Facial fillers compliment Botox. These injectable gel implants are used to fill out lips, facial wrinkles and folds to create a more youthful, healthy appearance. A number of facial fillers currently on the market contain hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural substance found in the body that creates skin volume, lubricates joints and helps determine the shape of the eyes. These HA facial fillers include, Restylane, Juviderm, Perlane and Teosyal and are biodegradable, dissolving naturally over time. Used less frequently, but lasting longer are collagen-based facial fillers such as Evolence and Artesense. Unlike HA facial fillers, these require pretreatment and allergy testing. For cases of significant volume loss, facial fillers such as Radiesse and Sculptra are also used.
HA based facial fillers are injected using an ultra-fine needle into the surface layer of the skin to provide volume where the body’s own hyaluronic acid has decreased. They join forces with the body’s own HA to instantly create volume. They are used most often for the lines between the eyes (often in combination with Botox), laugh lines, “marionette” lines around the mouth, as well as to fill in acne scars, tear troughs and to augment the lips.
HA fillers are safe, quick and for most people produce only minor discomfort. Since no pretreatment is required, the procedure can take as little as 15 to 30 minutes and you can leave the clinic immediately after treatment. Following the procedure treated areas may be slightly swollen and red, but these effects generally disappear within a few hours to a day. The dramatic results last much longer!
The Cost of Facial Filler Injections
The costs of facial fillers vary according to the product used and the patient’s individual needs. The effects of facial filler injections are instantaneous and can last six to nine months, depending on various factors like the patient’s skin structure, lifestyle and age. Clinical studies have shown that facial fillers deliver patient satisfaction for up to two years following treatment. Most patients opt for touchups within a year of the original injection.