What are Dermal Fillers?
Aging is a part of life, and as the years pass, the less vibrant, refreshed and youthful the skin may begin to look. When you are young, there is an abundance of collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin which gives to your skin support, volume and suppleness. As we age, these natural support structures become less plentiful. The result is wrinkles, facial lines and skin laxity – all of which rob the skin of its youthful, fresh appearance.
FDA-approved since the 80s, treated bovine collagen was used as “fillers” onto the dermis. Later in 2000’s new artificial “fillers” – Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane came to the market. They are safely injected to the areas that needed to be treated. Compared to other treatments, dermal fillers are generally safe, hypoallergenic and painless. Moreover, this treatment has more consistent and significant results. It takes less downtime for patients and feels natural under the skin with lower risks of complications, provided that you seek professional assistance. Patients are advised not to manipulate the treated area to prevent the filler from shifting to other regions of the face, after the procedure. If there are inflammations or redness on the treated area, apply a cool pack and see your doctor.
Because of its effectiveness, medical spa’s have experienced a great demand for the treatment since the past decade. However, its needs to be injected by highly trained professionals to provide best results and safety for the clients and assure a proper step by step process.
Pros and cons of dermal fillers
While dermal fillers may sound like the perfect anti-aging treatment for most of us, there are advantages and disadvantages to the procedure. While it may not apply for some, we still need to understand how it may affect us.
PROS
dermal fillers help prevent or smooth away the wrinkles in nasolabial folds, underneath the eyes and even treat shallow scars on the face.
Dermal filler treatments offer a fast solution to these skin problems with almost no down time at all. You can get off from work at lunch time and return from the spa with younger looking skin by your afternoon shift.
Trained doctors and nurses offer safe and painless treatments as approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).
Dermal filler treatments are a cost-effective solution to aging skin and are more affordable compared to surgical procedures.
CONS
While it is generally safe, dermal fillers can trigger allergic reactions. Bruising, pain and swelling can occur.
The effects of the fillers are not permanent, slowly dissolving during the time. Effects of Restylane and Juvederm last up 6 months, Perlane and Juvederm Plus XC up to 9 months and Radiesse up to 18 months. There is a new filler (Voluma) just recently approved by FDA, which will last up to 24 months.
What are Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane ?
Since Dermal Fillers are so new, most people don’t know what it is. Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane are dermal fillers that relies on hyaluronic acid rather than collagen to plump up the skin. Hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally found in the human body. Since the hyaluronic acid in Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane is created by biosynthesis in a laboratory, patients are not required to take an allergy test before receiving treatment.
One of the main benefits of the dermal filler is that the results from the product are longer-lasting than those obtained from other wrinkle reducers, including collagen and fat injections. To find out more about Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane filler and the cost of treatment, see below.
Candidates for Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane Fillers
Good candidates for Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane filler treatment are those patients who would like to improve the appearance of facial lines or augment the lips. As to the question of JUVÉDERM® vs. Restylane® and other fillers, read on for a description of similarities and differences. For the most part, all that is required of a patient for Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane treatment is that he or she is dissatisfied with the appearance of facial wrinkles and creases, or with the fullness of their lips. However, Dermal Fillers may not be a good option if a female patient is pregnant or nursing.
Dermal Filler is likely a good option for you if you are dissatisfied with the way your face is aging – namely, if you dislike the wrinkles and creases that have surfaced. Dermal Fillers may also be right for you if you feel that your lips need augmentation. If you have severe scarring or thinner/looser skin, Juvederm, Perlane or Restylane may not be as effective. But in most cases and with most patients, Dermal Filler is a good choice. Note that the results of dermal filler are long-lasting but impermanent, so that you are not forever wed to your decision.
What Areas Can Be Treated with Juvederm, Perlane or Restylane?
Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane are appropriate for any area of the face, including lines and creases around the mouth, nose, and forehead. The procedure can be used for facial contouring as well as to improve the appearance of scars, such as those caused by acne. Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane can also be used to enhance the size and shape of the lips. All of these areas will show distinct improvement after treatment with dermal filler.
The Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane Treatment Process
Dermal filler treatment is quite simple and is similar to other dermal fillers/ wrinkle reducers. It is injected into the area of the wrinkles and creases with minimal discomfort. Its effects are immediate and long-lasting, though some patients may wish to combine Dermal fillers with BOTOX® Cosmetic for an even more dramatic effect.
Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane fillers arrive at your doctor’s office packed in a sterile, ready-to-use syringe. The smooth gel consistency of Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane makes it more comfortable for patients to receive injections than with other dermal fillers, because doctors can use thinner needles and less pressure during injection. However, to minimize the chance of discomfort, your doctor will numb the area of your face to be treated with a topical anesthetic cream before he or she administers dermal filler injections. Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane is injected into the mid to deep dermis, depending on the amount of correction required, and the typical treatment session is about thirty minutes long.
Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane treatments involve less discomfort for patients than other dermal fillers, and the results are more enduring, with the average patient enjoying a healthier, more youthful facial appearance for six to nine months. Furthermore, since Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane are composed solely of biocompatible hyaluronic acid, it poses very minimal risk of allergic reaction and other negative side-effects associated with injectable wrinkle treatments.
Preparing for Juvederm, Perlane or Restylane Treatments
Patients are advised to stop taking anti-inflammatory medications or aspirin one to three days prior to a dermal filler treatment. If you wear make-up, you should not wear any to your dermal filler appointment; however, you will be able to maintain your skin care and make-up routine after your treatment is complete. Though there is no pre-treatment allergy testing required for patients who undergo injections, those with a history of severe allergies may not be considered suitable dermal filler candidates.
How Does Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane Work?
Your skin naturally produces hyaluronic acid, a sugar-based compound responsible for delivering and maintaining moisture and nutrient levels in skin cells, and which creates the appearance of volume and smoothness in young, supple skin. Unfortunately, with the progression of time, your skin’s ability to manufacture its own hyaluronic acid diminishes. Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane is made from a smooth gel that is made of cross-linked hyaluronic acid particles. When injected into fine lines, wrinkles, furrows, or sunken areas of the face, Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane replenishes the hyaluronic acid that has been absorbed into your body over time, helping you achieve a more youthful appearance.
Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane comes in a number of formulas of varying strengths, so treatments can be tailored to the specific needs of each patient. Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane is effective in the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles as well as in plumping up the lips, filling in the cheek area, and even restoring a youthful, rounded shape to the face. While Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane provides very visible and long-lasting results, patients who have extensive facial wrinkling or sagging may be more appropriate candidates for facial plastic surgery, such as a facelift or a browlift.
Recovery, Results, and Re-treatment
After Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane treatment, it is best not to unnecessarily touch or massage the treated area for a few days, though normal make-up routines may be adhered to. Patients who have dermal filler treatment are also advised to avoid unnecessary exposure to heat, cold, and sun for up to two weeks following their injections. After Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane treatment, it is important to wear sunscreen and to avoid using any products that contain alcohol on the face.
Some doctors recommend that patients come in for a follow-up treatment to fill in any lines or wrinkles that were missed during the first dermal filler treatment, but this is rarely necessary. Over time, the hyaluronic acid in JUVÉDERM® is naturally absorbed into the body. However, because of its cross-linked composition and viscous gel consistency, Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane integrates into the body at a markedly slower rate than other dermal fillers. Thus, patients enjoy longer lasting results after JUVÉDERM® treatment than with Restylane® treatment and other injectable wrinkle treatments. The average patient enjoys the results of a JUVÉDERM® treatment for six to nine months, though some patients have had results last for as long as a year.
Risks and Benefits of Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane Injections
The benefits of Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane filler injections are easy to see: immediate improvement in the appearance of wrinkles and creases, and fuller lips for those who wish to augment this aspect of their face. Risks are few, as the materials contained in Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane filler are naturally produced in the human body and are therefore not allergy-inducing. There is a side effect of swelling at the injection site, but this is normal and subsides rapidly after treatment.
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COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT RESTYLANE, PERLANE® AND JUVÉDERM
Here are the most common questions we receive about Dermal Fillers.
WHAT ARE RESTYLANE®, PERLANE® AND JUVÉDERM ?
RESTYLANE®,PERLANE® and JUVÉDERM® are all non-surgical, FDA-approved, fillers used to instantly smooth away moderate to severe wrinkles like smile lines (the lines from your nose to the corners of your mouth) as well as plump the lips and restore lost volume for a fresher, more youthful appearance.
HOW DO RESTYLANE®, PERLANE® AND JUVÉDERM® WORK ?
RESTYLANE®, PERLANE® & JUVÉDERM® are clear gel like substances composed of hyaluronic acid, a substance that naturally exists in the body. While hearing the word “acid” may sound scary, hyaluronic acid isn’t harsh or damaging at all, in fact it’s the opposite. Within the human body, large amounts of hyaluronic acid are found between the cells, where it provides skin with its youthful suppleness and moisture. Unfortunately, our bodies own natural levels of hyaluronic acid decrease with age. Due to the decrease in hyaluronic acid as we age, combined with other factors, the facial muscles become closer to the surface of the skin, resulting in the increase appearance of wrinkles and smile lines. When you receive a treatment with RESTYLANE® or JUVÉDERM®, the lost hyaluronic acid is added back into the skin, restoring the lost volume to smooth those unsightly wrinkles or add fullness to thin lips
ARE DERMAL FILLERS SAFE ?
