Dermal fillers do exactly as their name says — they fill wrinkles and areas that have lost volume. At Longwood Eye & LASIK Center we offer Restylane® and Radiesse® in our Oculoplastic Center.
What Are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers are completely different than BOTOX®, although their goals are the same — to erase wrinkles. BOTOX® is a neuromodulator made from the botulinum toxin type A. It works on wrinkles that form when a muscle beneath the skin is contracted. These wrinkles form on the upper third of the face. When BOTOX® is injected into the muscle, it stops the muscle from contracting, so the wrinkle on the skin surface doesn’t form. BOTOX® only works on this type of wrinkle, known as dynamic wrinkles.
Dermal fillers only work on the other type of wrinkle, known as static wrinkles. These wrinkles show themselves at all times. They are mainly the result of sun damage, decreasing production of collagen and elastin, and personal habits such as smoking. Dermal fillers are injected beneath the wrinkle and they fill in the area, pushing the skin back up. They also do this with areas of volume loss, such as the cheeks.
Dermal Fillers Offered At The Eye And Lasik Center
In our Oculoplastic Center, we offer Restylane® and Radiesse®.
What Is Restylane?
Restylane® was the first dermal filler approved by the FDA in 2006. Restylane® is classified as a “natural” filler. This is because it is made primarily from hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the human body that is responsible for hydrating and plumping the skin. To do this, hyaluronic acid binds with water molecules.
How Does Restylane Work?
Restylane® is injected directly beneath the crease or fold. The gel provides instant volume, plus the hyaluronic acid binds with water molecules in the area. This erases the wrinkle or crease, plumps the skin, and adds hydration.
Restylane Treatment Areas
Restylane® targets marionette lines (lines that run from the corners of the mouth downwards), nasolabial folds (lines that run from the nose down to the mouth), and parentheses lines around the mouth.
Candidates for Restylane
Ideal candidates for Restylane are adults who are in overall good health, non-smokers, and looking to eliminate signs of aging. Anyone with severe facial wrinkles, folds, and lines on the face, hollow cheeks, or thin lips can benefit from Restylane fillers.
Some health conditions may disqualify you from being a qualified candidate for Restylane. These conditions include:
- Being pregnant
- Currently breastfeeding
- Having active acne
- Having an active skin infection
- Being under the age of 22
- Being allergic to dermal filler ingredients
- Having unrealistic expectations regarding the appearance of your results
Side Effects Of Restylane Injections
Because Restylane® is made with hyaluronic acid, which occurs naturally in the human body, allergic reactions are almost unheard of, so pre-testing isn’t necessary. The most commonly observed side effects are swelling, redness, pain, bruising, headaches, tenderness, lump formation, and itching at the injection sites. These are typically mild in severity and usually resolve themselves in two or three days.
Occasionally, lumps or granulomas can form near the injection sites. This side effect can be reversed with an injection of hyaluronidase, an enzyme that speeds up the natural degradation of the hyaluronic acid in the filler.
How Long Does Restylane Last?
Results from Restylane can last anywhere between six to 18 months, depending on where you get Restylane injected and the type of formula that is used. Some Restylane injections may last longer than others, depending on where it was injected on the face. For example, cheek and wrinkle fillers may last longer than lip fillers, as your lips tend to move a lot more than your cheeks on a daily basis.
What Is Radiesse?
Radiesse® is classified as a synthetic filler because it is not made with hyaluronic acid. Radiesse® uses a two-pronged approach to plumping the skin and filling wrinkles. First, Radiesse® contains calcium microspheres that add structure under the skin where injected. This imitates the role of collagen. Second, Radiesse® encourages the body to build new collagen in the injected areas.
How Does Radiesse Work?
What makes Radiesse® different are its calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres. They are suspended in a water-based gel. Once injected, the water-based gel, coupled with the microspheres, provides immediate volume and builds a support structure to return volume and raise the skin. That is the initial step. Then, as the body absorbs the gel and metabolizes the CaHA microspheres, a reaction is triggered where the body begins to produce new collagen in the area. This increased collagen production makes for natural looking results that continue to build, lasting for a year or even longer.
