What’s new in the world of dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are substances injected into or under the skin to correct wrinkles and deep folds, to add volume, and for lip augmentation. Recently, there has been a sharp increase in the use of dermal fillers owing to the fact that they are less expensive and less invasive than surgery, there is minimal down time, and they are quite effective in staving off those first few visible signs of aging.
As a plastic surgeon, I administer dermal fillers in my office quite frequently. Patients undergo a thorough assessment of their facial lines, wrinkles and folds. Usually patients receive local anesthesia prior to the treatment. The total treatment time for a new patient is roughly 30-45 minutes. Patients can expect their results to last anywhere from six to twelve months. Adverse reactions are typically rare and short lived; the most common ones being redness, pain, swelling, firmness, bruising, bumpiness, and itching.
Two of the more popular dermal fillers in my practice are Restylane® (Q-Med AB) and Juvederm™ (Allergan). Both are composed of hyaluronic acid which is a biodegradable, complex sugar found in all animals and is a major component of the skin, bones, cartilage and connective tissue. By absorbing large amounts of water, it helps to hydrate skin and adds volume. Other commonly used dermal fillers include fat, collagen, Artecoll, and Radiance.
Restylane® was first approved by the FDA in December of 2003. Juvederm™ was recently approved in January of this year. Its makers are calling it the “next generation” in dermal fillers. They claim that their product’s increased cross linking and flow characteristics make it easier to administer and increases its duration of effect.
Both products have been compared to collagen in studies and have been shown to be superior in a number of ways. However to date there have been no head to head studies comparing Juvederm™ to Restylane®. Obviously, it will take time to determine which of the two will become the market leader in the future.
For more information, I recommend scheduling an appointment with my office to determine if dermal fillers are right for you. Also, some of my patients have found the following websites helpful: www.juvedermusa.com and www.restylaneusa.com.
