Many of us look back at photos of ourselves in our younger years and long for the days when our cheeks were nice and plump, the area beneath our eyes wasn’t sunken and dark, and our lips didn’t disappear when we smiled. While “baby fat” was once an offensive term in our teens and twenties, it becomes clearer, as we age, why fuller features are associated with youthfulness. Through the decades, we begin to lose volume in our faces; skin becomes thinner, hollows appear more pronounced, and we begin to notice fine lines in areas that were once smooth. This is why more than 2 million men and women turned to injectable dermal fillers last year for effective wrinkle treatment and anti-aging skin care.
Which Dermal Filler is Right for You?
Dermal fillers are minimally-invasive, gel-like substances used to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, enhance or augment existing features, and restore volume lost through processes such as aging or weight loss. These wrinkle treatment fillers are injected beneath the skin and typically work by drawing water to the molecules, resulting in an almost immediate correction, or by stimulating the body to produce new collagen fibers. Some dermal fillers work in both ways. Dermal fillers are comprised of a few different substances, but the most common dermal fillers (Juvederm, Restylane) are made of hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring molecule already found in your skin. Because of this, hyaluronic acid fillers are broken down naturally (and gradually) in the body and last anywhere from six months to two years. The most common FDA-approved hyaluronic fillers used in our office for wrinkle treatments are:
Belotero – An injectable filler that completely integrates into the skin tissue. Because of this, Belotero is best used when treating “moderate to severe” etched-in lines, such as around the vertical lines around the mouth, instead of restoring volume to in areas like the cheeks.
Juvederm Ultra XC – Used to correct fine lines and wrinkles in areas such as around the mouth, as well as enhance or add fullness to the lips.
Juvederm Ultra Plus XC – A dermal filler commonly used to restore age-related facial volume loss in areas such as the nasolabial folds and lower face.
Juvederm Voluma XC – Indicated to lift and contour the cheeks by restoring volume in the mid-face. Juvederm Voluma XC fillers have been indicated to last up to two years, making it the longest lasting HA dermal filler currently on the market.
Restylane – Used to correct moderate facial wrinkles, such as the nasolabial folds or lines around your mouth. Restylane was also the first injectable HA filler to be FDA approved for lip enhancement, as it has been and specially formulated to add fullness and definition to the lips.
Restylane Lyft (Formerly Known as Perlane) – Used to restore volume to deeper creases or folds. This dermal filler can also be used to enhance or add volume to the cheeks.
Restylane Silk – Specially designed for the lips and the lines around them. Restylane Silk fillers are best utilized in patients who prefer subtle “enhancement” of the lips, as opposed to “augmentation” or noticeable volume.
Radiesse – Another common dermal filler comprised of calcium hydroxylapatite, a substance similar to the composition of our bones. Once injected, Radiesse will not only add volume and provide immediate correction lines and wrinkles, but will also continue to work by stimulating the body to produce its own natural collagen for long-lasting treatment for wrinkles. For this reason, many patients report results lasting between 12-15 months, slightly longer than some HA fillers. Radiesse is used to correct both nasolabial folds and “marionette” folds, as well as restore volume in the midface, lifting the cheeks. Radiesse has also been FDA approved to restore volume to the hands.
Sculptra – Another FDA-approved injectable wrinkle filler, is comprised of a substance commonly found in dissolvable sutures called poly-l-lactic acid. Once injected, the poly-l-lactic acid in Sculptra stimulates the body to produce new collagen, helping to restore overall facial volume, as well as correct facial wrinkles and folds. Because Sculptra is stimulating the body’s own collagen response, it is considered “semi-permanent” and can last more than two years. However, since forming new collagen takes time (roughly 3 months), Sculptra’s effects are gradual, meaning you won’t get the “immediate gratification” found from other wrinkle treatment dermal fillers.
Bellafill – A permanent cosmetic dermal filler indicated for use in the correction of nasolabial folds. Bellafill is made of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), a synthetic, biocompatible substance that, once injected, takes the form of a tiny ball and remains beneath the skin indefinitely, providing structure and support. One thing to remember about Bellafill is that because it is not broken down by the body, like other fillers, it is considered permanent. Bellafill is also the only cosmetic filler currently on the market that has been FDA approved to treat moderate-to-severe, depressed acne scars. However, because Bellafill has a bovine (cow-derived) collagen component, a skin test must be performed on all patients at least 4 weeks prior to wrinkle treatment.
Find the Injectable Wrinkle Treatment That is Right for You
Now that you are sold on injectable fillers, what can you expect during your appointment in The Laser and Rejuvenation Center? First, we will provide you with an in-depth consultation, where we will evaluate your area(s) of concerns, discuss your expectations and desired outcome, and answer any questions you may have. We will also review your health and medication history, as some medications may increase your chances of developing a bruise. Once a wrinkle treatment plan has been established, an anesthetic (“numbing”) cream will be applied, making the dermal filler procedure surprisingly comfortable for almost all patients. After the filler treatment for wrinkles, you may resume most of your regular daily activities; however, we will advise you to avoid heavy exercise or facial massage for a day or two. You will most likely experience slight swelling and occasionally bruising, but we will review ways to decrease both following your treatment for wrinkles.
If you are ready to turn back the clock a few years with effective wrinkle treatments, call us at The Laser and Rejuvenation Center at (615) 645-2314 or fill out our online contact form. Mention this dermal filler blog when scheduling to receive a complimentary consultation.
Next, read Dr. Gold Discusses His Recent Laser Dermatology Lecture in Caesarea, Israel.
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