Radiesse Treatment Areas
At Longwood Eye & LASIK Center, we use Radiesse® to restore lost volume in the lower face. Radiesse® is excellent for smiles lines (running from the nose down to the corners of the mouth), marionette lines (running downward from the corners of the mouth), pre-jowl folds, drooping corners of the mouth, and chin wrinkles.
Radiesse For Hand Rejuvenation
Radiesse® is the only dermal filler approved by the FDA to restore volume to the backs of the hands. It’s not an area we think about with volume loss, but the backs of our hands can really show our age with thinning skin and wrinkling. Plus, the hands have heavy sun damage.
Radiesse® fills out the shrunken look of sun-damaged, aging hands. It returns volume, leaving a smooth, natural-looking result. Radiesse® also minimizes the visibility of veins and tendons, another unfortunate result of decreasing collagen production with age. Radiesse® does this by encouraging new collagen production.
Candidates For Radiesse
If you have prominent smile and marionette lines, along with lines around your mouth and chin, Radiesse® is an excellent dermal filler to address them. Also, if you hate how the backs of your hands have aged, Radiesse® can change that. Reactions are rare because Radiesse® uses calcium-based microspheres and calcium occurs naturally in the body.
How Long Does Radiesse Last?
Radiesse® delivers immediate results as the gel and calcium microspheres provide volume. Then, thanks to the triggered increase in collagen production, results last up to one year or even longer in some patients.
Side Effects for Radiesse
Although Radiesse is a safe and effective dermal filler, it still comes with several side effects. These side effects may include:
- Bruising
- Redness
- Swelling
- Pain
- Itching
- Loss of sensation
- Nodules or lumps under the skin
- Difficulty performing physical activities
Radiesse Vs. Other Cosmetic Fillers
Radiesse® is the only dermal filler that is composed of calcium-based microspheres that have been shown to stimulate the production of collagen. This is different than most natural fillers that only provide wrinkle support with the initial gel, but don’t encourage new collagen production. Also, Radiesse® is the only dermal filler approved for use on the backs of the hands.
How Can I Prepare for My Dermal Filler Treatment?
Preparing ahead of time for your dermal filler treatment can help minimize the amount of side effects. Before receiving dermal fillers, we recommend patients do the following:
- Consult with your doctor about stopping any medications that may interfere with your treatment.
- Minimize alcohol consumption.
- Quit smoking.
- Avoid blood thinning medications.
- Avoid using retinol.
- Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.
How Long Does Recovery from Dermal Fillers Take?
Recovery time from dermal fillers is very minimal. However, it will vary depending on the type of dermal filler you receive and exactly where you receive it. Most dermal filler treatments require barely any recovery time. Besides swelling and a little bit of redness, which is a common side effect after dermal filler treatment, most patients are able to return to their normal routines immediately after treatment.
For the first few days after your treatment, you will likely experience side effects such as bruising, numbness, redness, palpable lumps, swelling, and hypersensitivity in the treated area. These side effects typically disappear on their own within a few days. Avoiding alcohol, applying pressure to the treated area, and intense physical activity will help prevent complications from occurring during your recovery.
How Do I Know Which Dermal Filler Is Right for Me?
While Restylane and Radiesse are both effective at eliminating the appearance of folds and wrinkles on the face, it can be a challenge to try to figure out which one would benefit you the most. Determining which filler is right for achieving your aesthetic goals is something that our highly skilled professionals at Longwood Eye & LASIK Center can help with. During your consultation, we will take into consideration your medical history, current appearance, and personal goals to help determine which dermal filler is right for you.
Schedule A Consultation
Both skill and facial knowledge are important to obtain the best results from dermal fillers. The team at Longwood Eye & LASIK Center has incredible knowledge of the facial anatomy which ensures your filler is injected into the proper location.
To learn more about our filler treatments, call 1-855-286-2020 or schedule a consultation online.
