Eterna Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic Injectables & Dermal Fillers (Botox, Bellafill, Fillers, Renuva)

Conveniently located to serve San Antonio, Eagle Pass and the surrounding area.

Botox in San Antonio

Botox injections are the world’s most popular – and certainly the most famous – skin rejuvenation treatment. Every smile, frown, and expression in between eventually adds up to the formation of visible lines and wrinkles such as crow’s feet, forehead lines, and frown lines. These are called dynamic wrinkles because they are caused by movement. Botox can help our patients in San Antonio put an end to these signs of aging.

What is Botox?

Botox is an injectable fluid made from botulinum toxin, specially processed to ensure it is both safe and effective when administered by an experienced medical professional. At Eterna Cosmetic Surgery, we use both Botox Cosmetic and Xeomin. While each product uses the same active ingredient, botulinum toxin, they have some unique differences that may make you better suited for one or the other. Dr. Hernandez will help you choose, based on your specific goals and the condition of your skin.

What can Botox do for you?

While Botox is best known for its ability to stop facial lines and wrinkles in their tracks, here at Eterna Cosmetic Surgery, we also use it to:

  • Reduce platysmal neck banding
  • Lift the tail of the eyebrows
  • Reduce “bunny lines” on the sides of the nose
  • Lift the tip of the nose (nasal contouring)
  • Create a “Botox lip flip” (very small injections over the upper lip help the upper lip roll outward slightly and appear thicker, especially when smiling, and also help smooth vertical lip lines and improve the look of a “gummy smile”)

Because Botox provides near-term visible improvement and also has a preventative effect over time, it is an excellent companion to dermal fillers and all other facial rejuvenation treatments and procedures. We also offer Botox injections to treat non-cosmetic issues. For example, we offer Botox injections to moderate bruxism (teeth grinding) and to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches.

Botox injections are suitable for all adults and genders. However, anyone who has had a previous allergic reaction or has an infection in an area they want treated with Botox is not a good candidate. Dr. Hernandez works with each patient to create a fully personalized treatment plan. Her experienced and artistic approach to injectable treatments allows her to help each person achieve the improvement they seek without appearing overdone or unnatural.

How does Botox work?

When carefully injected into the underlying muscles, Botox relaxes the contractions that create facial expressions and, ultimately, visible lines and wrinkles. We use tiny amounts of Botox, called units – just enough to address the problem without impairing your unique expressiveness, so results always look completely natural. Over time, you will notice existing signs of aging begin to fade, restoring a more youthful appearance. Regular treatments also help prevent the formation of new lines and wrinkles.

What happens during Botox treatment?

This is a quick in-office procedure. Dr. Hernandez will wipe the injection site(s) with a local anesthetic, then place as many tiny injections as needed. That could be just 2 or 3, or it could be a dozen or more depending on the condition and number of areas being treated.

What happens after Botox treatment?

Patients are typically able to resume normal activity immediately after their injections. Some minor soreness or bruising may occur, but should quickly fade over the next day or two. As the botulinum toxin takes effect, you will notice a gradual softening of the treated signs of aging. Most patients begin noticing results within the first week after treatment and see continued improvement over the next few weeks.

Results typically last between three to four months. Once lines and wrinkles begin to reappear, Dr. Hernandez can perform maintenance treatments so you can continue to feel confident and look youthful, naturally.

What is Xeomin?

Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA) is an injectable neuromodulator treatment for fine facial lines and wrinkles. Once injected, this product relaxes muscles in areas like the forehead to smooth away a variety of age lines. One of the minor differences between Xeomin and Botox is that Xeomin’s manufacturing process removes certain proteins (which does not affect the final results).

Bellafill® in San Antonio

Collagen is our body’s most abundant protein, giving structure to our skin, muscles, and connective tissue across the body. Our bodies produce less collagen as we age, resulting in fine lines and wrinkles. These are two of the most common complaints heard by Dr. Hernandez and her team. Additionally, acne scars are another skin imperfection that can frustrate patients, who are unable to find a suitable treatment to eradicate this painful reminder of youth on their own.

Dr. Hernandez is pleased to offer Bellafill® as a premium dermal filler for her patients at our Eterna Cosmetic Surgery office in San Antonio.

What is Bellafill®?

Bellafill® is a collagen-based dermal filler with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microspheres. The collagen gel in Bellafill® provides immediate volume and lift to correct wrinkles and acne scars. Once injected, these microspheres stay in place and create a base that provides structural support for smoother-looking skin.