There are minimal risks associated with dermal fillers, most of which can be avoided by choosing an experienced injector, such as one of the medical & nursing professionals at Ideal Image. All three of RESTYLANE®, PERLANE® and JUVÉDERM® are FDA-approved for adding volume to the skin in patients over 21 years of age.
HOW LONG DOES EACH DERMAL FILLER LAST ?
The JUVÉDERM® XC is the only hyaluronic acid filler FDA-approved to last up to one year with optimal treatment.
RESTYLANE® and PERLANE®’s effects are slightly shorter in duration, generally lasting about six months before gradually disappearing from the body.
With repeated treatments, the effects of all three of our dermal fillers can be prolonged so you never have to stop looking and feeling your best.
Is pre-treatment testing required ?
Unlike other, collagen-based dermal fillers, which could pose the risk of an allergic reaction for some patients, no pre-treatment allergy testing is required for JUVÉDERM® treatments. Hyaluronic acid already occurs naturally in human skin, and the hyaluronic acid that is used in dermal fillers is created through biosynthesis and is not of animal origin, so it is highly biocompatible.
What is the difference between JUVÉDERM® and Restylane® ?
JUVÉDERM® has a higher concentration of hyaluronic acid than Restylane®, so the results of a JUVÉDERM® treatment should last longer than those of a Restylane® treatment. Some doctors and patients also believe that the results of JUVÉDERM® treatment are smoother and more natural looking than those achieved with Restylane®.
Are JUVÉDERM® and Restylane® results immediate?
A Typical Yes. While the appearance of treated areas will continue to improve for a few days following dermal filler treatment, patients enjoy immediate reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in areas treated with dermal filler.
Is there downtime following dermal filler treatments ?
There is no downtime required after dermal filler treatment. Patients who undergo dermal filler treatment can expect to be able to return to work or other normal activities immediately, with only mild redness or soreness at the site of the injections.
Are there risks associated with dermal fillers ?
Adverse side effects of dermal filler treatment are rare, and usually go away in less than a week without any doctor intervention. Side effects of dermal fillers usually result from the injection itself and may include redness, tenderness, swelling, firmness, and bruising. Since your body already contains hyaluronic acid, and the ingredient in dermal fillers is created through biosynthesis in a laboratory and is designed for biocompatibility, there is no risk of an allergic reaction after dermal filler treatment.
How painful are Juvederm or Restylane injections?
There may be some discomfort during and after the injection. Juvederm or Restylane is injected directly into the skin with a fine needle. Some Juvederm or Restylane products contain the local anesthetic lidocaine to help lessen discomfort during injection, or the physician may choose to numb the site prior to injection. You should discuss these options with your physician prior to the procedure.
What areas are treated with JUVÉDERM or RESTYLANE ?
JUVÉDERM and RESTYLANE is for injection into the mid to deep dermis (below the outer layer of the skin) for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. Some examples include:
Plump up folds that run from the bottom of the nose to the corners of the mouth
Reduce the “Marionette lines,” the downturned creases in the corner of the mouth
Augment thin or aging lips.
How long will the procedure take ?
The procedure takes approximately 15-30 minutes.
What should I expect after the treatment ?
You may experience pain, tenderness, temporary redness, swelling, bruising, firmness, and bumps at the injection sites. Studies have shown that these are usually mild to moderate in nature and clear up on their own in 7 days or less. If you experience swelling at the injection site, you can apply an ice pack for a brief period.
Are there any restrictions post treatment ?
You should avoid the following for at least 24 hours after treatment:
– Strenuous exercise
– Consumption of alcoholic beverages
– Extended exposure to sun or heat
What should I do to prepare for my appointment ?
We recommend that you avoid any medications that can prolong bleeding, such as aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), for at least a week prior to receiving the treatment for wrinkles in order to reduce the risk of bruising and bleeding at the injection site. Please always check with your primary physician to see if discontinuing any medication is appropriate.
If you want JUVÉDERM filler in your lips, please let us know if you have herpes simplex virus (also known as “cold sores” or “fever blisters”). For your comfort we will recommend that you call your physician for treatment as if you were experiencing an outbreak. JUVÉDERM does not cause outbreaks, but can trigger a non-active outbreak.
We will also need to know if you are allergic to Lidocaine prior to your appointment.
