Facial Plastic SurgerySurgical procedures are not the only method of achieving facial enhancement. Wrinkle therapies involve a wide variety of non-surgical facial procedures designed to give you a more vibrant, youthful look with minimal downtime. Most wrinkle therapies involve the use of injectable soft tissue filler materials such as Restylane®, Perlane®, JUVÉDERM®, Artefill® and Radiesse® that can plump out or erase unwanted deep creases and wrinkles. For instance, the inevitable deep smile crease that can develop between the cheek and the mouth is especially well suited for this type of treatment. Wrinkle therapy involves a quick office-based procedure that gives you immediate results without the downsides of a prolonged surgical recovery.
- Restylane®, Perlane®, and JUVÉDERM®
- Bellafill® (Previously Know as Artefill®)
- Radiesse® (Previously Know as Radiance FN)
RESTYLANE®, PERLANE®, AND JUVÉDERM®
Restylane®, Perlane®, and JUVÉDERM® are very popular choices for many patients looking to erase unwanted wrinkles or lines. In addition, they can be used to effectively enhance volume-deficient areas of the face, such as the lips and cheeks. Restylane®, Perlane®, and JUVÉDERM® are predominantly made of hyaluronic acid, which is a natural substance found in the body. Hyaluronic acid is highly attracted to water and binds moisture with great affinity. This feature gives the injectables their ability to fill in wrinkles and creases by bringing water to the area of concern, allowing for a soft, supple enhancement that looks very natural. Additionally, these fillers have a very low side effect profile. In our experience a very small percentage of patients will develop bruising or swelling at the treatment site lasting beyond 24 hours. The vast majority of people who are treated are thrilled with the results and appreciate the immediate return to their busy schedule. There have been a few reports of hypersensitivity reactions, but because it is so unlikely, the FDA does not require skin testing of patients.
Because Restylane®, Perlane®, and JUVÉDERM® have been proven to last longer than collagen (6-12 months), they have essentially replaced collagen as one of the primary wrinkle therapies.
Most candidates for Restylane®, Perlane®, or JUVÉDERM® injections are concerned with unwanted facial creases and moderately deep wrinkles. One of the most popular areas for treatment is the nasolabial fold, or smile line, that is formed by the border of the cheek and upper lip. Other patients elect to have one of our fillers to simply enhance or sculpt the overall shape of the face in a minimally invasive, nonsurgical manner. Many of these patients are unhappy with areas of the face that appear excessively hollowed, flat or deflated, such as the upper and lower lips. Restylane®, Perlane®, and JUVÉDERM® may also be used to contour enhancement of the lower eyelids, cheeks and jowl region to mimic a non-surgical facelift. Performed in the office setting, Restylane®, Perlane®, and JUVÉDERM® treatment usually takes less than fifteen minutes to complete. Topical anesthesia with or without a nerve block may be administered to maximize comfort during the procedure. More recently, all three products have been offered with numbing medication pre-mixed into the filler, which has made a significant improvement in patient comfort.
Restylane®, Perlane®, and JUVÉDERM® FAQs
Case Study
Restylane® Refyne and Defyne
Restylane® Refyne and Restylane® Defyne are two innovative dermal fillers that are ideal for the treatment of lines and wrinkles. Refyne and Defyne are especially effective for softening nasolabial folds, often known as laugh lines or marionette lines. These injectable fillers are known as “flexible fillers” because they utilize XpresHAn Technology™ with specially formulated hyaluronic acid to deliver results that will rejuvenate and refresh your appearance without stiffness, so your facial expressions remain natural-looking.
Restylane® Refyne is well-suited for patients with mild to moderate laugh lines, who can experience a more youthful looking appearance as the Refyne formula fills in laugh lines to restore smoothness between the mouth, nose, and cheeks. Restylane® Defyne contains special cross-linking gel to provide additional support for deep lines and wrinkles. Patients with naturally deep laugh lines, as well as those who have lost significant skin elasticity with age, can benefit from Defyne’s ability to restore lost volume for a more youthful appearance. Both Refyne and Defyne can be administered in the office and requires no downtime, so patients can typically resume their usual routine after their injection procedure.