This safe and effective dermal filler’s central component is bovine collagen, which is a natural protein that gives our skin volume. The ingredients in Bellafill® are considered non-resorbable, which means that they won’t be absorbed into the body or metabolized.

Bellafill® is the longest-lasting dermal filler on the market today that is approved for the correction of a specific type of facial wrinkles known as nasolabial folds — or smile lines. It is also frequently used to correct moderate to severe acne scars.

How does Bellafill® work?

The collagen in Bellafill® provides immediate volume and lift for results that you can enjoy as soon as you leave the Eterna Cosmetic Surgery office in San Antonio. Over time, the collagen is reabsorbed while the PMMA microspheres are left behind. They create a supportive base that allows more of your own collagen to develop, resulting in smoother-looking skin in the long term.

How many Bellafill® treatments will I need to reach my desired results?

In many cases, patients reach their desired results with only one Bellafill® treatment from Dr. Hernandez at Eterna Cosmetic Surgery.

How long do Bellafill® results last?

Bellafill® is a long-lasting dermal filler that lasts up to five (5) years, or longer. Because of the uniqueness of Bellafill® compared to other fillers, many patients report improved results after five to six months.

It’s important to note that Dr. Hernandez refers to Bellafill® as a “semi-permanent” filler. That is because the PMMA microspheres do not dissolve; they become permanently incorporated into patient tissue.

Who is an ideal candidate for treatment with Bellafill®?

Nearly everyone is a suitable candidate for Bellafill® treatment. Bellafill® works well for people of all genders and with a range of skin types.

If you have a history of severe allergies, have a known allergy to bovine collagen, are allergic to lidocaine, have a bleeding disorder, of r are prone to thick or excessive scar formation, be sure to inform Dr. Hernandez prior to your treatment.

How is Bellafill® different from other fillers?

Bellafill® provides an immediate improvement, and due to its ability to prompt the production of additional collagen from your body, actually improves results after five to six months. This is in stark contrast to other fillers (including hyaluronic acid fillers), which dissolve and show diminishing results after six months.

What can I expect after treatment with Bellafill®?

Patients can resume regular activities immediately following their treatment session. Some patients report mild side effects after treatment, including one to two days of swelling, bruising, redness, itching, tenderness or mild pain at the site of injection for around 24 to 48 hours.

Since Bellafill® is a bio-stimulant — which means it stimulates your own tissues to make new collagen — note that it causes more initial swelling than other fillers. This swelling is temporary and typically subsides in 24 to 48 hours.

Dermal Fillers in San Antonio

Aging and exposure to the elements affect everyone’s face visibly, but differently. Injectable dermal fillers allow you to reverse signs of aging. They all work in essentially the same way – by adding volume at strategic locations to soften or supplement contours. But each product has its own scientific formula designed to produce a specific type of result. Fillers can do so much more than smooth wrinkles to enhance our appearance and keep our faces looking youthful and vibrant.

At Eterna Cosmetic Surgery, every treatment is individually-tailored according to your skin condition and type and the results you want to achieve. We always start with a complimentary skin analysis. Then, whether you’re looking for subtle correction or dramatic change, we have the filler – or combination of fillers – that is just right for you.

Almost all fillers produce temporary results because they are made from natural ingredients that are absorbed by your body over time. Some can last as long as 5 years.

Renuva

This filler product is all-natural, but it is very different from traditional hyaluronic-acid-based dermal fillers. It is not a gel, but an injectable form of allograft adipose (fat) matrix made from processed donated human fat tissue. Once injected, it works to both regenerate and support new fat cells, increasing volume. Although results can change over time as you age, they are very long-lasting. We can use Renuva to add volume to any areas of the face, as well as small areas anywhere else on the body.

Juvederm Ultra XC

This product is designed for lip augmentation and to smooth lines and wrinkles around the mouth. Results are natural-looking and last about a year.

Revanesse Versa

Revanesse Versa is another alternative we use to plump lips. This product is safe and effective for most skin types and produces significantly less post-treatment swelling in most patients. Revanesse can also be used to smooth moderate to severe facial folds and wrinkles, including smile lines (nasolabial folds) and marionette lines. Results last up to a year.

Belotero

At Eterna Cosmetic Surgery, we use Belotero to add volume to the under-eye area (tear troughs) because its consistency is perfect for this very delicate area. We also use Belotero to smooth fine lines on the cheeks, small wrinkles above the lips and around the mouth, and to re-plump moderate to severe nasolabial folds. 

