia is used when treating the lips. Some minor bruising can occur on occasion. However, there is no downtime associated with injectable fillers and patients are able to return to work the very same day.


I’m 37 and there are a few things about my face that I’d like to improve. I figure that I’m probably on the young side to be considering a facelift, though I am bothered by the aging changes in my face. Are there ever benefits to getting a facelift early on or is it better at my age to consider other options like injectables?

Facelift procedures are usually performed on patients beginning in their upper forties and fifties. In younger patients, other procedures such as Botox and injectable fillers are more common. Surgical procedures such as submental liposuction are also helpful in younger patients.

Is it true that injectable fillers can be used for a nose job without the surgery? What changes can be made to the nose this way?

Injectable fillers can be used to provide minor contour chances to the nose, but I do not feel that fillers are an alternative to rhinoplasty surgery. Fillers are helpful in enhancing small depressed areas of the nose.

My 16 year old daughter wants to have a nose job. Her nose is not very large, but it is crooked and one nostril is visibly bigger than the other. I have heard of a non-surgical way to correct minor imperfections. Can you tell me about this new less invasive Rhinoplasty procedure?

It sounds like your daughter may have a deviated nasal septum causing the nostril asymmetry. Furthermore, she may have had nasal trauma in the past or was born with a crooked nose. Minor nasal corrections can be adjusted with injectables to fill subtle contours. Judging by the way you describe her nose, this definitely sounds like a surgical case. The good news is that many times, medical insurance will cover correction of her nasal abnormalities, especially if it is causing nasal airway obstruction.

I’m in my 40s and have developed some fine lines around my eyes over the past year. They’ve been bothering me more and more so I would like to fix them. Are fillers a good option for this and which one would be best? Also, how long will the results last?

Fillers are a good nonsurgical option for periorbital rejuvenation. They are particularly good for filling the groove between the lower eyelid and the cheek. For fine lines around the eyes, particularly in the crow’s feet region, I prefer Botox injection. The fillers that I use most are Juvederm and Restylane, and both of these products last an average of ten months.

I am a 20 year old Caucasian female and have already started noticing lines around my forehead and eyes. I don’t want to go under the knife just yet. Would receiving an injectable filler be a good option for me?

Hyperdynamic lines of the forehead and periorbital regions usually respond better to Botox injection rather than an injectable filler. Sometimes, however, patients who have deep wrinkles, especially in the brows, respond well to a combination of Botox and a filler. Because of your youthful age, I suspect that Botox alone will best suit you.

How are specific brands of injectable fillers chosen for each patient? Can someone have an allergic reaction to a filler?

I almost exclusively inject hyaluronic acid fillers in my practice. The most common brand that I use is Juvederm. I like this filler because it is soft and natural feeling, does not tend to form lumps beneath the skin, is completely absorbable and not permanent. There are reports of patients having allergic reactions to injectable fillers, but I have not personally seen it occur.

I have deep frown lines between my eyebrows that I’d like to fix, but I am worried about the toxicity of the chemical fillers. What are the long terms effects on health and skin after using these injectable fillers?

I almost exclusively use injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers in the face.  There are several products available which work well.  This is composed of a naturally occurring substance found in the skin and is not made from animal products.  Although mentioned as a potential risk, I have never seen an allergic reaction to this product after injection.  There are studies which suggest that this type of filler stimulates collagen formation which is desirable in long-term reduction of wrinkles.  This is an absorbable filler that lasts approximately 10 months.  I know of no long term deleterious effects after injection of HA fillers.

I’m starting to see fine vertical lines above my upper lip and little cracks in the corners. Can you make them go away?

I most commonly treat these lines around the lips and mouth with an injectable filler.  This usually lasts 10-12 months, although some studies suggest that fillers stimulate new collagen formation and can provide a longer result.  It takes approximately 5-10 minutes in the office setting.  For deeper lines of the lips and face, sometimes dermabrasion or laser resurfacing is the better option.

I’d like to get fuller lips with injectables but I’ve seen some really fake looking “fish lips,” even on celebrities! Is there a secret to natural looking results?

Short answer, I just say no to bigger lips.  Many patients forget what they originally looked like before entering the world of injectable fillers.  I tend to be very conservative with injecting lips and often show patients their original photographs before repeating injections.  I almost always avoid injecting the entire length of the lip, sparing the lip area at the corner of the mouth.  This can maintain a natural transition of the upper and lower lip and not create a “fish lip” appearance.

There are so many brands of fillers! What’s the difference between them and how do I choose which one I want?

I exclusively inject fillers composed of hyaluronic acid (HA).  This is a naturally occurring substance in the skin and not made from animal products.  They are produced in varying viscosities.  For example, a smaller particle sized filler would be a good choice for small lip lines, and a larger particle sized filler would be a good choice for a deep nasolabial fold.  Also, HA fillers are not permanent and provide a natural soft enhancement.