Restylane® Refyne and Defyne FAQs
Restylane® Contour
Over time, we lose collagen, elasticity, and fat that contributes to facial contour. In general, by age 35, most individuals have lost approximately 10% of their facial fat and will continue to lose 10% every year thereafter. If you’ve found that your cheeks have begun to sag with age, Restylane® Contour is an ideal facial filler for cheek enhancement and correcting other midface contour concerns. Restylane® Contour is made with XpresHAn Technology’s™ cross-linking gel, an advanced formulation clinically proven to provide precise, natural-looking, and beautiful results.
Restylane® Contour FAQs
Restylane® Kysse
As we age, our lips naturally lose the color, volume, and elasticity that contribute to a radiant and youthful appearance. Restylane® Kysse is a lip filler that combats these signs of aging by working to enhance lip color, add volume, and smooth upper lip lines for up to one year. Specifically designed for flexible movement of the lips to allow a full range of expressions, Restylane® Kysse is made with XpresHAn Technology’s™ innovative cross-linking gel for precise, beautiful and natural-looking results.
Restylane® Kysse FAQs
Bellafill® (Previously Know as Artefill®)
Bellafill® (Artefill®) is an alternative to other fillers that can also be used for treating unwanted facial lines and volume deficiencies. Unlike other injectable fillers, Bellafill® is non-absorbable. In fact, it is currently the only FDA-approved filler that is considered to provide a more permanent result when compared to other dermal filler products. Bellafill® is comprised of micro beads of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) suspended in a collagen paste. The PMMA is the permanent, non-absorbable component of the filler. The collagen is used as a carrier that allows the PMMA to be injected much like other fillers. Once placed, the collagen component of Bellafill® dissolves away as your body’s own collagen is laid down around the PMMA crystals. This results in a natural, non-absorbable matrix that provides a permanent volume enhancement to your face. Because the collagen within Bellafill® is generated from a bovine source, skin testing is required prior to treatment.
Most patients seeking Bellafill® injection have similar concerns as those looking to have Restylane®, Perlane®, JUVÉDERM® and Radiesse® treatment. This includes undesirable facial creases and deep lines. For instance, the FDA approved Bellafill® injection for treatment of the nasolabial fold, or smile line. Like other fillers, Bellafill® is also used off label for enhancement of volume deficient areas like the cheek, lower eyelid and chin/prejowl region. Unfortunately, Bellafill® is not well tolerated when placed into the lip. Therefore, Bellafill® should not be used for lip enhancement. Bellafill® was one of the first available injectable fillers that came premanufactured with lidocaine, or numbing medicine, contained within the product. This provides patients fairly immediate control of the mild discomfort that would otherwise be associated with the treatment process.
Bellafill® FAQs
Radiesse®
Radiesse® (formerly known as Radiance FN) is an alternative to Restylane® for treating certain areas of the face. Radiesse® is composed of tiny crystals containing calcium hydroxyapatite, which is a naturally occurring substance in the human body. However, it is synthetic, which means it is not derived from human or animal tissue. Therefore, there is no risk of infectious transmission. Radiesse® is an ideal treatment for deep lines, wrinkles, and certain types of acne scarring. In addition, Radiesse® can be used to recontour or sculpt certain areas of the face as indicated in the adjacent photo diagram. Radiesse® can last in many cases for several years before retreatment is necessary.
Most candidates for Radiesse® injections have concerns about unwanted facial creases and deep wrinkles. The nasolabial fold, or smile line, is one of the most popular areas for treatment. Other patients undergo Radiesse® injections to enhance or sculpt the overall shape of the face and improve excessively hollowed, flat or deflated areas of the face. For instance, Radiesse® can be used to fill in and plump out the cheeks or jowls to provide a more rested and youthful appearance. Radiesse® treatment is an-office based procedure that usually takes less than thirty minutes to complete. Topical anesthesia with or without anesthesia may be used to maximize the patient’s comfort.
Radiesse® FAQs
Dr. John Hilinski has either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
