What are Injectable Fillers?
Cosmetic procedures do not always involve invasive surgical measures and long recovery times. In many cases a more aesthetic appearance is acheivable through minor, non-invasive treatments.
/Cosmetic Surgery News Articles/ - February 27, 2008 - As humanity struggles with the shortness of our season, we constantly search for, and sometimes find, new ways to erase the signs that our season may be on the wane. Cosmetic procedures do not always involve invasive surgical measures and long recovery times. In many cases a more aesthetic appearance is acheivable through minor, non-invasive treatments. Depending on the types of wrinkles you want to tackle, you may consider injectable fillers.
Injectable fillers differ from Botox in that they replace and restore volume under the skin, whereas Botox acts as a chemical blocker that relaxes the muscles that cause wrinkles. Botox injections only address wrinkles that are caused by neuromuscular activity such as wrinkles in the forehead area. Wrinkles caused by other factors like excessive sun exposure will benefit more from injectable fillers.
Injectable fillers are used to treat wrinkles primarily in the areas around the nose and mouth by increasing the fluid volume in the subdermal area of the skin where they are injected. Fillers are also used extensively to for lip augmentation.
Types of fillers Include:
Juvederm - Juvederm is the latest hyaluronic acid based filler. Approved by the FDA in 2006, this product is similar to Restylane and comes in three different consistencies. Used primarily around the nose and mouth areas to smooth out deep wrinkles. Juvederm is said to be slightly easier to inject than other fillers and lasts longer than Restylane, its main competitor on the market.
Restylane - This filler is also hyaluronic acid based. Restylane was recently shown to do more than fill areas and stretch skin to smooth out wrinkles. According to a University of Michigan study, Restylane also stimulates natural collagen production in the skin, providing for longer lasting results. Sister products like Juvederm, which uses the same chemical compounds; appear to work in a similar manner. Newer products by Q-med, the maker of Restylane, show promise for even longer lasting effects. The newest product Perlane's effects last in excess of 9 months, while SubQ's effects have lasted over 15 months in one clinical study.
These hyaluronic acid based products work great as fillers because the can absorb up to 1000 times their weight in water, and keep it in place under the loose and sagging skin where it was injected. Hyaluronic acid compounds are not made with animal by-products so allergic skin testing is not required. People with a history of anaphylaxis however, should not use these types of products.
Collagen - This product, until recently, dominated the U.S. marketplace for injectable fillers. The two most common brands of collagen are Zyplast and Zyderm. Since collagen is an animal-based derivative, skin testing for allergic reactions must be performed prior to treatment. Collagen injections last a little longer in general than the hyaluronic acid products, but both types of filler will eventually be absorbed by the body and require a recharge at some point.
Composite Fillers - The most recent development in injectable fillers is the use of a composite filler, which combines a soft, easily absorbable gel with a more durable content of microspheres. Two main varieties of this type of filler have been introduced: Radiesse, which uses calcium hydroxylapatite as the durable material; and ArteFill, which uses polymethylmethacrylate. The basic principle behind these fillers is that while the gel is quickly absorbed, the spheres last. The microspheres then provide a matrix around which the body produces natural collagen, leading to long-lasting or even permanent improvement.
In the United States, hyaluronic acid based products like Juvederm and Restylane are becoming more popular. Once injected, the acid becomes "cross-linked" making the product more gel like, and longer lasting that in its injectable form. The competition to improve these processes and make longer lasting fillers is fierce, and can only mean good news to consumers looking to restore and maintain their youthful appearance.
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