Procedures

Fillers & Collagen Stimulators

Your Injectable Team

Fillers for facial wrinkles

As we age, we lose fat in 21 distinct pockets below our facial muscles, which leads to sagging jowls, under eye shadows, flattened cheeks, and hollow temples. We also lose the skin-plumping layer of fat just below the surface of the skin, revealing wrinkles, folds, and expression lines. When facial filling first began in the 1980s, the only option was Collagen. Many patients had great results, but the effect only lasted two to three months, and allergies were common enough that spot testing was routinely required.  Since then, a number of fillers have been FDA approved for use. Although most are approved for a very specific use (lips, cheeks), most physicians use them in multiple areas of the face, so this can increase the number of options to a point of confusion.

Individual results from procedures cannot be guaranteed, and may vary between patients.

To help make sense of all the options, the first thing to understand is that there are basically two kinds of fillers. The first basic type is called a Hyaluronic Acid (HA) filler, and the other type is called a Collagen Stimulator. There are a larger number of HA fillers, and they have a lot of similarities, even between brands.

Hyalruonic Acids

Hyaluronic acid fillers are thin gels made of carbohydrates that are based on the same molecules that are normally found in the connective tissue around our skin cells. The original HA fillers are still used today and the full effect lasts an average of 4 to 6 months, with some product remaining in place up to 12 months. They are fairly thin and smooth, which makes them safe to inject anywhere in the skin. The effect is seen immediately, but since the HA molecules tend to attract water, for many patients the effect improves subtly over the first week after treatment.

In recent years, more cross-linking between the HA molecules has been used to make some of the HA gels thicker. This means more volume as well as effects that last more like 12-24 months, but it also means that they should not be used in superficial lines or near the eyes or lips. Any of the HA fillers can be partially or completely dissolved by injecting a solution containing the enzyme Hyalruonidase (brand name Vitrase) into the area where there is too much volume. This breaks down the filler within 1-3 days, but it can take up to 3 weeks for the body to completely clear the product and the swelling from the area.  Let’s look at some specific products.

Restylane Family of Fillers

Restylane® Eyelight

Restylane Eyelight is a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler that is designed to correct hollowing under the eyes. The filler is made up of a smooth gel that is injected into the targeted areas to enhance facial features and provide a more youthful and defined appearance. A filler under the eye needs to be relatively firm and not so flexible. You don’t want the filler under the eye to float out and flatten over time. Because then you will be back to tired-looking eyes. Restylane Eyelight is formulated with NASHA gel Technology™, providing natural-looking results that last for up to 18 months.The treatment is minimally invasive and requires little to no downtime, making it a popular choice among those looking to temporarily reduce dark circles without the need for surgery. Restylane Eyelight is FDA-approved and has been extensively tested for safety and efficacy, providing patients with peace of mind when undergoing the treatment.

Restylane® Contour

Restylane Contour is a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler that is designed to add volume and contour to the cheeks, chin, and jawline. The filler is made up of a smooth gel that is injected into the targeted areas to enhance facial features and provide a more youthful and defined appearance. Restylane Contour is formulated with XpresHAn Technology™, which allows the filler to adapt to the movement of the face, providing natural-looking results that last for up to 18 months. The treatment is minimally invasive and requires little to no downtime, making it a popular choice among those looking to enhance their facial features without the need for surgery. Restylane Contour is also FDA-approved and has been extensively tested for safety and efficacy, providing patients with peace of mind when undergoing the treatment.

Restylane® Kysse

Restylane® Kysse is for lip augmentation and for correction of upper perioral wrinkles. Restylane Kysse can subtly enhance the fullness of the lip body and add definition to the border to create soft, natural looking lips. Lips appear revitalized as wrinkles are filled out and also become soft and supple. Restylane Kysse is created with optimal balance technology  to enhance volume and definition with long lasting results for the lips compared with other fillers. Restylane Kysse is clinically proven to last for 6-9 months, and some effects have also been seen at 12 months. The unique cross-linking of the hyaluronic acid gel in Restylane Kysse has been specially developed for the treatment of sensitive lips. The hyaluronic acid-based gel softly integrates into the sensitive lip tissue and has been proven to cause little swelling. It contains local anaesthetic lidocaine for improved comfort during treatment. High satisfaction has been demonstrated in clinical studies with more than 86% wanting to be treated with the same product again.

