RESTYLANE | JUVEDERM | DERMAL FILLERS

Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse, and others are hyaluronic acid fillers used to plump wrinkles throughout the face, including the nasolabial folds (the lines that run diagonally from the nose to the mouth) , the glabellar lines (between the eyebrows) and the wrinkles around the lips and around the eyes. These fillers are composed of a laboratory-created protein called hyaluronic acid, similar to the natural hyaluronic acid present in youthful skin and which produces youthful skin’s volume and fullness. The lab-created hyaluronic acid in these products has been modified slightly to last longer than your own hyaluronic acid. Minor differences among the products available have largely to do with how long they last in the individual patient.

Hyaluronic acid is hydrophilic, which means it’s “water loving,” and as such, it attracts many times its own weight in water. Even as the hyaluronic acid begins to disappear, each molecule attaches to more water, which means it will maintain its volume and effect for between four and six months. Although a tiny needle is used, Restylane is slightly thicker than the other fillers and, therefore, can be more uncomfortable when injected. Numbing creams are applied to minimize pain, and fortunately, the products can also be mixed with a bit of Lidocaine to minimize discomfort during the injection.

Restylane is a hyaluronic acid gel that is injected to restore lost volume and provide fullness to the skin by filling the lines that run from your nose to the corners of your mouth (nasolabial folds). It has been used in over 70 countries for more than 1.4 million treatments and is one of the most popular fillers. It lasts for 6-9 months. It’s often used to fill in the more superficial lines and is a popular lip filler, as well as a wrinkle-filler for “crow’s feet” and lines between the eyes. Restylane lasts up to 9 months.

Juvederm is a soft gel made of hyaluronic acid. Like Restylane, it is used to restore your skin’s volume and smooth away facial wrinkles and folds, like your “smile lines” or the creases that run from the bottom of your nose to the corners of your mouth. It’s also been found extremely effective for plumping lips. It can last up to about 12 months.

Radiesse and Sculptra are also popular fillers. Unlike those above, they are not made of hyaluronic acid.

Radiesse is composed of tiny microspheres containing calcium hydroxylapatite, a protein found in our teeth and bones. When injected, these microspheres form a scaffold through which your body’s own collagen grows, thus achieving a fairly long-term volumizing effect. Because Radiesse stimulates collagen production, most patients see some permanent decrease in the injected areas even after the original filler has disappeared (normally 8-12 months). Although this varies from individual to individual, the chance to permanently diminish some of our wrinkles has made Radiesse an extremely popular filler!

Because Radiesse is a thicker filler, it is reserved for use in deeper tissues. An example would be to fill out the area around the cheekbones, to fill in scars, or to return volume to areas where it has been lost to aging, disease, or injury. It is very effective for deep nasolabial folds. Because men often have very deep nasolabial folds, Radiesse is a logical treatment for men in particular. If the backs of your hands have a great deal of loose skin, you may like Radiesse for this area, as it’s very effective in restoring volume to the hands. It is not used in the lips because it creates more discomfort than some of the other lip fillers and can appear less smooth in the lips than our other options.

Radiesse is the longest-lasting of the fillers, maintaining fullness for up to 2 years. Because it is injected deeper into the skin, a local anesthetic (like you’d receive in your dentist’s office) is used when injecting Radiesse. We will spray the inside of your mouth with a numbing spray to lessen the discomfort of the local. Sculptra is made of poly-L-lactic acid and is extremely long-lasting, ie, up to 2 years. It was originally created for HIV patients whose faces lost significant volume as a result of their illness. Because Sculptra was used to replace this volume, it is often called a “liquid facelift”. It is used under the eyes, in the mid-face area for cheek hollows and in the temples.

Sculptra is derived from non-animal sources, there is no concern about an allergic reaction and it is often preferred by vegetarians and others who, for religious or ethical reasons, prefer to use a non-animal product.

Voluma is similar to Sculptra and Radiesse in that it is best used to restore volume to the aging face. Voluma instantly adds volume lost to changing in the cheek area and creates contour to the face with a subtle lift. This product helps to restore a more youthful profile for up to 2 years with optimal treatment while providing a natural-looking appearance.

The newest of these products is Kybella. Kybella is the first and only FDA-approved nonsurgical treatment that contours and improves the appearance of submittal fullness under the chin. The active ingredient used in Kybella is deoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring molecule in the body that aids in the breakdown and absorption of dietary fat. When injected in the fat under the chin, the product causes the destruction of fat cells. Once these fat cells are destroyed, those cells cannot store or accumulate fat.