DERMAL FILLERS

Dermal fillers are injectable materials used to restore or add volume and fullness to the face, thus reducing wrinkles and helping to reshape the face. The materials replace collagen fibers and other subcutaneous tissues lost through the aging process.

What It Treats

Dermal fillers are used to smooth out a variety of facial wrinkles, including laugh lines, wrinkles between the eyebrows, “marionette” lines at the corners of the mouth, and radial lip lines (“smoker’s lines”). Some are also used to minimize acne and other depressed scars and to augment and reshape the chin, cheeks and lips.

How It Works

Dermal fillers lift and fill out the skin, creating a smoother, more supple appearance. Collagen products (Cosmoplast and Cosmoderm) supplement the skin’s own collagen. Hyaluronic acid–based products (Juverderm and Restalyne) are able to also attract and bind water molecules to the filler, an action that helps add and maintain volume. The calcium hydroxyl apatite particles in Radiesse form a scaffold for new collagen to grow around, thus creating an even longer–lasting effect.

What the Treatment Involves

Dermal filler treatments involve injecting tiny amounts of the filler into the skin with an ultrafine needle. A topical or local anesthetic is sometimes used to control any discomfort during the injections. Depending on how much of your face is being treated, the procedure can take from 15 to 30 minutes. You can return to your normal activities immediately after treatment. Mild swelling or redness may linger at the injection site for one to two days.

Collagen–based fillers typically last three months or more. Hylauronic acid–based fillers last slightly longer, up to six months. The effects of calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) last the longest–up to two years.

Fillers can be used alone or in combination with other facial rejuvenation procedures, such as laser skin resurfacing and chemical peels.

At Zel, we offer several kinds of dermal fillers. All are safe, effective and approved by the Food and Drug Administration. All are also non–allergenic, so no pretreatment skin tests are necessary. After your evaluation, we’ll discuss with you which filler is right for your skin type and needs.

Cosmoplast/Cosmoderm: These fillers consist of a natural collagen that has been grown under controlled laboratory conditions and screened for purity. Cosmoderm is used to treat superficial lines and wrinkles, while Cosmoderm is used for deeper wrinkles.

Juvederm Ultra/Juverderm Ultra Plus: These products consist of non–animal-based (and thus non–allergenic) hyaluronic acid, a substance found naturally in the human body. Juvederm Ultra is used for fine lines and wrinkles, while Juverderm Ultra Plus is used for deeper folds and wrinkles.

Restylane: This product is also made with a biodegradable hyaluronic acid gel that is fully biocompatible with human hyaluronic acid. It corrects moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, including the nasolabial folds that run from the nose to the corners of the mouth.

Radiesse: This filler consists of very tiny calcium hydroxylapatite particles suspended in a smooth biocompatible carboxymethylcellulose gel. It helps to smooth out a variety of facial wrinkles, including deep facial folds and creases, and to minimize depressed scars. Because it lasts so long, Radiesse is also used for reshaping the chin, cheeks and lips.

See also:
Acne
Fine Lines & Wrinkles
Thin Lips