Filler Overview

Wrinkle fillers  are substances that are injected into the face to reduce wrinkles and lines in the face. The fillers may be injected directly in the lines or in areas of the face where volume has been lost and restoring volume can rejuvenate the face.

Fillers can be applied artistically to recontour your face to look more youthful. The Liquid Facelift (CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW TO GET OUR E-BOOK 4 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE LIQUID FACELIFT) uses fillers and wrinkle relaxers such as Botox/Dysport and Xeomin to restore the triangle of youth. There has been a trend with fillers to stop chasing the lines (wrinkles) and restore the volume loss that has contributed to the  formation of the wrinkle.

For example the nasolabial fold (line that run from the nose down the an area next to the mouth corners) which used to be one of the most popular areas to fill is now being addressed in other ways. Restoring volume in the cheeks and or stimulating collagen in the cheeks can help soften the nasolabial fold. So options include Voluma ( restore cheek volume), Sculptra (stimulates collagen) and PDO threads (lifts and stimulates collagen).

The history of fillers

The first filler  used was collagen. With collagen, there is a need to do skin testing to make sure that an allergy isn’t present . Once injected the result did not last long. More frequently, the most commonly used temporary fillers  used contain hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic is found naturally in the dermis of the skin. Hyaluronic acid fillers contain a specially processed hyaluronic acid that has more volume, bulk and lasts from 6 months to 12 months. These fillers plump areas of lost volume and decrease the depth of a wrinkle.

Current fillers include Juvederm, Radiesse,Sculptra , Voluma, Restylane and Bellafill. Fillers differ in composition and duration of the treatment benefit. Juvederm and Restylane are composed on hyaluronic acid. Radiesse is made of calcium hydroxyapatite, a component found naturally in bone. Sculptra is a filler that stimulates collagen wherever it is injected. Fillers  differ in composition and duration of the treatment benefit. Depending on your concerns and needs, we will recommend the best fillers for rejuvenating your face.

Types of Wrinkle Fillers

1. Hyaluronic acid fillers–  Juvederm,  Restylane, Belotero, Voluma  are composed of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in the dermis of the skin. With aging and sun damage, the amount of hyaluronic acid as well as collagen can diminish. After injecting the wrinkle or fold, it becomes plumped up because hyaluronic attracts water to the area where it is injected.
2. Radiesse– This filler contains calcium spheres that are suspended in a gel. This filler is thicker and more substantial than most of the hyaluronic acid fillers. This filler is great for replacing volume in areas where fat and/or volume has been lost. Radiesse can also stimulate collagen production in the areas it is injected.
3. Sculptra– This is a very unique filler. It is composed of Poly -L-lactic acid which stimulates your body to make collagen. It requires a series of treatments 2-3, typically. Your body continues to build collagen and once you have reached full correction, the results last as long as 2 years.
4. Bellafill– long lasting filler which lasts up to 5 years. It is made of collagen and PMMA (a permanent filler). A syringe of Bellafill is composed primarily of collagen which will give an immediate result with filling and eventually be broken down by the body. A small amount of PMMA is left behind continuing the collagen stimulation process.

When assessing your need for fillers, the doctor looks at your entire face and will discuss options for rejuvenating the face including Botox, sculpting of the lower jaw and restoring lost volume in the midface. She performs the Liquid Facelift which is a full face approach restoring youthful contours.

To learn more about the Liquid Facelift, click on the button in the upper right corner and request a copy of our Liquid Facelift informational e-book.