Our Guide to Injectable Fillers

Injectable fillers have become a popular treatment because they are minimally invasive. A quick, relatively painless treatment every 6-12 months can keep you looking youthful without a major surgery.  Because of the growing acceptance and popularity of these products, my patients have become more aware of  the options.  However, due to the many commercials and advertisements, there is always confusion as to which filler to choose.  Below I review a little about these fillers and how they are used in my practice to achieve correction of facial aging.

Laugh lines

Hyaluronic Filler: Juvederm Ultra OR CaHA Filler: Radiesse

Many women have complaints about lines running from their nose to the corners of their mouth.  The “parentheses” if you will.  For this area, we have two great options.

Juvederm Ultra is a longer lasting hyaluronic acid product. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is naturally found in our skin.  It functions to give skin its plump springy texture.  As your body ages you begin to lose HA causing volume loss and facial wrinkles. Juvederm Ultra can quickly reduce the appearance of the laugh lines.

Radiesse works in a slightly different way.  It can quickly lessen creases by restoring volume to wrinkles, but it will also create a longer lasting effect by stimulating the body to create collagen.  It does this by using calcium microspheres to stimulate fibroblasts to make more collagen. Radiesse has been clinically proven to last a year or more.

Lips

Hyaluronic Filler: Restylane

The last place women want to lose volume is in their lips. Restylane, another hyaluronic acid, can fill in your lips and provide the missing plump you are looking for.  I tend to prefer this product in the lips over the others since it tends to stay smooth and resist clumping.

Cheeks

Poly-L-lactic acid Filler: Sculptra

Nothing shows your age as much as volume loss in your cheeks. With a large area, such as the cheeks, an injectable that builds collagen is going to be the best choice.

What makes Sculptra different is the way it works. Instead of replacing lost HA as we discussed before, Sculptra works on the underlying structure of your skin for a long lasting one.  Sculptra works to reinforce your collagen structure gradually restoring a look of fullness. Although Sculptra will not show immediate results, an average of three visits within 2-3 months can last two years or more.