While Botox injections work by relaxing muscles, injectable wrinkle fillers use substances that fill in lines and creases and add volume to facial features. They can be used to plump up cheeks and lips, soften facial features and reduce saggy skin. Often, they are used in conjunction with other skin treatment procedures (e.g., facelifts and Botox injections).
A variety of substances are used as wrinkle fillers. All are absorbed by the body over time, which means repeated injections are necessary to maintain results. These include:
Juvederm is an injectable gel filler used to smooth away wrinkles around the mouth and nose and soften deep folds in the face. This hyaluronic acid (HA) based filler is used to reduce nasolabial folds (often referred to as “smile lines”), add volume to the lips and skin and fill in facial scars.
Juvederm is produced using a unique technology called Hylacross™, a cross-linking process that chemically binds the acid chains together to change them into a smooth gel structure that lasts up to one year with a single treatment – the only FDA-approved filler designed to be that long-lasting.
Juvederm is administered with a thin needle under the skin. Hyaluronic acid, which occurs naturally in the body but diminishes as we age, is immediately restored, adding volume and reducing lines, folds and wrinkles. Results are instantaneous. The treatment is safe and effective, with few side effects. You may experience bruising, numbness, tenderness and redness, though these are temporary and should disappear within a few days. Serious complications such as facial bumps may occur, though these are extremely rare. Patients with severe allergies should refrain from seeking treatment.
Juvéderm XC
Juvéderm is typically used for treating nasolabial folds (“smile lines”), mouth corner lines, marionette lines and vertical lip lines; adding volume to lips and filling in hollow areas and facial scars. With optimal treatment, you can expect to see the effects of your Juvéderm treatment last up to a year.
Like all cosmetic injectables, it’s vital for your Juvéderm XC procedure to be done by an experienced aesthetic physician. Poorly administered shots can cause unsatisfactory results, including negatively impacting your appearance or causing the procedure to fade quickly. Like all injectable fillers, Juvéderm XC eventually absorbs into your body, returning your face’s volume to normal levels.
Juvéderm Voluma XC
Wrinkles may not be your only age-related cosmetic concern. Many patients lose the youthful volume in their face, causing sagging skin and an older appearance to take hold. Juvéderm Voluma is a new and completely unique filler designed to add the youthful volume back into your cheeks. It fills and lifts the skin around your cheekbones, providing natural contour and volume.
Juvéderm Voluma XC must be properly and carefully injected by a knowledgeable cosmetic doctor. It’s the only cheek-filling injectable available, and your aesthetic physician will help you understand if this procedure is right for you. With top-notch application, the treatment’s effects can last for up to two years.
Restylane is a hyaluronic acid (HA) based injectable filler used to treat facial wrinkles and folds and add fullness to your lips. The clear gel adds volume and fullness to your skin, smoothing out moderate to severe wrinkles and folds. This was the first HA filler to be approved by the FDA and has a long and proven safety record.
Restylane is effective at reducing aging lines on the face including the nasolabial folds that stretch from the nose to the corner of the mouth; melomental folds in the mouth corners, crow’s feet, forehead wrinkles and orbital troughs around the eyes.
Treatment with Restylane usually lasts 6-12 months depending on the patient’s lifestyle, age and skin type. Afterward, follow-up treatments can be given on a regular basis.
Side effects are mild. There is the possibility of temporary bruising at the injection site as well as some swelling, numbness, redness and tenderness, but these usually dissipate after a few days. In rare instances, small bumps may appear on the skin. Those with skin conditions such as sores, acne, rashes, hives, cysts or cold sores should delay treatment until healed, as injections might delay healing or worsen the condition.
Restylane-L
The only difference between Restylane and Restylane-L is that the latter contains a small amount of lidocaine to reduce pain around the injection site. Both products offer immediate effects that last an average of six months or longer before breaking down naturally. Restylane and Restylane-L are designed to:
- Add volume and fullness to the skin.
- Correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds around the nose, mouth, cheeks and chin.
- Add fullness and definition to the lips.
Restylane Silk
This brand new treatment is designed specifically for lip enhancement. The particles contained in the ultrafine needlepoint injection are even smaller and smoother than regular Restylane. Restylane Silk is perfect for enhancing lips by making them fuller and more natural while reducing the wrinkles associated with age. In one study, nearly 60 percent of patients still maintained their increased lip fullness six months after receiving the injection.
Radiesse is an injectable dermal filler made mainly from calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres that very closely resemble the natural cells in your face. It is used to correct unwanted wrinkles and folds in the lower face. Radiesse stimulates natural collagen production to improve volume and reduce wrinkles for a year or more. Each year, Americans elect for nearly 300,000 Radiesse treatments.
Radiesse injections are fast and typically require no recovery time. They can be completed within about 15 minutes. They don’t require any pre-injection allergy testing because their calcium-based microsphere technology very closely resembles the natural structures of the face. Radiesse injections provide instant results that you can see before you walk out of the clinic.
Patients can opt for injections with or without lidocaine, a local anesthetic contained in the injection that is used to boost comfort and eliminate pain. During studies, 90 percent of patients reported a more comfortable experience when lidocaine was used. Like all injectables, Radiesse must be expertly placed by a cosmetic physician in order to achieve optimal results.
Radiesse has been FDA-approved for injections around the nose, mouth and chin. While this product is most commonly used for wrinkle and fold reduction, it can also be used to fill hollows caused by aging, injury, scarring, weight loss and disease-related lipoatrophy. The most common types of wrinkles and folds Radiesse injections treat include:
- Smile lines.
- Marionette lines.
- Mouth corners.
- Pre-jowl folds.
- Chin wrinkles.
- Sagging cheeks.
Patients interested in Radiesse should always visit an aesthetic physician to discuss their options. Avoid this procedure if you are pregnant, nursing, under 18, allergic to any ingredients in Radiesse, afflicted with a bleeding disorder or prone to anaphylaxis.
Sculptra is a long-lasting facial injectable that produces subtle results over numerous treatments. It is placed deep in the tissues. It is used to replace lost collagen, giving you a natural, youthful glow.
Most patients get three injections over a period of several months; results typically last two years. Sculptra is made from poly-l-lactic acid and other biocompatible, biodegradable synthetic materials. It is used to correct deep wrinkles.
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