Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers offer a wide variety of opportunities to help you achieve a more youthful look. These injections are safe and approved by the FDA, and can give your skin a smoother, more plump appearance and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. With all the different fillers to choose from, it can be difficult to choose.
Below, you can navigate through many of the popular dermal fillers, which are categorized according to the manufacturers with a brief description underneath. To learn more about any of the fillers, click on the name you will be directed to a page with a more detailed description of that filler.
ALLERGAN
All of Allergan’s dermal fillers are made from hyaluronic acid (HA) but use different technology for different uses. They all have lidocaine added for additional comfort.
Juvederm Ultra and Ultra Plus
Juvederm Ultra and Ultra Plus were the first of the Juvederm family of fillers. They are ideal for someone looking for mild correction of wrinkles and folds. They are also a good choice for the lips when patients are looking for smoothness with a touch of volume as well. The difference between these two fillers is that Juvederm Ultra will typically last 4-6 months while Juvederm Ultra Plus will generally last 6-12 months.
Volbella
Volbella is a filler specifically designed to correct lip wrinkles without adding additional volume to the lips. It is ideal for patients who are looking to restore the shape and form of their lips without adding too much fullness. Lips look smoother and wrinkle free after treatment, which can last as long as a year.
Voluma
Voluma is the first dermal filler FDA approved to treat volume loss that occurs in the cheek and cheekbone area. The patented “Vycross Technology” provides a lifting effect with a duration of up to eighteen months.
Vollure
Vollure is specifically designed to address the nasolabial folds. Like Voluma, Vollure usesVycross technology that blends different molecular weights of hyaluronic hyaluronic acid (HA), which contributes to the formula’s increased flexibility and 18-month duration.
GALDERMA
Most of Galderma’s dermal fillers are made from hyaluronic acid (HA) and are known as the Restylane family of fillers. They consist of different filler types that can be used in different areas of the face. All of these fillers have lidocaine added for injection comfort.
However, Restylane is also available without lidocaine for those who have lidocaine sensitivities. Gladerma also makes the Sculptra Aesthetics filler, which is described below the Restylane products.
Restylane-L
Restylane-L is one of the original dermal fillers on the US market and has been used for decades to correct the nasolabial folds (smile lines between nose and mouth). It can also be injected in the lips, cheeks, jawline, or anywhere else on the face to add volume.
Restylane Silk
Restylane Silk was the next to be added to the Restylane family of dermal fillers. Restylane Silk differs from the traditional Restylane formula by consisting of smaller-sized particles, creating a smoother filler.Restylane Silk is FDA approved for injection in the lips, but can also be used to plump the lips or decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth and other parts of the face.
Restylane Lyft
Restylane Lyft, formerly known as Perlane-L, is a dermal filler approved for cheek augmentation and to correct midface contour deficiencies. This filler is known for its stronger support structure due to its larger hyaluronic particles. It too can be used for treating moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, like the nasolabial folds. The treatment lasts longer than many other fillers and patients may still be able to see results at 18 months after the initial procedure.
Restylane Refyne
Restylane Refyne is designed with “XpresHAn Technology,” which allows for the crosslinking of hyaluronic acid molecules to have more flexibility.
This creates a filler that allows for more natural movement in areas where there is increased expression. Restylane Refyne can help smooth out wrinkles in a natural-looking way and the treatment lasts between 9-12 months.
Restylane Defyne
Restylane Defyne is similar to Restylane Refyne using “XpresHAn Technology” described above. While Restylane Refyne is made for areas with finer lines, Restylane Defyne provides the same flexibility for deeper lines and folds. Restylane Defyne can help smooth out wrinkles in a natural looking way and the treatment lasts between 9-12 months.
However, this filler is ideal for moderate to severe deep folds and wrinkles around the nose and mouth. It works to reduce the appearance of your most prominent facial lines while giving you a fresh and natural looking appearance that moves with your facial expressions, with long lasting results from 9-12 months.
Sculptra Aesthetics
Sculptra Aesthetics is made of injectable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) microparticles, which is a powerful collagen stimulator. Sculptra is mixed with sterile water and lidocaine and injected within the deep dermis, earning it the title of a “liquid face lift.”Over time, the small PLLA microparticles are absorbed and what remains is your own rebuilt collagen,which gradually helps restore facial volume.
Multiple treatments are needed over several months for optimum results.Once achieved, these results can last up to five years. Sculptra can be used in conjunction with other HA fillers, since there are some areas in which Sculptra should not be used. In some cases, Sculptra and HA fillers are layered in an area for both immediate and long-lasting results.
MERZ AESTHETICS
MERZ AESTHETICS currently has two types of dermal fillers on the U.S. market. One is a hyaluronic acid-based filler called Belotero Balance, and the other, Radiesse, falls into a different category,described below.
Belotero Balance
Belotero Balance, more commonly referred to as just Belotero, contains proprietary technology that works to soften some of the most problematic fine lines on the upper surface of your skin. This technology creates a very smooth filler, which is ideal for correcting the fine lines in the glabellar area between your brows, crow’s feet, wrinkles above the upper lip and philtrum, and fine wrinkles on the cheeks and mouth area. Belotero results generally last between 6-9 months.
Radiesse
Radiesse is composed of microscopic calcium particles, known calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA), which are suspended in a gel carrier. Radiesse provides immediate volume after it is injected, and will also stimulate your body to produce its own natural collagen.
The product will last about a year or more but after your body metabolizes the CaHA spheres. Thenyou will have new natural collagen for lasting results. Radiesse comes in two forms – Radiesse and Radiesse+ – with the difference being that Radiesse+ has lidocaine added for additional comfort.
To learn more about how dermal fillers can help you achieve your aesthetic goals and which dermal filler is right for you, contact Dr. Elizabeth Roche for a consultation.