Restylane® Refyne

Restylane® Refyne is for mid-to-deep injection into the facial tissue for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds. As skin loses elasticity with age, the lines that run from the sides of your nose toward the corners of your mouth (nasolabial folds) and the lines that run from the corners of your mouth toward the chin (marionette lines) appear more noticeable. Restylane® Refyne is designed with XpresHAn Technology™ to help soften laugh lines (nasolabial folds and marionette lines). This can help you restore a more natural look to your face while maintaining your facial expressions. So, you always look like you. The unique cross-linking of the gel in Restylane Refyne is also designed to help support your natural expression—for real-life results that help maintain natural movement when you’re smiling, frowning and even puckering up.

Restylane® Defyne

Restylane® Defyne is for mid-to-deep injection into the facial tissue for the correction of moderate to severe deep facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds. As we age, our skin loses elasticity and the lines that run from the sides of the nose toward the corners of the mouth (nasolabial folds) and the lines that run from the corners of your mouth toward the chin (marionette lines) become more pronounced. Restylane Defyne is crafted with XpresHAn TechnologyTM to correct these deepened lines. The unique cross-linking of the gel in Restylane Defyne is also designed to help support your facial expressions—for natural-looking results that help maintain your natural movement. Crafted with XpresHAn Technology™, Restylane® Defyne helps smooth out deep laugh lines (nasolabial folds and marionette lines). Using innovative cross-linking technology, Restylane Defyne is a hyaluronic acid dermal filler that is able to help restore a more youthful, natural-looking appearance, while helping you maintain your natural expressions.

Restylane® Lyft

The first and only hyaluronic acid filler FDA-approved to treat your face and hands.Over time, natural fat begins to deteriorate, resulting in sagging skin, more prominent wrinkles and a reduction of volume. Restylane Lyft, formerly known as Perlane-L®, is an injectable hyaluronic acid gel used to correct volume loss and treat wrinkles in the face and hands. Through nonsurgical injections, Restylane Lyft is specifically designed to add fullness to the cheeks, midface area, and the back of the hands to help complete your aesthetic look — for face and hands.

Restylane Silk

Restylane silk is FDA approved for injection into the lips as well as perioral lines around the mouth. Most patients think of the lip as only the colored part, but technically the lip includes the skin up to the nose as well, so it’s possible to correct lines and improve the lip shape without increasing the size of the colored portion of the lip at all (no duck lips!). Silk has a small molecule size, designed for the softest, smoothest feel possible and lasts about 6 months. It comes in a 1mL size with lidocaine to decrease discomfort.

Restylane-L

The original Galderma lip filler, Restylane is indicated for moderate to deep facial folds and wrinkles, and can be used for everything from smoothing the under eyes and plumping the lips to filling in acne scars and wrinkles. Patients find that Restylane offers a very smooth correction for many areas of the face, and it lasts about 6 months before repeat injection is needed. Restylane comes in a 1mL or 0.5mL size for patients who are not interested in large volume correction. The L means it includes lidocaine, which is included to decrease discomfort.

 

Juvederm Family of Fillers

JUVÉDERM VOLux®

Volux is the newest addition to the Juvederm family as of 2023. It has become increasing popular due to its ability to add volume to the chin and jawline. This FDA approved hyaluronic acid filler is designed for deep tissue support and can provide patients with a more prominent and defined jawline and chin contour. Volux is designed to provide natural looking results that can last up to 18 months.

