When used on the face, injectable facial fillers (aka dermal fillers) do what their name implies: they are great wrinkle fillers. They also even out skin texture by plumping up surface depressions, filling in furrows, and smoothing out creases. While Botox and Dysport are excellent at relaxing overactive muscles in the upper half of the face, making them the perfect choice for smoothing a wrinkled forehead or softening crow’s feet, dermal fillers work well on deep wrinkles, like the nasolabial folds (the lines that run from the corners of your nose to your mouth).
Of course, facial fillers have all sorts of other applications. They can be used to add volume to the lips and reverse the “hollow” look that age often brings to the eyes and cheeks. By restoring youthful volume to these areas of the face, fillers can even cause sagging skin to appear more lifted. Based out of her New York City (NYC) and Manhattan office, Dr. Yagoda has developed many innovative non-surgical procedures, such as the Tr-EYE-umph! and non-surgical facelift that harness the unique properties of fillers to produce amazing, instant results with minimal or no downtime.
How to Choose a Facial Filler
The best facial filler for you depends on the location and the depth of the area to be filled, and how long you want the results to last. Dr. Yagoda will take the time to patiently explain all of your alternatives, so that you can make informed decisions on the best facial line filler for you. Great care goes into the planning and the execution of your nonsurgical wrinkle reduction procedure, and Dr. Yagoda is both gentle and precise. The cost of facial fillers depends on the amount used but starts at $450. Side effects or complications are rare although some of the more common ones are bruising, swelling, and redness at the injection sites. These effects are all temporary and generally short-lived.
Types of Facial Fillers
There are currently many injectable fillers on the market. Here is a brief guide to some of the ones offered at Dr. Yagoda’s New York/ Manhattan office:
Restylane,® Restylane Silk ® and Restylane Lyft® (formerly Perlane®)
Restylane products are made of hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that is found in all of your cells, and is already a component of your skin and joint fluid. Therefore, no skin test is necessary.
Restylane fillers are used to treat facial wrinkles and folds, providing a more youthful and energetic appearance. Restylane is injected into the dermal layer and superficial dermal layer of the skin to fill in superficial fine lines and moderate depth wrinkles, depressions, or irregularities. Restylane Silk is used to treat lip lines and to enhance the lips naturally without any bumps. Restylane Lyft is injected more deeply to provide larger volume replacement especially in the midface, the cheeks, deep nasolabial folds, and along the jaw line. While the effects of Restylane injections are not permanent and the duration of the results is variable from individual to individual, on average they will last six-ten months or longer.
Juvéderm®, Voluma® and Volbella®
Juvéderm is similar to Restylane, as a filler for the face, and has a very similar profile of safety and effectiveness. Juvéderm comes in two versions, Ultra and Plus, and one is chosen for more superficial lines, the other for greater volumizing. It is most commonly used to soften patients’ nasolabial folds or smile lines, to fill in hollow places on the face, sunken cheeks, skin depressions, acne scars, creases and furrows, superficial lines, and to diminish the appearance of sunken scars by plumping up the skin. This gives a more even skin texture. Results from injections of this filler also usually last about six months. Like Restylane, Juvéderm is a smooth consistency gel made of hyaluronic acid. Also like Restylane, injections of Juvéderm may cause some minor bruising or swelling. Juvéderm is the first FDA-approved hyaluronic acid filler proven to be safe and effective for persons of color. Studies with Juvéderm showed no increased risk of hyperpigmentation or hypertrophic scarring in patients of color. Voluma is similar to Restylane Lyft and is used in the midface and cheek area. Volbella is similar to Restylane Silk, and it is used for lip lines and to enhance the pink part of the lip.
Radiesse®
Radiesse is another hyaluronic acid-based filler that lasts longer than Restylane or Juvéderm. The effects of Radiesse injections can last for one to five years after your injection. Tiny calcium microspheres are used to support and stimulate the growth of your own collagen. Radiesse is thicker than Restylane so it works better on deep lines and wrinkles, as a dermal filler. It is great for the nasolabial folds and smile lines, and is also used to build back cheek volume that is lost with age.
Sculptra®
Sculptra, like Radiesse, is one of the longest lasting injectable fillers, ideally it is used to replace lost volume in the face and to flatten deep facial folds. It’s made from a biocompatible substance called poly-L-lactic acid. Given as a series of treatments (usually three sessions spread out over a few months), Sculptra injections help to replace lost collagen. When the full results are achieved, they can last up to two years.
LaVivTM
Dr. Yagoda is pleased to announce the arrival of LaVivTM (Fibrocell Science, Exton, PA), an all-natural injectable filler made from one’s very own collagen-producing cells, to her practice. LaViv is a breakthrough for those who prefer fillers made of natural materials. It uses absolutely no synthetic materials-just one’s own collagen-producing cells! FDA-approved for reducing lines and wrinkles, and for restoring volume, LaViv is a welcome addition to Dr. Yagoda’s integrative aesthetic and facial plastic surgery practice in New York City (NYC) and Manhattan where she already offers a wide range of anti-aging and volumizing therapies. It is great for patients with rheumatologic and/or immunologic sensitivities. In addition, it is ideal for superficial lines and wrinkles around the eyes and lips.
Belotero®
New from Merz, Belotero® Balance is another FDA-approved hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler for facial wrinkles and folds. With another competitor on the market, there may be some more competitive pricing. In addition, some believe that injections with this filler will prove to be more effective for fine lip lines and lines around the eyes.
CosmoPlast, CosmoDerm and other collagen-based fillers
Unlike collagen fillers of decades past that were derived from cows and therefore required skin tests to avoid allergic reactions, modern collagen fillers are derived from purified human collagen. No skin tests are required, there’s generally little swelling or redness, and the results can last as long as six months—longer than some other injectable fillers. There are, however, risks associated with some collagen fillers and patients who have rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, multiple allergies, asthma, or eczema might not be suitable candidates for collagen based injections.
Permanent Fillers
Permanent fillers like Silicone and Artecoll have not yet received FDA approval. Dr. Yagoda is an expert who uses only safe, top quality, fillers that have received FDA approval.
Learn more about how and why Moderna’s vaccine against COVID-19 can cause facial swelling around fillers.
Watch these Interviews with Dr. Yagoda for more information:
| November 2011 Fox and Friends Tis the Season for Looking Your Best |
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| June 2009 Fox and Friends “Beating Botox” |
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| January 2009 Fox and Friends “Look Younger in 60 Minutes” |
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