Facial fillers – as we age, our face begins to show the effects of gravity, sun exposure and years
of facial muscle movement, such as smiling and chewing, it essentially “sags and deflates”. The
underlying tissues that keep our skin looking youthful and plumped up begin to break down,
often leaving laugh lines, smile lines, and facial creases over the areas where this muscle
movement occurs. Soft-tissue fillers, such as Juvederm, Restylane, Belotero or Radiesse can
help fill in these lines and creases, temporarily restoring a smoother, more youthful-looking
appearance. When injected beneath the skin, these fillers plump up creased and sunken areas of
the face. They can also add fullness to the lips and cheeks, and improve dark circles under eyes.
Dermal fillers have been called "liquid facelifts" because they offer many of the benefits of a
surgical facelift without the downtime. These treatments aren't permanent, however, and they
must be repeated and maintained. Some dermal fillers are used in conjunction with other skin
rejuvenation treatments such as injections of botulinum toxin.
Two most common materials that are used today are:
in soft connective tissue and in the fluid surrounding your eyes. It's also in some cartilage
and joint fluids, as well as skin tissue. Hyaluronic acid is not derived from animal
sources. Brand names include: Juvéderm, Perlane, Restylane and Belotero.
This mineral-like compound is reserved to fill the deepest creases such as nasolabial
folds and marionette lines. It's also used to enhance fullness of the cheeks and other
facial contours. Calcium-based microspheres are suspended in a water-based gel. Brand
names include: Radiesse, Radiance.