Juvederm Voluma XC

FDA approved for volumizing and lifting the cheeks. It has become extremely popular for its subtle but noticeable effects, especially for decreasing shadows under the eyes and cheeks in photographs. When full correction is performed (which was up to 6 syringes per patient in the study), the effect was still seen two years after treatment.  This filler can be used elsewhere in the face, but it cannot be used around the eyes or in the lips, and it cannot be injected superficially in the skin due to the thick nature of the gel. Voluma comes as a 1mL size, and many patients are happy with 1-2mL for a full treatment. The XC means that the filler contains lidocaine, a numbing agent, to make the injections more tolerable. All of the “XC” fillers are available in regular form upon request for patients with sensitivity to lidocaine.

Juvederm Ultra Plus XC

FDA approved for moderate to deep facial wrinkles and folds, this filler can be used almost anywhere. Ultra Plus is soft enough to blend in with the skin without lumps and firm enough to correct wrinkling, and it is most commonly placed in the nasal folds and around the chin and mouth. After injection, most patients return for correction in about 9 months. With complete correction, including a touch up treatment at 6 months, patients see results that last up to 18 months. We offer Ultra Plus in a 1mL size.

Juvederm Ultra XC

Juvederm’s softest filler, Juvederm Ultra is great for treating “smoker’s lines” above the lip or at the edge of the lip to prevent lipstick bleed, or it can be used to add volume for both the upper and lower lips. Ultra is also used for tear troughs or under-eye hollows and for improvement of superficial lines in a variety of places.  Due to its soft nature, it’s the fastest absorbing filler, with a duration of about 6 months, depending on the amount used and the amount of muscle motion in the area where it is injected. This is available in a 1mL and 0.5mL size.

JUVÉDERM VOLLURE

JUVÉDERM VOLLURE™ XC is injected into the areas of facial tissue where moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds occur, including the “parentheses lines” around the nose and mouth. JUVÉDERM VOLLURE™ XC is designed to temporarily correct facial wrinkles for a smoother appearance to the face for adults over the age of 21.

JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA®

Over time, wrinkles develop on your face, and nasolabial folds may become more visible. JUVÉDERM VOLLURE™ XC is designed to temporarily add volume to the facial wrinkles for a smoother appearance to the face. The lidocaine in the gel improves the comfort of the injection by reducing sensitivity to pain.JUVÉDERM VOLLURE™ XC is injected into the areas of facial tissue where moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds occur, including the “parentheses lines” around the nose and mouth. JUVÉDERM VOLLURE™ XC is designed to temporarily correct facial wrinkles for a smoother appearance to the face for adults over the age of 21. The clinical study demonstrated JUVÉDERM VOLLURE™ XC lasts up to 18 months, with optimal treatment.

 

Collagen Stimulators

Collagen stimulators work differently than HA fillers. Instead of a gel that provides immediate volume exact where it is desired, collagen stimulators are absorbed and then stimulate the body’s tissues to produce its own collagen over the course of several weeks. Some patients find that the collagen growth is impressive with even one treatment, and others find that multiple treatments are needed for the desired effect. This has to do with a person’s metabolism as well as the amount of collagen they had in youth as well. Results can last up to two years. Collagen stimulators can be used in the temples, along the cheek and jawbones as well as in deeper folds and wrinkles in many places, but it is not meant to be used in the eyes or lips. There are two main types that are used at the practice, which will be discussed below.

Sculptra

Scultpra is a pure collagen stimulator, made of a small molecules related to absorbable suture material. It is mixed with saline and injected in a series of sessions several weeks apart to stimulate collagen production. After the saline is absorbed (in about 24-48 hours), patients experience a gradual increase in the amount of volume in the areas injected over 6-8 weeks, at which time injections can be repeated if desired. The average patient has three sessions to achieve a full result. It can be used in conjunction with other fillers, although it is best to allow for the full effect before adding other fillers to the exact same areas. Sculptra is an excellent way to gradually replace a large amount of volume loss in many places over the face.

