Wrinkle Fillers

Throughout recorded history, the appearance of wrinkles, especially those around the mouth and eyes, detracts from the appearance of the face. Not surprisingly, therefore, wrinkle reduction are frequent desires of patients seeking cosmetic improvement and the restoration of a more youthful face.

Most commonly, improvement is achieved through the use of soft-tissue fillers and implants. Until very recently, however, patients in the U.S. were restricted to a relatively limited set of options. Not anymore!

What To Expect
Two of the most attractive aspects of the various fillers described above is that they are relatively inexpensive and also require little to no "down time" for the patient. The procedure only takes a few minutes to perform, and requires no bandages, dressings, or ointments afterward. And because the fillers are injections done in our office and require local anesthesia at most, patients can resume their normal activities immediately.

After cleaning the overlying skin with an antiseptic, the appropriate filler is injected into the selected wrinkles or folds, or into the lips, using a very fine needle to deposit the filler into the tissues. Correction is nearly immediate except for any swelling added by the needle site itself. As always, our goal is to create a natural, more youthful improvement, not a "done" or over-corrected look.

Post-procedure, the only patient restriction is to avoid strenuous physical activity for the first twenty-four hours after the injection. It's also important not to rub or massage the treated areas for the first day or two afterwards to avoid displacing the filler. The possibility of swelling or bruising can be minimized by the application of cold packs to the area for the first 24 hours as well. The specific potential risks of injectable fillers will be thoroughly discussed with you before your first treatment.

Restylane®
Approved by the FDA in December 2003, Restylane maintains its shape using the body's own moisture. The hyaluronic acid in Restylane is hydrophilic or "water loving." As hyaluronic acid gradually degrades, each molecule binds to more water and over time, the same volume can be maintained with less hyaluronic acid. This ability of hyaluronic acid to bind to water is what helps provide lasting results.

The big advantage over collagen is longevity. Studies, as well as our experience, suggest Restylane® lasts up to twice as long as collagen. Generally patients can expect the product to last about 4-6 months. Restylane is especially good for lip enhancement, both for creating fuller lips and for filling so-called "smoker's lines" and is usually a better choice than collagen.

Radiesse™
Formerly known as Radiance FN, Radiesse™ is a soft-tissue filler made from calcium hydroxylapatite, the same substance that is the major mineral in our bones. Calcium hydroxylapatite has been used for other medical purposes for over 15 years, requires no allergy testing, and is extremely compatible with our tissues. Radiesse's greatest advantage is that it is very long lasting, with resorption taking as long as one to three. Usually this long-lasting correction is achieved over the course of two injection sessions separated by a month or more to achieve optimal contour.

Radiesse is an extremely good choice for correction of the melolabial folds (the folds that run from the edge of the nostrils to the corners of the mouth.) and it has become a preferred filler for this otherwise hard-to-correct area.