If you want to restore youthful fullness to your face, rejuvenate thinning lips, enhance shallow contours or soften facial wrinkles, dermal fillers may be the answer. Dermal fillers have been called “liquid facelifts” because they offer many of the benefits of a surgical facelift without the downtime.
Four of the most widely used fillers are Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse and Belotero. However, many people don’t know the different features of these products. Because facial plastic surgeons, like Dr. LeBeau, understand facial anatomy to the highest degree, they can work with you to determine the best product for your concerns.
Juvederm: Juvederm is an injectable, non-granular gel made of hyaluronic acid, a substance that occurs naturally in your skin responsible for much of your skin’s fullness. It provides a smooth, long lasting correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. This product is often used in the lips, around the mouth or in the tear troughs under the eyes. Juvederm can last up to a year and has been used for cosmetic purposes since 1997. Side effects are rare and usually minor and short lasting.
Restylane: This was the first hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler approved for the treatment of facial wrinkles by the FDA in 2003 and is the first and only dermal filer that’s FDA approved for lip enhancement. It is used to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles, including deep ones around the nose and mouth. Restylane is also used to minimize the appearance of scars or to turn up the corners of the mouth. This product lasts about 6 months on average depending on the injection site. Side effects are minor, if any, and there is generally little to no pain from the use of Restylane.
Radiesse: This is one of the one of the longest lasting dermal fillers on the market today. What makes Radiesse unique is its ability to act as a scaffold under the skin, providing lift and stimulating your natural collagen to grow. This natural collagen growth continues for several months, after the initial effect of Radiesse has diminished. In many patients, correction lasts for a year or more. It contains very smooth calcium-based microspheres suspended in a water-based gel that are similar to the mineral in your bones and teeth. This product provides structure to eliminate hollow areas in the face and is used to enhance the cheeks and nose as well larger facial areas.
Belotero: Belotero is one of the newest dermal fillers available, and is ideal for treatment around the mouth, nose and lips. Considered a “soft” dermal filler, it adapts to the individuality of your skin, by softening lines and wrinkles around the nose and mouth for smooth and natural results. It has unique properties that allow it to adapt within the skin for soft and even correction. The versatility of the product makes it strong enough to handle deep treatment areas such as nasolabial folds, yet soft enough to treat more delicate areas such as vertical lip lines (thin lines that appear above the lip line).
If you are interested the benefits of dermal fillers, working with an experienced injector is the best choice to achieve the look you desire. Contact us to schedule a consultation and learn more about dermal fillers.