Radiesse

Radiesse is actually a mixture of hyaluronic acid and a calcium based particle that stimulates collagen. The HA provides immediate volumizing and wrinkle correction, which is then maintained by the growth of new collagen as the HA portion dissolves over time. Because of this, the effect is immediate and can last 12-18 months for many patients, depending on the amount of product used and where it is injected (areas of the face with more movement will break down the product and the new collagen faster). Radiesse comes in a 1.5mL as well as a 0.8mL size and is one of the more economical fillers because of the larger syringe size available.

Platelet Rich Plasma Aka Prp

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a treatment that uses the patient’s own blood to stimulate healing and rejuvenation in various areas of the body, including the face. The process involves drawing a small amount of blood from the patient, which is then put into a centrifuge to isolate the platelets and growth factors. The resulting PRP solution is then injected into the face to promote collagen production, improve skin texture and tone, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. PRP can be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as radio frequency microneedling, to further enhance its effects. The treatment is minimally invasive, and because it uses the patient’s own blood, there is no risk of allergic reaction or rejection. Overall, PRP is a safe and effective way to achieve a more youthful and radiant appearance.

 

Need help finding the right filler for you?

 

Preparing for Fillers

Some patients worry about the risks of fillers as well as the potential for complications or discomfort associated with their use. We do everything possible to minimize these risks, but they do sometimes still occur. The most common side effect with fillers is temporary discomfort. Many of the products contain lidocaine to help numb the skin as the product is injected, but we also use ice and a topical numbing cream to improve the experience. A dental block (numbing injections) can be used for the lips since they are the most sensitive, but this is saved as a last resort since it can distort the area slightly and affect the final result.

Another common risk is bleeding, bruising, and swelling. Usually this is minor and can be minimized by avoiding blood thinners for 7-10 days before injections. Significant bleeding is rare, but if it occurs it can take a few weeks to resolve in the worst cases. Luckily it will not affect the final result. This is critical for formal blood thinners like Plavix or Coumadin but is also important for over-the-counter medications like Ibuprofen and other NSAIDS as well as any supplements that can cause bleeding like fish oils and omega-3 fatty acids. Alcohol is also a blood thinner and should ideally be avoided for a few days before injections to minimize bruising and bleeding.

If bruising does occur, an herbal supplement called Arnica can be used both in pill form and topically to help resolve bruising and swelling.

Uneven correction or nodule formation can occur even if both the injector and patient do everything possible to avoid it. Most of the time, this can be corrected with the addition of more product or by dissolving product (if it is an HA). Unfortunately, some nodules are scar tissue based and may not resolve even after the product dissolves completely on its own. This is a rare occurrence that is more often felt than seen, and it can be surgically addressed under local anesthesia, but it is definitely something to be carefully considered before injections are performed.

Individual results from procedures cannot be guaranteed, and may vary between patients.

Fillers ARE typically used to target

Smile Lines

Smile lines, or nasolabial folds, are wrinkles run vertically from the bottom of the nose to the corners of your lips. This is a very popular injection site for injectable fillers like Juvederm.

Marionette Lines

Marionette lines are the vertical wrinkles that form below the corners of the mouth. These lines often annoy patients because can sometimes give the appearance of sad and/or a down turned expression.

Vertical Lip Lines

Facial lines above and around the lips can begin to form over time due to ordinary lip muscle movement. However, environmental factors such as exposure to sunlight, smoking and stress can also contribute to how the area around our lips ages and the formation of vertical lip lines. Believe it or not, excessive use of straws can even lead to the formation of these lines.

Need help finding the right filler for you?

