A wide variety
of soft tissue fillers that can be injected into the face are now available.
Most commonly these involve collagen, fat, or some form of denatured
human dermis. All of these approaches share common characteristics.
These procedures often yield impressive early results but unfortunately
are typically not permanent.
Injecting collagen or fat will often improve deep facial wrinkles, creases, and furls. They also may have good results with depressed scars or areas of depressed acne scarring. There are other permanent injectables such as Gortex which carry a high risk of infection. Reaction to collagen, though rare, can occur. For this reason, an allergy skin test may need to be performed about a month before collagen injections for patients who are considering collagen. Injectable fillers are typically injected under local anesthesia in the office.
We are pleased to now offer Restylane® for our patients who are concerned about facial wrinkles or who want fuller lips.
Restylane® is a natural cosmetic dermal filler which helps restore volume and fullness to the skin. It is most commonly used in the fine lines around the lips, or in the nasolabial folds (creases running vertically from the sides of the nose down past the corners of the lips). As with other treatments, such as Botox®, it is a temporary treatment. The results will gradually fade over time and require additional treatment. How long the treatment will last varies from one patient to another but studies done by the company which developed Restylane® indicate it will last approximately six months for most patients.
Restylane® is made of a non-animal-based hyaluronic acid which is a natural substance that already exists in the human body.
Restylane® differs from Botox® in how it works. Botox® is a drug which blocks nerve transmission to the affected area of the face, thus relaxing the underlying muscles. This reduces the appearance of lines during movement of the face (such as the frown lines between the eyebrows). Restylane® is an actual filler - meaning it fills in the wrinkles or folds under the skin, and has no impact on the nerve or muscle function. Both are beneficial in the right circumstances, and some patients benefit from a combination of both treatments.