Dermal Fillers (Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, Radiesse, Sculptra)
What are cosmetic fillers used to treat?
Fillers are used to correct facial wrinkles and folds, augment lips, shape facial contours and improve depressed scars.
What types of fillers are there and what are they made of?
There are many different types of cosmetic fillers. The traditional and oldest form on the market is derived from bovine (cow) collagen. There is also a form derived from human collagen. These fillers do not last very long.
The newest generation of fillers is made from a substance, hyaluronic acid (HA), which occurs naturally throughout the body and is found predominantly in the skin. This substance is what keeps our skin plump and young looking and is what we lose over time as we age.
How safe are cosmetic fillers?
When used correctly and injected by a dermatologist, cosmetic fillers are very safe. Because hyaluronic acid is a natural substance already found in skin, there is very low risk that a patient will have an allergic reaction to a treatment. No skin allergy testing is required.
Although it was approved in the United States by the FDA in December of 2003, Restylane has been used in over sixty countries and more than 1.5 million treatments have been successfully performed since it was first launched in 1996.
What are the risks and potential side effects of cosmetic fillers?
With the HA types of fillers, most patients have very few, if any, adverse side effects and little downtime after treatments. The most common side effects are redness and/or swelling at the injection site which typically lasts for about two to three days. As with any injection, bruising is also a possibility. In addition, a very small percentage of patients (about 1 in 5000) may develop a hypersensitivity reaction to Restylane, resulting in prolonged red, tender or swollen areas.
The risk of an allergic reaction is greater with the bovine and human collagen. Prior to treatment with bovine collagen, a patient must have a set of two skin tests at least a month apart to check for this potential.
How do they work?
A dermatologist will inject the filler substance under the wrinkle or fold. The line is then filled in! The results are instant! The cosmetic filler helps to restore volume to the skin, thereby softening wrinkles and reducing the visual effects of damaged skin. They also can be used to fill in scars and to provide fullness to the lips. One of our favorite areas to fix is the stubborn lines above the lip. This will keep your lipstick from running into the lines. In addition, many patients achieve quick, dramatic results by combining cosmetic filler treatments with Botox injections.
What are the different types or brands of fillers?
Restylane was the first HA filler to be approved in the US. Then Perlane, a little thicker HA substance, was introduced by the same company, Medicis. We like Restylane for the lips and finer lines and Perlane for the deeper folds. To learn more www.restylane.com.
Allergan, the creators of Botox Cosmetic, also have a HA filler called Juvaderm. It is great for the lips and lines around the mouth.
Sculptra
Ah, the subtle signs of aging! Sometimes the realization occurs when you see yourself in older photographs. Comparing your expression in the picture versus your current reflection in the mirror, you realize your face has lost its healthy fullness. Facial fat loss can result in sunken cheeks, indentations, and hollow eyes. Sculptra® is a safe material that is injected below the surface of the skin in the area of fat loss. It provides a gradual and significant increase in skin thickness, improving the appearance of folds and sunken areas. Replaces the volume that has been lost over time. Over the past two years, Dr. Haley has undergone several training clinics to both identify the best candidates for this treatment and hone her technique. Could your skin benefit from the lift Sculptra gives? Call today for your free consultation.
Sculptra is in a class all of its own, It provides volume to the entire face over a series of treatments. It takes several months to see the results but it lasts for several years.
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