Injectable Fillers: Restylane, Juvéderm, Prevelle, and Others
Serving Fort Collins, Northern Colorado & Cheyenne, Wyoming
Who is a good candidate for injectable fillers?
Adult patients over the age of 21 who have a small contour deformity in the facial region can benefit from injections with temporary fillers. All injectable fillers used in Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Duncan's office — Restylane, Juvéderm, Prevelle, and Cosmoderm — are FDA approved for use in the nasolabial folds. There are some "off label" regions that we inject, such as lips, cheeks, lateral eyebrows, and hollows on either side of the chin. Depressed scars, mild wrinkles, and hollows on either side of the nostrils are also improved with these injections.
What is the difference between these fillers?
Restylane is hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally found in the body. It works by filling the hollows that form as we age and are responsible for some facial wrinkles, such as the nasolabial folds. Restylane is long-lasting because hyaluronic acid holds onto water, so that as it is absorbed by the body, it can maintain its volume by binding more water. This particular filler has been used for many years with good results. In areas of minimal motion, it can last up to a year. However, in the lip area, results tend to last 4–6 months. There is mild swelling for 1–3 days after injection with Restylane, so many patients have injections done on Friday so they can return to work on Monday. Our patient satisfaction rate with Restylane results is very high.
Juvéderm is a hyaluronic acid filler similar to Restylane. The advantage of Juvéderm is that the injections are a little less uncomfortable in the first 24 hours after injection. The disadvantage is that for the same cost as Restylane, there is much less filler in each syringe, making Juvéderm more pricey.
Prevelle is a shorter-term hyaluronic acid filler, good for those who have a special event coming up and who want little to no "down" time. It was designed to nearly eliminate the already short period of swelling following injection. Prevelle injections are also ideal to alleviate the concerns of people who would like to try a filler but want to "try on" a new look without a long term commitment. The cost of Prevelle is significantly lower than that of Restylane or Juvéderm.
Cosmoderm is similar to Prevelle in that both have a local anesthetic contained in the syringe so no dental block or other numbing agents are necessary. Cosmoderm is not a hyaluronic acid filler, though. Cosmoderm is human-based collagen, which can provide great results over the short term.
What can injectable fillers do for me?
When fillers are combined with Botox and a mild skin resurfacing treatment, a nonsurgical "mini-lift" can make a dramatic difference in a tired, dull, crabby, or old facial appearance. Many of us develop the appearance of "negative emotions" as we age. A sad, worn-out, angry, or weathered face — the outside look that everyone sees — may not reflect the "real you" inside. A major component of looking old is atrophy, or loss of facial fat and soft tissues, that can give you a hollow, thin, long face. By filling in the flat or hollow features, a softer, more youthful appearance can be restored.
Other nonsurgical procedures:
- Botox is the perfect accompanying procedure, as it softens harsh features such as frown lines, crow's feet, and prominent forehead lines.
- Microlaser peel is a good way to refresh the dull, tired look of aging skin. Superficial areas of dyschromia (brown patches due to age and sun damage) can be removed, and crepey skin and fine wrinkles are dramatically improved when more than one treatment is performed.
- Fraxel or the Sciton Profractional laser can also reduce pigment problems. The Profractional is excellent for acne scarring and for achieving mild skin tightening.
If you would like to learn more about Restylane and other soft tissue fillers and what they can do for you, please contact our cosmetic surgeon at the Plastic Surgical Associates in Fort Collins, Colorado, to set up your initial consultation.
970.493.7445
1701 E. Prospect Rd.
Fort Collins, CO 80525
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