Cosmetic Dermal Fillers & Cosmetic Injectables

Restylane/Juvederm™

Fillers and injectables are a dynamic and evolving practice area within cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic dermal fillers are used to restore fullness to the skin and replace lost volume. They restore youthful contours to the skin by smoothing over moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as the lines from your nose to the corners of the mouth.

They are made of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in our bodies. Natural hyaluronic acid provides volume and fullness to the skin by holding onto water. Young skin is smooth and elastic and contains a large amount of hyaluronic acid that helps the skin to look healthy. As we age the ability to produce hyaluronic acid decreases and its amount in the body therefore decreases. Because hyaluronic acid also helps to bind water the ability of the skin to retain water also decreases with age. As a result the skin becomes drier, thinner, looser and less able to restore itself.  The skin as a result has an aged appearance. The hyaluronic acid in these products has been modified slightly to last longer than the body’s natural hyaluronic acid.

The higher concentration of hyaluronic acid in these products allows them to last longer and create that smooth gel that flows easily into the skin creating a natural, more youthful and rejuvenated appearance. The majority of people are thrilled with the results and appreciate the immediate return to their busy schedule.

Radiesse®

Radiesse® is a new injectable filler product that consists of microspheres of calcium hydroxylapatite suspended in an aqueous gel carrier (carboxymethycellulose). It is used for smoothing and contouring smile lines or nasolabial folds, wrinkles at the corner of the mouth, vertical lip lines, acne scars, facial defects or recessions and frown lines. It also restores volume in and around the cheeks. For many years in the past, calcium hydroxylapatite has been used by surgeons as prosthetic implants for dental, facial and orthopedic surgery.

The advantage of Radiesse® over others is that it has a longer lasting effect and does not require a waiting period for allergy testing. This is due to its content of calcium hydroxylapatite, which is a normal constituent of bone and teeth and does not elicit a chronic inflammatory or immune response.

In addition, Radiesse® remains soft and takes on the characteristic of the surrounding tissue. Over time, usually about three months, the body forms collagen around the microspheres that add bulk, which replaces the Radiesse® for a long-lasting effect, which is normally around 1 to 2 years. Some patients report the effect lasting as long as three years or more.

Sculptra™

Sculptra™ is a long-lasting treatment used for the restoration and/or correction of facial fat loss. Sculptra™ is injected below the skin to plump up areas of fat loss, such as skin indentations, hollow eyes and sunken cheeks.  Sculptra™ is a synthetic injectable material known as poly-L-lactic acid which has been used for many years in dissolvable sutures. Sculptra™ can replace deep hollows of the cheeks and unlike Restylane and Radiesse ®, it can be used more broadly to augment the cheeks and other areas of the face which have become atrophied or “deflated” with aging. Immediately following the treatment most people are elated to see their creases and wrinkles gone. Initial improvement is mostly due to mild swelling, but the product delivers a lasting result. Over the days following injection, the swelling comes down significantly and most patients will require another treatment in a few weeks. Patients who continue with the product will take 2 to 3 treatments typically, in order to gain significant correction. Sculptra™ provides a gradual increase in skin thickness and the results continue to improve over time. The correction from Sculptra™ lasts approximately 2 years and possibly longer. There is also evidence that the body will stimulate collagen formation in the treatment site producing some permanent correction.