Do you remember when collagen first received FDA approval over 20 years ago?  If so, you might recall the hope people had about looking better, but also the fear about side effects and painful injections. Now, we have a wider, safer variety of fillers to choose from that really get results.

Wrinkle fillers can be injected into deep wrinkles, folds, lines, or fill-in areas that have lost volume, like thin lips and sunken cheeks.  Using a filler will often allow one to postpone surgery.

Now the most common question is, “Which one should I choose?”

Below is a list and brief description of 5 popular dermal fillers:

• Restylane – a hyaluronic acid based filler touted as “the world’s best-selling dermal filler.” We use it as indicated, for correcting moderate facial wrinkles and folds.
• Perlane – very similar to Restylane, it is designed primarily for treating deeper and more severe wrinkles and folds.
• Radiesse –this thick compound is made with (natural, biocompatible) calcium based microspheres in water based gel.
• Prevelle Silk – this hyaluronic acid gel filler is commonly used for lip augmentation treatments.
• Juvederm – Like Perlane, this popular filler is designed for treating deeper wrinkles and restoring volume to the face. Juvederm provides a smooth, natural look.
• Sculptra – a poly-L-lactic acid filler that was FDA approved to treat facial     lipoatrophy – the loss of facial tissue. Sculptra is often used to fill in hollowness in the cheeks and other imperfections like nasolabial folds.

If you’re considering treatment with any of these wrinkle fillers, consult with a qualified surgeon that you trust.  For help choosing the right product, or for more information on the risks and benefits, contact the Bellevue office of Dr. Michael Leff.