Belotero®

Introduction
Hyaluronic acid is a hydrating substance found naturally in skin and soft tissue, providing volume and youthfulness to our appearance. As we mature, there is depletion of hyaluronic acid in our skin and soft tissues, leading to wrinkles, folds, and sagging. Belotero® is a hyaluronic acid soft tissue filler useful in correcting many of these skin and soft tissues changes. Belotero® received FDA-approval for cosmetic use in 2011.

How is Belotero ® useful?
Belotero® is a versatile injectable filler manufactured using a patented technology to deliver natural volume correction. It has the ability to soften wrinkles of the face or body, restore volume loss, or augment facial and body, if desired. Because of it's unique properties that allows it to adapt to multiple layers of the soft tissue, Belotero is particularly useful for correcting fine wrinkles (smoker's lines, mid cheek lines, crow's feet, forehead lines) without uneveness or blue discoloration (Tyndall effect complication from filler) . Listed below are some examples of how Dr. Liu uses Belotero®:

Fine Wrinkle Reduction

• Perioral rhytides (Smoker’s lines around the mouth)
• Forehead wrinkles
• Glabellar lines (Frown lines)
• Neck wrinkles
• Middle cheek creases
• Décolletage wrinkles (Chest wrinkles)

Volume Restoration

• Under the eyes
• Smile lines (Nasolabial folds)
• Marionette lines (Downward turn of the corner of the mouth)
• Cheeks
• Chin
• Jaw
• Temples

Structural Contouring

• Lip
• Nose
• Cheeks
• Chin
• Jowls
• Eyebrows
• Hands
• Footpads

Left Photo-Evolving forehead lines, crow's feet wrinkles, and volume loss of undereye.   Right Photo-Fine line filler technique used for forehead and crow's using Belotero and Refyne. Cannula filler technique using Vollure for undereye. Patient preferred not to have Botox to retain full motion of face.

Before-Patient desires to reduce forehead lines without using neurotoxin wrinkle reducers (i.e., Botox)   After-Belotero filler without neurotoxin wrinkle reducer. Patient can move forehead muscles

Left Photo-Young patient early 20's with genetic volume deficiency of undereye fat pad and lower eyelid skin creases. Right Photo-Structural placement of Volbella to undereye fat pad and fine line filler injection to the lower eyelid creases using Restylane Refyne and Belotero

Dr. Liu on the Doctors Show Using Belotero to Treat Forehead Lines Without "Frozen Face" Results

Segment 1: Before Treatment

Segment 2: After Treatment

Before & After Photos of Patient in Video Above: Softened Lines and Can Move Forehead Naturally After Filler Treatment

(Left Photo) Before Treatment; (Middle Photo) After Filler To Forehead Lines; (Right Photo) Patient Demonstrating Movement of Forehead After Filler

Before-Deep & narrow wrinkle crease     After-6 months after superficial injection of Belotero without uneveness or discoloration

What should I do before treatment?
Before treatment, you should discuss with Dr. Liu your medical history, including allergies and medicines. If you are taking blood thinners, ask your doctor if it’s safe to discontinue prior to Belotero ® treatment. Belotero ® treatment is contraindicated in certain situations; some of these are listed below:

1. History of multiple severe allergies
2. History of allergies to Gram-positive bacteria proteins

Does Belotero ® injection hurt?
Belotero ® injections are well tolerated. Various methods for comfort are available including gentle nerve blocks, topical numbing cream, cooling of the skin, and/or mixing of anesthetic solution with the filler.

What is the recovery time?
The majority of patients have none to minimal down time. Occasionally, a bruise may develop, which resolves in a few days. If you take a blood thinner medication, ask your doctor if it can be discontinued prior to Belotero ® treatment, to minimize the risk of bruising.  There may be some swelling noted after the procedure, which can be minimized with ice and rarely lasts more than a day.

How long does it last?
Most patients can expect immediate and sustained results between 6 to 12 months.

Are there any side effects?
Side effects are uncommon and usually minor and temporary if seen. You may experience soreness or bruising at the injection site. Rarely, people experience lumpiness or irregularity in the treatment area.  These typically resolve with gentle massage or observation.

What do I do after the treatment?
After care instructions will be provided by your treatment team.