Injectable Fillers

Pump It Up

Natural proteins form the support structure of your skin. When these proteins thin, wrinkles begin to appear. This loss is mostly attributed to aging, but smoking, exposure to the sun, pollution, health, heredity, and lifestyle also play major roles. Several “filler” products – including Perlane®, Juvederm®, Zyderm™ and CosmoDerm™ – are available to restore fullness and tension to skin showing the effects of collagen depletion.

Perlane® and Juvederm® are slightly more concentrated products that have been a popular treatment in Europe for deeper lines and wrinkles. Perlane® and Juvederm® are made up of non-animal based hyaluronic acid, a substance found naturally in the body, so no allergy testing is required. Hyaluronic acid binds to water, gradually causing the body’s own moisture to add volume in the treated area.

Collagen is derived from highly purified bovine collagen (Zyderm™) or a new bioengineered source (CosmoDerm™). Collagen works best for extremely fine wrinkles around the eyes and mouth, like early laugh lines and crow’s feet, and it may also be used to give the lips greater fullness.

Results of these products are immediate. In some facial areas, a technique called layering is done to account for some "settling" of the material. After it settles in (about 3-6 weeks), another layer can be added. For maximal correction, some individuals require 3-6 “layering” sessions. Often, maintenance sessions are scheduled 3-12 months apart.

These products are injected with a tiny needle just under the surface of the skin. Like your own collagen, your body eventually breaks down and absorbs the material… so ongoing treatments are necessary to maintain results. If treatments are discontinued, your face gradually returns to its previous contours.

Treatment takes only 5-15 minutes, and a topical numbing agent can be applied 1 hour prior to treatment, but normally there is minimal discomfort. Zyderm™ and CosmoDerm™ contain local anesthesia in the mixture for increased patient comfort. Applying ice to the site after treatment helps minimize any swelling or bruising. Because people absorb these materials at varying rates, repeat treatments may be required at 6-week to 6-month intervals.

Collagen was used to fill in the wrinkles on this patient's cheek, and restore a more youthful appearance.

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