Defining injectables |
About the procedure |
Fat injections |
Who does it
HYALURONIC ACID FILLERS (TEMPORARY)
Hyaluronic acid fillers are placed in actual wrinkles or other areas that need volume and offer instant results. They can be used in many ways to address your individual concerns, whether you’re looking to augment your chin without surgery, fill in marionette lines, lift up jowls or plump up volume along the jaw line where definition has been lost.
Restylane, Perlane and Juvéderm are the most commonly used hyaluronic acid fillers, and they can plump up the nasolabial folds and tear troughs in just one treatment. Despite the different brand names, the nuances associated with all hyaluronic acid filler treatments are the same—and there’s no need for allergy testing, so you can get injected in the same appointment as your consultation. You’ll likely be given a topical or local anesthetic to minimize any discomfort, and after treatment, you may experience swelling, bruising or even discoloration, all of which will subside after a few days. You can expect results to last from six months to a year, depending on the brand and where it is placed. Results last from six months to one year, depending on the placement and the filler used.
SEMI-PERMANENT FILLERS
Temporary volume fillers are good for the lines between the brows, under the eyes, the nose, lips, crow’s-feet, lines around the mouth, and nasolabial folds.
Radiesse is an example of a semi-permanent filler. The microspheres in it create “scaffolding” that your own collagen will grow around, but is eventually broken down by the body. Radiesse can be used to fill the nasolabial folds, marionette lines and the back of the hands, as well as define the contours of the face. Before treatment, you will likely be given a local anesthetic or nerve block to increase your comfort, and the injections themselves take around 10 minutes. Side effects may include bruising and swelling that may last for up to two weeks, but you’ll notice improvement immediately. Since there’s no need for an allergy test, one visit to your dermatologist or plastic surgeon can yield results that last for more than two years.
COLLAGEN STIMULATORS (also known as collagen builders or stimulating fillers)
Collagen stimulators contain particles that signal the skin to produce more collagen. Instead of just filling in select lines and wrinkles, these are used on larger areas like the cheeks. The results (which are not instant but improve over time) are longer-lasting; you may need a series of treatments for maximum results.
Sculptra is an example of a collagen stimulator. It is approved by the FDA for restoration and/or correction of the signs of facial fat loss (lipoatrophy) in people with human immunodeficiency virus, but dermatologists and plastic surgeons have been using Sculptra on healthy patients for a number of years now. Most patients require an average of two to three treatments spaced three to four weeks apart for optimal results. Results can last from 18 to 24 months.
COLLAGEN FILLERS
Although collagen fillers changed the face of beauty when they entered the marketplace in the 1980s, they quickly fell out of favor when longer-lasting hyaluronic acid was introduced. However, many doctors still use collagen, especially for plumping the lips and filling in “smoker’s lines” around the mouth.
Evolence, the newest collagen-based filler, was cleared by the FDA this past summer, and many doctors are excited about it. It is approved to treat mild to moderate nasolabial folds and marionette lines, and the treated areas are immediately smooth after the injections. Unlike hyaluronic acid, Evolence typically doesn’t bruise and there is a low risk of swelling and next to no downtime because it contains collagen that is cross-linked by sugar. (The sugar molecules are all natural and don’t attract water, which is what can cause swelling.) It’s important to note that because of its thick consistency, Evolence should not be injected around the eyes or into the lips because it can cause lumps and bumps in these areas. The results last six months, but according to the company, some studies show duration upwards on 12 months.
CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast are FDA-approved for the treatment of soft-tissue deformities, such as scars and wrinkles. They do not require an allergy test, and results are immediate. Although overfilling is necessary to achieve the desired result, the excess fluid is absorbed over the first few hours after treatment, and minor redness and swelling subside in a few days. CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast contain an anesthetic to make injections more comfortable, and results last from two to three months.