Which Dermal Filler is Right for You?

Dermal Fillers

Medical aesthetic professionals use many anti-aging skin care techniques to correct eye wrinkles and other signs of natural aging. One non-surgical method that has become extremely popular is the use of dermal fillers. Dermal fillers you may have heard of include hyaluronic acid fillers. 

Medical aesthetic professionals refer to the use of dermal fillers as soft tissue augmentation. Soft tissue augmentation is a cosmetic procedure performed to correct eye wrinkles, other facial wrinkles, depressions in the skin and/or scarring. The procedure involves injecting a substance such as hyaluronic acid or collagen into the area being treated to plump it up or fill it up. With very few exceptions, the result is not usually permanent and touch-up injections may be required every three to 12 months depending on which substance was injected and your specific body chemistry.

We give you a brief overview of each dermal filler, but you should consult with your medical aesthetic professional about which one may be right for you.

Dermal Fillers - How They Work & What They Do

Dermal fillers work by plumping up the area around the injection site. Different fillers do this in different ways, but the ultimate result is that the skin around the injection site looks fuller giving your face a more youthful appearance. A basic over view of the skin and its function will help you to understand this better.

Our skin consists of 2 layers: the epidermis and the dermis. The uppermost layer, the epidermis, serves as a protective layer. It controls the loss of water from the cells and tissue and serves as a barrier to the external environment. Just below the epidermis is the dermis. The dermis contains the structural elements of the skin such as blood vessels, nerves and hair follicles. Protein forms a network of fibers that provide a framework for the growth of cells and blood vessels. Because it’s the primary component of the dermis, collagen acts as a support for the skin, giving the skin its strength and elasticity.

Over time, aging thins the upper layer of skin, the epidermis, decreasing its ability to serve as a barrier to retain water. Additionally, the body’s production of collagen slows and the existing collagen becomes less effective. Thinning epidermis and decreased collagen effectiveness lead to eye wrinkles and other signs of aging. All dermal filers act as anti-aging products by reducing the effects of thinning epidermis and less-effective natural collagen.

What Do Dermal Fillers Treat?

Hyaluronic acid and other dermal fillers are some of the most effective anti-aging treatments available. In general, dermal fillers return volume and fullness to the face, eliminating overt signs of aging and imparting a more youthful appearance. Dermal fillers are a non-surgical way to achieve the following outcomes:

• Plump thin lips
• Enhance shallow contours (such as the the nasolabial folds)
• Soften facial wrinkles and creases
• Improve the appearance of recessed scars

Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Fillers 

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally present component of connective tissue whose function is to cushion and lubricate. Hyaluronic acid helps the body to lock moisture in the dermis which results in a more youthful appearance. The hyaluronic acid molecules lock in moisture because they bind many times their weight in water. Both natural and injected hyaluronic acid will degrade in your body over time. Hyaluronic acid injections help to achieve a fuller look for approximately six months.

Hyaluronic acid is not a new product. In addition to being used for aesthetic purposes, hyaluronic acid has been used for more than 20 years to help improve arthritic joints as well as for eye surgery and wound repair. Its long term effects have been well tested and documented.

There is a very low potential for allergic reaction because hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that exists in the human body.

Juvederm^®

Juvederm^® is a brand of facial filler that is hyaluronic acid based. As your skin matures, the amount of hyaluronic acid found in the skin naturally decreases which in turn causes that skin to become less hydrated. This leads to facial wrinkles and folds.

Juvederm^® is a smooth consistent gel. Although the FDA has approved the use of Juvederm^® to fill in moderate creases around the mouth, it is also commonly used for softening the appearance of scars and other depressed marks on the face. It can also be injected around the eye to lessen the appearance of dark circles. Its effects last from 6 to 12 months. There are no animal proteins in this product and, therefore, there is very little chance of an allergic reaction. As with other dermal fillers, Juvederm’s side effects tend to be mild. They can include temporary site redness, swelling, tenderness, firmness, lumps and bruising lasting seven days or less.

Here at Beauty Redefined we offer two different types of Juvederm, Juvederm Ultra Plus (which is an 0.8ml syringe and is whipped 30% more than Restalyne so it goes in smoother with less chance of lumping), and Juvederm Ultra Plus XC (which is a 1.0ml syringe, has a little bit of lidocaine in it so it doesn't get as sore when injecting, and is whipped 30% more than Restalyne as well). 

Radiesse^®

Radiesse^® is another form of dermal filler used for soft tissue augmentation. It is composed of beads of Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA) suspended in a water-based gel carrier. Radiesse works by stimulating the body into producing more collagen. It gives the skin an overall smooth appearance by adding volume to the face and is a great substance for getting rid of deep, etched-in lines around the cheek and the nasolabial folds. The result is immediate and tends to last 12 to 15 months

Radiesse^® is injected into the treated area by a fine gauge needle. Radiesse does not contain lidocaine, a natural anesthetic, as some dermal fillers do. It is necessary to use a topical and/or a local anesthetic with Radiesse^® injections.

The use of Radiesse^® is approved by the FDA to help eliminate nasolabial folds (the “parenthesis” fold around the mouth). Radiesse^® is not advised for the lips. The pressure from the muscles in the lips can cause the filler to form lumps.

Voluma

JUVÉDERM VOLUMA™ XC injectable gel is a smooth, colorless hyaluronic acid (HA) gel that contains a small quantity of local anesthetic (lidocaine). HA is a naturally 

occurring sugar found in the human body. The role of HA in the skin is to deliver nutrients and help the skin retain its natural moisture and softness. The addition of lidocaine helps to improve the comfort of the injection. JUVÉDERM VOLUMA™ XC injectable gel is manufactured using VYCROSS™ technology to give a specialized smooth-gel filler that produces long-lasting results at the treatment site. JUVÉDERM VOLUMA™ XC is delivered by an injection into the cheek and surrounding area of the mid-face to correct volume and fullness.

What is it for?

JUVÉDERM VOLUMA™ XC is indicated for deep (subcutaneous and/or supraperiosteal) injection for cheek augmentation to correct age-related volume deficit in the mid-face in adults over the age of 21. 

What does it do?

As you age, the cheek area loses its youthful shape. The cheeks flatten out and the skin may begin to sag. JUVÉDERM VOLUMA™ XC injectable gel is designed to temporarily reverse these signs of aging. It is a gel that is injected into the cheek area to lift the skin. It temporarily adds volume to the cheek area and results in a smoother contour and more youthful appearance to the face. 

Belotero

BELOTERO BALANCE^® Dermal Filler is an injectable filler that quickly integrates into your skin.¹ Once injected, it instantly smoothes the lines and wrinkles in your face.While BELOTERO BALANCE^® Dermal Filler is made of the same material (hyaluronic acid) as some other dermal fillers, BELOTERO BALANCE^® Dermal Filler 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 (smile lines around the mouth), yet soft enough to treat more delicate areas such as vertical lip lines  (thin lines that appear above the lip line).