Bellafill

This versatile product is also different from other types of dermal fillers, in that it provides results that last up to 5 years. Bellafill is a collagen gel that incorporates tiny microspheres which act as a framework to support new, naturally-produced collagen. So you can see results immediately but also longer-term. At Eterna Cosmetic Surgery, we use Bellafill to smooth fine lines and wrinkles anywhere on the face, contour the chin or jawline or nose, reduce acne scars, add volume to the temples, under-eye area, cheeks, hands, and for buttock augmentation.

Juvederm Voluma XC

We use this gel to replace volume in the cheeks lost due to aging. Voluma gives the cheeks lifted, more youthful contours. We sometimes also use this filler for contouring the nose and to add volume to sunken-in temples. Voluma lasts up to 2 years.

Radiesse

We use Radiesse to smooth deep smile lines, to restore more youthful contours to the cheeks, temples, and jawline, and to replace lost volume in the back of the hands. Radiesse also helps stimulate new collagen production, so skin can continue to improve on its own. Results typically last 1 year. This product comes in 1.5 mL syringes (most fillers come in 1 mL syringes) so you get more product for a similar price. 

“Liquid Facelift”

For many patients, the issue isn’t just one problem area, but several. A “liquid facelift” is a customized treatment that combines (typically 3 or more) different fillers, and sometimes Botox, to rejuvenate multiple areas of the face simultaneously, smoothing wrinkles and reshaping contours of the nose, cheeks, and jawline as needed.

Ready to look younger?

Filler injections are fast, virtually pain-free, and require little to no downtime. You can look revitalized and feel more confident without missing a beat. All you have to do is schedule a consultation at Eterna Cosmetic Surgery.

Renuva in San Antonio

Introducing Renuva, a new type of injectable dermal filler.

If you’re familiar with fillers, you know that these products are gel-like substances that are injected under the skin to restore lost volume or augment and smooth existing contours. The vast majority of dermal fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, a naturally-occurring substance in the body that supports cell structure and hydration, along with other ingredients.

Renuva is a very different kind of product that not only restores volume, but works proactively to renew healthy skin. It is made from allograft adipose matrix, an FDA-regulated product derived from human fat. Once injected into subsurface layers of the skin, Renuva physically re-plumps contours while its growth factors, collagens, and proteins get to work stimulating the production of new fat cells and blood vessels.

Benefits of Renuva

Renuva is intended to add volume and smooth contours in small areas. It can be used anywhere on the body, not just the face. Dr. Hernandez uses it to correct or augment:

  • Sunken scars
  • Signs of aging on the face such as deep frown lines, nasolabial folds, sunken cheeks and temples
  • Dimpled skin or uneven contours on the breasts or buttocks
  • Loss of volume in the hands
  • Lip fullness

Dr. Hernandez also recommends Renuva for patients who come to her seeking repair after having had overly-aggressive liposuction elsewhere that has left surface irregularities.

For some patients, Renuva also offers a preferable alternative to fat transfer as a way to add volume. Not all patients have excess fat on their body that can be harvested for transfer to another site. And many patients don’t want to undergo surgical liposuction required to harvest fat. Renuva is a minimally-invasive alternative that produces highly effective results.   

While traditional fillers are absorbed by the body in just a few months or a year or two, Renuva continues to deliver results for several years.

What happens during a Renuva procedure?

As with other types of fillers, Renuva treatments are short and take place in-office. Dr. Hernandez will first inject a local numbing agent, then the Renuva. The product comes as a powder in a syringe, so prior to injection, Dr. Hernandez will rehydrate it by adding a sterile normal saline solution. This transforms it into a soft, creamy substance that is easily injected with a filler-sized needle. In most cases, treatments take just 5-10 minutes.

What happens after a Renuva procedure?

Along with adding volume, Renuva also helps to enhance skin tone, thanks to the product’s regenerative properties that promote healthier skin.

Results last much longer than other types of fillers. However, we do not consider the treatment permanent because as we age fat cells atrophy or shrink in size. So the results you see now will change gradually as you continue to age.

Learn more about Renuva

Scheduling a personal consultation with Dr. Hernandez is the best way to find out more about the benefits of Renuva. During your conversation, you can explore all your options and decide together whether this type of dermal filler is the right choice to help achieve your cosmetic enhancement goals.

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