Troy: Welcome to the show. Today we’re talking all about injectables and the non-surgical ways you can bring youth back to your face. Let me introduce you to Dr. Thompson, one of my favorites, our facial plastic surgeon. Welcome back, Dr. Thompson.
Dr. Scott Thompson: Thanks for having me Troy.
Troy: All right, let’s clear this all up to begin with. Injectables, are they the same as dermal fillers and botox? A lot of women and men get it wrong.
Dr. Thompson: Yeah, I answer that question all the time. Injectables are simply anything that is injected into the face. Botox is included, dermal fillers are included.
Troy: Let’s get this cleared up from the very beginning. When we talk about injectables, they are the same as dermal fillers and botox. And how does it differ where you decide to use them?
Dr. Thompson: Yes, injectables is a broad term that is used to describe anything that is injected into the skin of the face. Botox is included in that, fillers are included in that, and in general, those are used to soften lines and wrinkles in the face.
Troy: Okay, what makes someone the perfect candidate? Let’s start off with fillers. What are you looking for when looking at doing a filler?
Dr. Thompson: The perfect candidate for a filler is generally someone who has deep lines or folds generally around the mouth. That’s one of the places we use fillers a lot. Or they are just really hollow or they need volume to their face. Another area that has recently become a lot bigger is injecting into the cheeks with Voluma, which we’ve talked about on the show before.
Troy: Okay, that’s regarding injectable/dermal filler. Is dermal filler a separate product?
Dr. Thompson: No, it’s not a separate product. And they’ve always been called dermal fillers but not we just usually use the term filler because the dermis is just a layer of the skin. There are lots of different places we inject filler so the more broad term “filler” is more appropriate.
Troy: Okay, it’s probably a sweeping statement that I’m going to ask you but this is something that I believe in. I have always thought that having Botox is a great preventative if started earlier on, before fillers.
Dr. Thompson: You’re absolutely right about that and fillers can even apply to that. Anytime you’re starting to see a line or a wrinkle it’s much easier to correct and prevent. Say their in their 50’s or 60’s and the lines are deep, they become a little harder to correct. It’s easier when you start earlier with both of those.
Troy: People say you can go and have an injectable or some Botox on your lunch break. We’re going faster and faster in our lives. Is this something that you think is a good idea?
Dr. Thompson: I do, and it’s absolutely true. A lot of things are advertises as an immediate recovery, a lunch-time facelift, those are sometimes over promised or over exaggerated. But injectables really are, come during your lunch break, come at the end of the day and go back to work the next day, no big deal.
Troy: What about back to work after the injectables?
Dr. Thompson: Yes, you do have the chance of a bruise. So as long as you are willing to accept that risk that you might get a small bruise, then absolutely, come during your lunch break.
Troy: So you’re saying there really truly isn’t any downtime?
Dr. Thompson: There is no downtime, there really isn’t. I do tell people to avoid strenuous exercise for a few hours but other than that, you can put makeup on within a half hour. If you do get a bruise you can usually cover it very easily.
Troy. A lot of doctors recommend different types of fillers. Why do they do that and do they all last the same amount of time?
Dr. Thompson: No, they don’t. They last different amounts of time. There are different fillers that are indicated for different areas. For example, if I’m injecting into the lips, I choose a different filler than if I’m injecting into the cheeks or mid-face.
Troy: So different brands or kinds of products?
Dr. Thompson: Sometimes different brands, sometimes a different filler within the same brand. It just depends on what we’re trying to accomplish.
Troy: Do you feel the patients are getting younger and younger that come into your office and are getting more concerned because of societies pressures?
Dr. Thompson: You know, I’ve been seeing articles about the increase frequency of selfies has translated into the increase of procedures and plastic surgery and I do think we are kind of becoming more self aware. You post pictures of yourself online, all the sudden you see a wrinkle or you see a line you want to do something about.
Troy: How do you feel about it as a professional?
Dr. Thompson: I love what I do and I want people to feel better about themselves but at the same time, I often tell people when they come in that maybe this minor blemish that you’re pointing out isn’t something we need to make a big deal out of.
Troy: I shouldn’t talk. I’m always saying to you, “what about this, or that?”…
Dr. Thompson: Yeah, and it’s okay. My job is to help but it’s also my job to make sure people are thinking in a reasonable way and not obsessing over something that shouldn’t be obsessed about.
Troy: Even though you’re in business to make money as well, I love that fact that you’re willing to tell people when it’s not going to work.
Dr. Thompson: That and sometimes I feel like the physicians aren’t quick enough to tell someone they don’t need something. For example, I’ll have a patient who I give filler to four months ago and they loved it and they want more. I feel like if I put anymore filler in your lips it’s going to look a little unnatural or disproportionate and I need to tell them that rather that just do it.
Troy: That is truly important because I know back home in Australia that I had some filler done under my eyes. And I went back and said I needed more and they just did it. And you were one of the people that said, “what’s going on, why do you have so much in there”? That makes you feel more confident with the doctor.
Dr. Thompson: Yes, my profession is to take care of people so I need to be honest in what I recommend.
Troy: What are the trends when it comes to having injectables now days? What are we seeing more being done.
Dr. Thompson: I think we’re seeing more volumization of the face. We’re seeing that with fat injections from a surgical standpoint and that’s also translating to fillers for more volumization to the face.
Troy: Okay, more guys than girls? Are you seeing more and more?
Dr. Thompson: I’m seeing a lot more men in my office in general, not just with injectables, but yes, I’m seeing a lot more men.
Troy: Hence my next question. We always ask viewers to write in now and give you some questions. Dr. Thompson, do you agree that more men are getting ‘brotox’ in order to stay competitive in this economy.
Dr. Thompson: Yeah, I would say I have a lot of men coming to me that are in the upper age category that are seeing these things happen and are often looking tired but not feeling tired and ask me what I can do to help them.
Troy: What are you doing more of, botox or fillers?
Dr. Thompson: That’s a tough questions. Very commonly I’m doing them together but maybe botox.