Dermal Fillers
Hyaluronic-acid dermal fillers restore volume where the face has lost it, the under eye, the cheek, the lip, the chin, the jawline, the nasolabial fold, and the neck. Every injection in this practice is performed by Dr. Boxrud herself, never delegated.
Dermal filler is most powerful when used to replace volume that has actually been lost, not to add volume to a face that does not need it. The face deflates and descends with age; the cheek loses projection, the line from cheek to lip deepens, the lip thins, the chin retracts, the jawline blurs, the under-eye area looks more hollow. Carefully placed hyaluronic-acid filler can restore those structures without surgery, in roughly thirty to forty-five minutes per visit.
The product matters less than the plan. Dr. Boxrud’s approach is to identify the one or two areas where volume restoration will produce the largest harmonic effect, treat conservatively, and reassess in two weeks. Patients are not asked to commit to a full syringe of every product on every visit. A face that looks like itself, just rested, is the result that matters.
Under-eye filler is one of the most technique-dependent injections in the entire face. The skin is thin, the anatomy is layered, and the consequences of mis-placement, lumps, bluish discoloration (the Tyndall effect), prolonged swelling, are immediate and visible. The under-eye is the area where anatomic judgment matters more than product choice.
As a board-certified oculofacial plastic surgeon, Dr. Boxrud has built her career on the anatomy of the eyelid and the under-eye area. For patients who have had under-eye filler elsewhere and are unhappy with the result, hyaluronidase can dissolve the existing product and a more conservative plan can be drawn up at consultation. Many patients come to Los Angeles specifically for this kind of under-eye work.
Dr. Boxrud primarily uses fillers from the Juvederm, Restylane, and Radiesse families. The hyaluronic-acid options (Juvederm and Restylane) are adjustable and, if ever needed, reversible with hyaluronidase; Radiesse is a calcium-based biostimulator used for deeper structural support in the cheek, chin, and jawline. The exact product is matched to the area: softer, more elastic gels in the lip and under-eye; firmer, more structural gels in the cheek, chin, and jawline; thinner, more diffuse products along the neck.
Every dermal filler injection in this practice is performed personally by Dr. Boxrud, at her office in Santa Monica, serving patients across Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. Injections are not delegated to a nurse, technician, or injector. Patients see the same hand at every visit, which is the only way to build a long-term plan that ages well.
- Visit
- 30 to 45 minutes.
- Anesthesia
- Topical numbing; most filler products contain integrated lidocaine.
- Onset
- Immediate, with mild swelling that settles over a week.
- Duration
- 9 to 18 months depending on product and area. Longer in cheek, chin, and jawline; shorter in lip.
- Downtime
- None to minimal. Light bruising possible; makeup the same day for most areas.
- Reversibility
- All hyaluronic-acid filler can be dissolved with hyaluronidase if ever needed.
Which filler do you use?
Hyaluronic-acid fillers from the Juvederm, Restylane, and Radiesse families, almost exclusively. The exact product is matched to the area being treated, softer, more elastic gels for the lip and under-eye; firmer, more structural gels for the cheek, chin, and jawline; thinner products along the neck.
How long does under-eye filler last?
Under-eye filler typically lasts 12 to 18 months. It is one of the longest-lasting areas for hyaluronic-acid product because the under-eye is relatively immobile.
Will lip filler look obvious?
Not when dosed conservatively. The goal is a hydrated, natural lip, not a different lip. Most patients start with a partial syringe, see the result at two weeks, and decide together whether to add more.
Can filler be dissolved if I don’t like it?
Yes. Hyaluronic-acid filler can be reversed with hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks the product down within a day or two. This is one of the reasons Dr. Boxrud uses hyaluronic-acid filler almost exclusively.
Is filler the right answer, or should I consider surgery?
It depends on the anatomy. Filler is the right tool when the issue is lost volume. When the issue is descent of tissue (cheek, brow, jawline) or excess skin, a surgical procedure like a midface lift, ponytail lift, or facelift is usually a better answer. Many patients use filler in some areas and surgery in others.