Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally-occurring sugar that’s found in the skin and joints. It readily attracts moisture and can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water. Accordingly, hyaluronic acid has the ability to instantly plump and hydrate soft tissue.

Two of the most popular hyaluronic acid fillers are Juvederm and Restylane. Both are FDA-approved and include an extremely diverse line of products that can be used to customize treatment.

Collagen Stimulators

Collagen stimulators are composed of lab-made substances like poly-L-lactic acid and calcium hydroxylapatite.

As their names suggests, collagen stimulators are able to trigger an inflammatory response upon injection and stimulate the production of new collagen and elastin. As a result, this type of injectable filler produces longer-lasting results and more dramatic correction.

Sculptra, made of poly-L-lactic acid, is an excellent option for patients concerned about facial volume loss and deep wrinkles around the nose, mouth, and chin.

Radiesse, whose main ingredient is calcium hydroxylapatite, is often used to rejuvenate hands and treat lines and folds in the lower face.

Restylane® and Perlane®

The world’s most popular and most studied cosmetic dermal fillers, Restylane® and its new companion Perlane® offer exceptional treatments for moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, especially the nasolabial folds that stretch from the nose to the corners of the mouth.

Restylane and Perlane replenish lost volume in the skin and restore youthful contours to the face by lifting and supporting tissues non-surgically. The outcome is a younger, smoother look with fewer lines and wrinkles. Results are immediate and long-lasting.

Restylane and Perlane are clear, synthetic gels made with purified hyaluronic acid, a natural sugar that is found throughout your body. Hyaluronic acid works with collagen to support the skin and keep it smooth and supple. The hyaluronic acid in Restylane and Perlane has been modified so it lasts longer. It forms strong bonds with water molecules in the skin, prolonging its rejuvenating effects for up to six months or more.

Radiesse®

Radiesse® is a synthetic injectable filler that has been approved by the FDA to reduce moderate to severe wrinkles, folds and creases around the nose and mouth by stimulating the natural production of collagen in the skin. This product is made of microspheres composed of calcium hydroxylapatite within a water-based gel and is made from minerals similar to what makes up our bones. Radiesse can be injected directly into the skin with no need for pre-testing.

How do you choose the best filler for your needs? Radiesse, Restylane and Juvederm are all safe and FDA approved. Radiesse is longer lasting than its competitors, usually by a number of months. It can also provide more facial contouring as well as elimination of lines. However, Radiesse cannot be used on the lips because it may cause bumps. In some cases it produces more swelling than Restylane or Juvederm. It also may be a little more painful a procedure to receive. If there is an allergic reaction or uneven appearance, Restylane and Juvederm are easy to remove, while Radiesse is more difficult.

Your physician can further discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each product to determine which one will best suit your particular requirements.

Belotero®

Belotero® is the latest, most advanced form of dermal filler available today. It has a unique ability to integrate with the tissues of your skin, providing volume and a more youthful shape to your face. Belotero® can reduce lines and wrinkles while enhancing your own facial contours.

As we get older, our skin’s production of the substances that keep it moisturized and supple begins to slow, resulting in an increase in wrinkles and lines. But Belotero® is a dermal filler that incorporates one of these natural substances, hyaluronic acid (HA), to help you achieve smoother, more youthful looking skin once again.

In clinical studies of Belotero®, 97 percent of patients showed a visible improvement after a single treatment. Belotero® can eliminate even the finest of lines. Belotero® injections plump the skin subtly and evenly so patients appear relaxed and refreshed without looking like they have a noticeable implant.

There are different formulations of Belotero® available, making it ideal to improve a wide variety of skin issues. This filler can treat frown lines between the eyebrows, periorbital lines (crow’s feet), nasolabial folds from the nose to the corners of the mouth, perioral lines and marionette lines from the corners of the mouth to the jaw. In addition, it can round the cheekbones, plump the lips, restore softness to the hands and décolletage and more.

The quick and nearly painless procedure typically takes 20 minutes and most people can return to work immediately afterward. The results of Belotero® treatment are not permanent and vary by individual. For most patients, the effects are still visible nine months after an injection. Follow-up treatments are typically done every six to 12 months.