Juvederm, Restylane, Belotero, Radiesse

What are fillers?

Fillers are injectable products that are used to enhance your features and improve the signs of aging. Treatment with fillers can improve lines and wrinkles and give volume to the skin.

Hyaluronic acid fillers include Juvederm® products, Restylane® products, and Belotero®. Each brand has different types of filler that are best suited for different areas of the face. Hyaluronic acid is a natural sugar that helps our skin hold onto water, allowing it to look fuller, smoother, and more youthful. Hyaluronic acid products are reversible and can be dissolved.

Biostimulatory fillers include Sculptra aesthetic® and Radiesse®. These products work by stimulating the body’s own collagen production and giving longer-lasting results. Collagen slowly diminishes as we age, leading to wrinkles and loss of facial structure and support. Biostimulatory fillers are long-lasting and are not reversible.

Where are hyaluronic acid fillers used?

Fillers are most commonly used on the face. Treatment with fillers can soften lines and wrinkles that form with age, such as nasolabial folds, marionette lines, or lines around the mouth. They can also be used for enhancement or improvement of volume in the cheeks, lips, and jawline.

More recently, fillers have been studied in other areas of the body, where they work to stimulate collagen production and improve skin quality or volume loss. These areas include the neck, chest, hands, arms, abdomen, buttocks and above the knees.

What should I expect after treatment?

With most fillers, you can see results at the end of your visit. These results may be somewhat obscured due to bruising, swelling, and redness – and thus final determination of results will be made at your follow up visit at 2 weeks. This gives time for the filler to integrate into your skin completely. Softening of wrinkles or improvement of volume will last approximately 6 months to 2 years. This depends on several factors including: product used, quantity used, goals of treatment, and more.

What are the risks?

If a patient develops side effects these are usually mild and temporary. As mentioned, bruising, redness, and mild swelling are possible after the treatment. In rare settings, side effects such as allergic and inflammatory reactions, skin necrosis, and even blindness can occur.

A thorough understanding of facial anatomy is necessary to inject fillers correctly and minimize risks. As each individual is unique, your dermatologist will listen to your concerns, and do a careful assessment of your face prior to treatment to optimize your outcome and give natural, beautiful results.

At Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group, fillers are used for both medical and cosmetic purposes in the trained hands of a board-certified dermatologist only.