Everyone gets older, but we don’t all age in the same way! Some people develop deep facial folds, such as the nasolabial folds that extend from each side of the nose to the corners of the lips. If you’d like to preserve your youthful appearance for longer or freshen up your look, Belotero Balance® dermal filler may be your skincare solution.
About Belotero
Belotero Balance is a cosmetic filler made by Merz Aesthetics. It’s an injectable cosmetic treatment that contains a substance called hyaluronic acid. This substance is found naturally in your skin, and its main functions are to help the skin stay well-hydrated and preserve the skin’s structure. Hyaluronic acid is one of several substances—including collagen and elastin—that help your skin look youthful. As you age, these substances are depleted, making the skin look older. At the same time, the effects of repetitive facial movements, like smiling, lead to the formation of etched-in lines, wrinkles, and folds. Restoring hyaluronic acid to the skin in affected areas smooths out lines, wrinkles, and even deep folds, restoring the youthful look. Belotero Balance has a unique, gel-like structure that’s different from other hyaluronic acid injectable fillers. It’s formulated to make it more effective at filling in nasolabial folds and smile or frown lines. It blends more effectively into your skin’s natural structure, gently filling in lines and wrinkles.
What Can Belotero Do for You?
Belotero Balance is used for moderate-to-severe nasolabial folds and vertical lines above and around the lips. When injected into the folds and wrinkles around your lips, Belotero Balance integrates quickly into surrounding natural tissue. It fills in and smooths out even severe folds and wrinkles. The treated skin looks natural—with complete freedom of movement—and feels natural to the touch. Best of all, since Belotero Balance is an injectable treatment, all of these benefits can be achieved without surgery. No invasive procedures, and no long recovery time—just near-instant results!
How Long Does Belotero Last?
Your individual results may vary, but for most people Belotero Balance lasts around six months. To get the best results out of this treatment, it’s best to repeat the injections at intervals of no more than six months.
How Much Belotero Do You Need?
When you have a Belotero treatment, you’ll receive a certain number of injections for each area you want treated. The amount you’ll need varies depending on:
- How deep your facial folds are and
- The specific results you want
Your Belotero provider can provide an estimate during your consultation. Like other injectables, having too little is better than too much! Over-filling facial folds can make your face look puffy and unnatural, and that’s not a look you want to be stuck with for six months. If you feel that your first treatment doesn’t give the results you wanted, you can always ask if a slightly higher dose might give a better result.
What Is It Like to Get Belotero?
A Belotero Balance dermal filler treatment typically takes just 30 to 45 minutes. All injectable treatments are capable of causing discomfort, but it’s generally minimal. Belotero Balance is injected using a fine needle, which helps reduce discomfort. If you’re concerned, speak with your provider about ways to manage the sensations during your treatment.
Belotero Recovery
After having Belotero injections, you can go about the rest of your day as normal. There’s no recovery period for this treatment, so you can return to work the same day. Certain activities should be avoided for the first 24 hours after treatment. These include:
- Strenuous activity and exercise
- Extensive heat or sun exposure
- Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications
- Drinking alcohol
Any of these can cause further itching, inflammation, or bruising. Reactions are temporary but are best avoided to ensure you get optimal results from your treatment. When you have a Belotero Balance treatment, the gel works almost instantly to fill in lines and wrinkles. But it may take up to seven days to clearly see the results of a Belotero treatment. This is because the injections can cause minor bruising and inflammation, which may obscure your results. To reduce bruising, avoid using aspirin and NSAIDs for two weeks before your treatment.
Belotero Side Effects
For most people, Belotero treatments cause only minor side effects, such as:
- Light swelling
- Bruising
- Itching
- Reddening
- Inflammation at the injection sites
Some people also have a headache, swelling at the side of the nose, lip dryness, or lip numbness. Most of these side effects are mild and clear up within seven days.
Note: Belotero Balance may cause visible side effects. If you’re having this treatment for a special event, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to recover. It’s best to allow at least a week in between your treatment and the event.
Belotero Risks and Complications
Belotero is made from hyaluronic acid, a substance that is naturally present in the skin. This means that it’s safe for most people. The most common side effects of Belotero treatments are light bruising and inflammation at the injection sites. These typically last only a day or two but can last up to seven days. There is also a small risk of more serious side effects. These include infection and necrosis (tissue death) at the site of injection. There is a very low chance of injection into a blood vessel. This is an extremely rare occurrence, but if it does occur, it can cause blindness, stroke, or permanent skin scarring. This is why it’s very important to only receive injections from a trained and experienced provider. The effects of having Belotero treatments during pregnancy or nursing are unknown. It’s best to avoid having this treatment if you are pregnant, hoping to become pregnant, or nursing.
Allergic Reactions
Belotero isn’t toxic, but a small number of people do have an adverse reaction. For this reason, some people should avoid having Belotero Balance treatments. This includes:
- People who have multiple allergies or severe allergies, or a history of allergies
- People who have had one or more anaphylactic reactions
In particular, Belotero Balance should not be used by anyone who is allergic to gram-positive bacterial proteins.
Your Belotero Consultation
At your Belotero consultation, you’ll meet with Elaine Ver Halen, MPAS, PA-C or Dr. Ver Halen at the Ver Halen Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery office in Plano or Colleyville. Dr. Ver Halen or Elaine will explain the procedure and what you can expect from a Belotero treatment. Feel free to ask as many questions as you have! At your consultation, you should let your provider know if you have any skin problems, such as:
- Cold sores
- Pimples
- Rash
- Hives
- Infection
If you do have skin problems, it’s best to avoid Belotero Balance treatments until they clear up. At your consultation, be sure to mention any medications you’re taking, including both prescription and over-the-counter medications. This is important because some drugs, such as aspirin and NSAIDs, can worsen side effects like bruising and inflammation.
How to Pay for Your Belotero Treatment
Ver Halen Aesthetics offers several payment options. These include the healthcare credit cards CareCredit® and Alphaeon Credit®. You may also opt to pay with a secured loan from United Medical Credit or Enhance Patient Finance. United Medical Credit offers prime and subprime loans, with multiple plan options and payment terms. Other options include:
- Credit card
- Cash or cashier’s check
- In-house financing
- Other loans
How Can Belotero Balance Transform Your Skin?
Everyone ages differently, and we all have different feelings about it. There’s nothing wrong with aging naturally, but there are other options if you want to slow the signs of aging. In a treatment that takes less than an hour, Belotero Balance can smooth out nasolabial folds and reduce the look of etched-in lines around the lips. Just these two simple changes can give you a more youthful appearance! Interested in learning how Belotero Balance can help freshen up your look? Make an appointment to see Dr. Ver Halen or Elaine, MPAS, PA-C for a consultation.