Restylane

  • Price: $675 per syringe
  • Type of filler: Hyaluronic acid (sugar/protein molecule that is dissolvable)
  • Used for: superficial or moderately deep wrinkles and folds in any location
  • Effect: Immediate effect, lasts 6 months

Restylane Silk

  • Price: $675
  • Type of filler: Hyaluronic acid (sugar/protein molecule that is dissolvable)
  • Used for: Lips, tear troughs, superficial lines and wrinkles
  • Effect: Immediate effect, lasts 6 months

Restylane® Kysse

  • Price: $750
  • Type of filler: Hyaluronic acid (sugar/protein molecule that is dissolvable)
  • Used for: Lip augmentation and for correction of upper perioral wrinkles.
  • Effect: Immediate effect, lasts 6-9 months

Restylane® Refyne

  • Price: $675
  • Type of filler: Hyaluronic acid (sugar/protein molecule that is dissolvable)
  • Used for:  mid-to-deep injection into the facial tissue for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds.
  • Effect: Immediate effect, lasts 12 months

Restylane® Defyne

  • Price: $675
  • Type of filler: Hyaluronic acid (sugar/protein molecule that is dissolvable)
  • Used for:  correction of moderate to severe deep facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds.
  • Effect: Immediate effect, lasts 12 months

Restylane® Lyft

  • Price: $850
  • Type of filler: Hyaluronic acid (sugar/protein molecule that is dissolvable)
  • Used for: correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds and for cheek augmentation and for the correction of age-related midface contour deficiencies. Restylane® Lyft with Lidocaine is also indicated for injection into the dorsal hand to correct volume loss.
  • Effect: Immediate effect, lasts 9-12 months

Restylane® Contour

  • Price: $850
  • Type of filler: Hyaluronic acid (sugar/protein molecule that is dissolvable)
  • Used for: designed to add volume and contour to the cheeks, chin, and jawline.
  • Effect: Immediate effect, lasts up to 18 months

Juvederm Ultra

  • Price: $675 per syringe
  • Type of filler: Hyaluronic acid (sugar/protein molecule that is dissolvable)
  • Used for: Lips, tear troughs, superficial lines and wrinkles
  • Effect: Immediate effect, lasts 6 months

Juvederm Ultra Plus

  • Price: $675 per syringe
  • Type of filler: Hyaluronic acid (sugar/protein molecule that is dissolvable)
  • Used for: superficial or moderately deep wrinkles and folds except near the eyes
  • Effect: Immediate effect, lasts 6-9 months

JUVÉDERM VOLux

  • Price: $650 per syringe
  • Type of filler: Hyaluronic acid (sugar/protein molecule that is dissolvable)
  • Used for: FDA approved to add volume to the chin and jawline.
  • Effect: Immediate effect, lasts up to 18 months

Juvederm Voluma

  • Price: $850 per syringe
  • Type of filler: Hyaluronic acid (sugar/protein molecule that is dissolvable)
  • Used for: Deep volumization like cheeks, in front of the jowl, and the temples
  • Effect: Immediate effect, lasts 12-24 months

Juvederm Vobella

  • Price: $730 per syringe
  • Type of filler: Hyaluronic acid (sugar/protein molecule that is dissolvable)
  • Used for:  Plumping the lips for lip augmentation and to smooth the appearance of lines around the mouth
  • Effect: Immediate effect, lasts 12 months

JUVÉDERM VOLLURE

  • Price: $650 per syringe
  • Type of filler: Hyaluronic acid (sugar/protein molecule that is dissolvable)
  • Used for:  Used to create volume where moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds occur, including the “parentheses lines” around the nose and mouth.
  • Effect: Immediate effect, lasts 18 months

Radiesse

  • Price: $750 per syringe
  • Type of filler: Part Hyaluronic acid, and part collagen stimulator (non-dissolvable)
  • Used for: Deep volumization like cheeks, in front of the jowl, and the temples
  • Effect: Immediate effect, lasts 12-18 months

Sculptra

  • Price: $800 per vial
  • Type of filler: collagen stimulator (non-dissolvable)
  • Used for: Deep volumization like cheeks, in front of the jowl, and the temples
  • Effect: Gradual effect over 6-8 weeks, lasts 24 months