Dermal Fillers – Hyaluronic Acid
Trade names include Restylane®, Perlane®, Juvéderm®, Radiesse®, Prevelle®, and Artefil®
Purpose: To restore your skin's volume and smooth away facial wrinkles and folds.
What creates a wrinkle?
Many wrinkles are actually creases that have been worn into the skin by making the same expression thousands of times. These "expression lines", often called frown lines or crow's feet, are due to the contraction of the muscles under the skin in that area.
What is a dermal filler?
A dermal filler is an injectable gel of hyaluronic acid that provides volume and is used to treat wrinkles and folds resulting from a loss of volume beneath the surface of the skin.
What is Hyaluronic acid (HA)?
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a substance that occurs naturally in the body, giving volume and hydration to the skin. HA has also been used for more than 20 years for injection into arthritic joints to aid movement as well as for eye surgeries and wound repair.
How are dermal fillers used?
The gel is eased into the skin using a fine needle to temporarily fill in and augment the treatment area and smooth moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. Adding volume to the skin is intended to give the appearance of a smoother surface.
Does a Hyaluronic acid injection hurt?
The smooth consistency of the gel allows your doctor to administer it easily and smoothly. None-the-less, injections may cause some discomfort during and after the injection. To minimize your discomfort, we use a topical anesthetic to numb the treatment area.
How long does treatment usually take?
The injection process takes only about 15 minutes. You'll also need to allow time to consult with your doctor prior to treatment and approximately 30 minutes for the topical anesthetic to take effect.
Where can Hyaluronic acid be injected?
These fillers can safely and effectively:
- Add volume to the lips and smooth lines around the mouth.
- Fill tear troughs or hollows beneath the eyes.
- Diminish the appearance of lines and wrinkles, such as nasolabial folds.
- Build up the cheekbones.
- Lift the eyebrow as it fills in the forehead.
- Fill in earlobe creases.
How long does a dermal filler last?
The effects of a dermal filler usually last for 6 to 12 months, at which time another treatment is required. Since the products are biocompatible and biodegradable, they will be gradually broken down and eliminated harmlessly by the body.
How safe is hyaluronic acid?
Since the synthetic hyaluronic acid in these fillers is identical to what the body produces, there is no need for allergy pretesting, and no risk of allergic reaction.
What are the possible side effects of HAdermal fillers?
Because this is a simple, nonsurgical wrinkle treatment, there is minimal recovery or downtime. Most side effects are temporary, mild in nature, and last 7 days or less. The most common side effects include, but are not limited to, redness, pain/tenderness, firmness, swelling, lumps/bumps, bruising, itching, and discoloration at the injection site. As with all skin injection procedures there is a risk of infection.
tylane® or Perlane®
Restylane is the world's most used, most studied dermal filler, and has been used in over 70 countries and in more than 1.4 million treatments in the U.S.