Facial Fillers (wrinkle treatments)

Patients should go into any consultation with their eyes wide open. There can be side effects, like bruising and swelling, so you definitely don't want to get work done the day of a big event. Occasionally there can be infection from the injection, or in the case of some permanent fillers, small bumps called granulomas. (These can usually be treated by a shot of cortisone). The permanent fillers usually have a slightly lumpier feel to them, though this usually isn't visible to the naked eye, while the temporary fillers can have a varying lifespan-usually anywhere from 3 months to a year.

It is recommended that a patients try a temporary filler for their first few treatments, just to make sure it is providing them the results they want. If they are satisfied, they may want to opt for a permanent filler, so they don't have to keep coming back.

Dr. Shumway likes to give his patients choices, because the more they understand about the options, the happier they are with the results

Radiance is a synthetic, man-made, calcium composite that is used to fill lips and facial lines.  Because Radiance contains no animal or human tissues, allergy testing is not necessary, as there have been no reported reactions or rejections.  Radiance keeps its cream-like texture throughout its life after injection.

Like most facial fillers, Radiance is injected into the cheeks, facial lines, lips, or other desired areas to increase fullness and fill in lines caused by aging.  Normally a mild anesthetic is given to reduce pain and discomfort.  Injections take place during an office visit and usually take just a few minutes.  No follow up treatments are required, as the desired effects can usually be reached during one visit.

Results of Radiance injections can be seen immediately.  Minor swelling or inflammation may occur, but usually disappears within 24-36 hours.  Radiance is a long-lasting facial filler that lasts an average of two years, with the effects being sustained as long as three to five years in some cases.

Restylane® In the competitive world of injectable dermal fillers, Restylane®, FDA approved for the treatment of facial folds and wrinkles, has been used in more than 1.5 million treatments throughout the world to help both men and women return a more youthful appearance to their face.  Restylane® is made of Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid (NASHA).  Hyaluronic acid is a substance that occurs naturally in the body, and the stabilized version that exists in Restylane® is biocompatible with the human substance.

Determining what areas need to be treated is perhaps the most important step of the Restylane® injections.  Restylane® is used mainly for wrinkles and folds, in particular the nasolabial folds that begin at both sides of the base of your nose and continue down horizontally to your upper lip.  The Restylane® gel is simply injected into the areas in order to increase fullness or create a smoother contour.  Anesthesia is usually not necessary as pain is minimal.  In most cases a cream containing a numbing agent is applied to the treatment area shortly before injection.
Restylane® injections are very quick, but actual duration will differentiate dependant upon the amount of gel that is injected.

The results of Restylane® can be seen almost immediately and there is usually no downtime.  Most patients return to work or their normal activity directly following injections.  At most, you may experience some bruising, redness or skin irritation, but you should begin to see it dissipate within a day or two.  Results will last from between 6 and 12 months.

ArteFill®
ArteFill is the first and only FDA-approved non-reabsorbable injectable filler for the correction of wrinkles known as smile lines. It contains 20% tiny round and smooth particles (PMMA microspheres) and 80% purified bovine collagen gel with 0.3% lidocaine, an anesthetic.

ArteFill is a dual-acting injectable wrinkle filler. First, ArteFill visibly corrects the wrinkle. Then the microspheres provide the permanent support your skin needs for long-lasting wrinkle correction.

ArteFill is injected underneath the wrinkle, just above the skin’s fat layer. ArteFill provides the soft, supportive foundation that your skin needs for long-lasting wrinkle correction.

All temporary fillers are eventually absorbed by the body. That’s why they require frequent repeat injections. ArteFill is different. The unique microspheres in ArteFill are not absorbed by the body. These microspheres provide the permanent support your skin needs for long-lasting wrinkle correction. Now, with ArteFill, you can get the lasting wrinkle correction you want in just one or two treatments. Where the results of temporary fillers end, the long-lasting benefits of ArteFill continue.

CosmoDerm/CosmoPlast
A collagen-based filler from human skin grown in a laboratory-no allergy test required. CosmoPlast is excellent for lips, while CosmoDerm works on fine lines.  These fillers are great if you don't want a lot of swelling.  They also have lidocaine in them, so patients like them because they are less painful than other fillers.  The products usually last 3 to 6 months.  But even though the product doesn't last as long, it really looks great, especially in the lips.  CosmoPlast is also being used in combination with other fillers to create a more luscious-looking lip.

Fat Injections
The patient’s own fat is a great filling material. It is soft and can add lots of volume. It can be used in the cheek area, the chin and under the eye. It doesn't work as well in the lips as it moves around too much. In this procedure, intact fat cells with connective tissue are removed from one part of the body and injected in the areas needed. Not all the fat usually takes, however, and sometimes most of it is reabsorbed by the body.

Hylaform
This is an animal-based hyaluronic acid that is used to fill out wrinkles, fine lines, acne scars and enhance lips. Its effects usually last 3 to 6 months.

Juvederm
Juvederm is nonallergenic hyaluronic acid derived from a non-animal source. It comes in three versions: Juvederm 18 for fine lines and crow's feet, Juvederm 24 for forehead and cheek wrinkles, and Juvederm 30 to fill lips, sculpture cheeks and fill deep nasolabial folds. Results can last 9 months to 1 year.

Perlane
This is an excellent product for treating the deeper nasolabial folds.  Perlane is a non-animal based hyaluronic acid that is part of the Restylane family. It is used for plumping up wrinkles, frown lines and marionette lines. Results usually last a year or more.

Reviderm
This filler consists of biodegradable micron-sized beads in a hyaluronic base. Usually two injections are required, the second one coming six weeks after the first, giving time for tissue to form around the beads. Results usually last 6 to 9 months.

ZyDerm/ZyPlast
Once the most popular filler of them all, this collagen filler is fading from prominence. Not only do you require an allergy test because it is an animal-based product, results usually don't last much longer than 3 or 4 months.  ZyDerm is great for fine lines while ZyPlast works especially well on the lips.