Have your cheeks lost their plump?

“And just like that” as Carrie Bradshaw would say, after what seemed like forever, fully vaccinated people were told they could unmask and were welcomed back into restaurants, sporting events, outdoor cafes, movies and theaters, and yes, Broadway is back! We could actually enjoy seeing people’s smiling faces for the very first time.

I must admit masks did offer me a sense of freedom. Most days, with no more than a touch of mascara, I was out the door and ready for my COVID restricted day.

Now with masks coming off I must admit I found myself in a totally different situation.  Looking into my magnifying mirror I was a bit surprised at what I actually saw.  And so the old finger test, gently lifting the skin on my face this way and that.  Had the moment come?  Was I a candidate for plastic surgery? The answer was a definite maybe!

As luck would have it I was meeting a friend for lunch.  After studying her face, I couldn’t help but notice, how natural, relaxed, not overly pulled or plumped her face was.  Leaning in I decided to ask her and be completely honest about my own concerns.  Who was her doctor?  She smiled and said once a year she visits the office of Bryan Forley on the upper east side in New York City.

The very next day I made an appointment with Dr. Forley.  His office staff was totally compliant with COVID precautions, which made me feel quite comfortable.

When in the examining room Dr. Forley handed me a mirror and asked me my thoughts.  Looking in the mirror I told him my concerns.  I told him that I felt my face has lost the volume it once had, but I was leery of fillers making me look over done, or that they would have to be repeated every four to six months.  And of course, I asked him what was new and exciting.

Dr. Forley told me that today, beauty is no longer about age, clients come in and tell him they simply want to look their best. That being said I asked him what he suggested I do.

Looking closely at my face, Dr. Forley explained that the natural Hyaluronic Acid in our faces helps to provide moisture, volume and structure to our skin.  Over time, he went on to say, the skin produces less and less H.A. and that’s when we see a decrease in volume, moisture, and structure.

Now Tomatoes, here is where it gets really interesting!

In Switzerland, Madame Valerie Taupin, the co-creator of JUVÉDERM® two decades ago, has created the RHA Collection of facial fillers.  The RHA Collection includes three approved FDA formulas, RHA 2, RHA 3 and RHA 4, each made with a more refined manufacturing process that helps preserve the natural structure of H.A. found in the skin.

The FDA is soon to release RHA 1, specifically formulated to be used on the fine lines above the mouth and around the eyes.

Our faces are in constant motion, explained Dr. Forley, making thousands of movements throughout the day and evening. The RHA Collection is the only FDA approved H.A. filler for dynamic wrinkles and folds that appear in the area of the face that move, such as when we laugh, frown, squint, yawn, even talk.  Before, these wrinkles and folds in our faces were difficult to treat because the existing injectables tended to make these areas appear stiff or un-natural.  The RHA Collection is designed to be resilient enough to adapt to your facial movements, providing a more natural look at rest or in motion.

And so, here we go.

Dr. Forley painlessly injected the RHA formula to the areas around my cheeks for a subtle uplift to my face, which I could see immediately. And the good news is it can last up to eighteen months!

I hope you enjoy the before and after photos below.  I feel refreshed and natural and the face that greets me in the mirror is now someone I know. The photographs are untouched and the after photos were taken one month following the RHA4 filler treatment to my cheeks.

Dr. Forley is a highly rated Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon who has been in private practice on the in New York City since 1994.  He specializes in cosmetic surgery of the face, eyes, nose, breast, and body, as well as injectable fillers, laser resurfacing and state of the art nonsurgical facial rejuvenation.  Dr. Forley is the “secret that every girl needs.” Learn more here.