Comparing Different Types of Facial Fillers
As we get older, our skin changes. Wrinkles and fine lines appear, and we slowly lose volume in our cheeks and lips. The good news is that we can make ourselves look younger and rejuvenated without undergoing a New Jersey facelift or other surgical procedures.
Facial fillers are gel-like chemicals that your doctor can inject under the skin to round out facial volume, smooth wrinkles, fill lines, and enhance contours of the face. Some of the things that fillers can do include:
- Smooth lines around your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Enhance and replenish volume to your temples and cheeks
- Increase volume in the lips (New Jersey lip augmentation)
- Reduce chin creases
- Enhance facial symmetry
There are many high-quality facial fillers on the market that are approved by the FDA. Below are the most common types of fillers that are used in the United States. Talk to your healthcare provider about which ones could be the best for your face.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a substance that occurs naturally in the body, and it helps cells to keep moisture, which makes the skin look plump, healthy, and hydrated. Other benefits of this filler include:
- When your facial skin is hydrated, it looks more radiant and softer.
- Hydrated skin can make the wrinkles and lines fade, making a face look younger.
- This substance works well for any type of skin, including patients with acne or sensitive skin.
- It has antioxidant properties that shield the face against free radicals and pollution.
- These fillers are gel-like and soft and last from six to 12 months.
Some of the brand-name fillers that contain hyaluronic acid are New Jersey Juvederm, New Jersey Restylane, and New Jersey Belotero.
Calcium Hydroxylapatite
Calcium hydroxylapatite is one of the most-used dermal fillers around the world and has been used for years to correct severe facial folds and lines, as well as lost volume from aging.
This substance occurs naturally in our bones and is soft and gel-like. It’s thicker than hyaluronic fillers so that they will last longer – up to 12 months.
Calcium hydroxylapatite also can stimulate your body to produce collagen, which occurs naturally in the skin to provide firmness and structure. This filler works best on deep lines and wrinkles.
The most common filler that contains this substance is called Radiesse.
Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA)
This is a synthetic filler that encourages the body to make more collagen. It was first used for HIV patients who had lost a lot of facial fat. Today, the FDA approved it to enhance volume in the cheeks, increase skin thickness, and reduce the appearance of lines and folds.
PLLA is not put into the lips or injected around the eyes. It takes several treatments about six weeks apart for the results to show.
These injections last about two years before more are needed.
The brand name of this filler is Sculptra Aesthetic.
Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)
This is a synthetic filler that has been used in medicine for decades. It looks like tiny balls that stay under the skin for years to offer continued support. PMMA fillers contain collagen and encourage the body to produce more of it over time.
PMMA is thought to be a semi-permanent solution and is often used to treat deep folds, furrows, and wrinkles, especially on laugh and smile lines. Some patients report excellent results when it’s used on acne scars.
Facial Fat Grafting
Another option besides facial fillers is autologous fat injections. This is the only treatment listed here that requires surgery, but it’s natural, and the results can last for years.
This procedure harvests fat from other parts of the body with New Jersey liposuction. The fat is clean, purified, and injected into the face to improve volume in the temples, cheeks, lower eyelids, and more.
Fat injection surgery is complex and requires a highly-skilled plastic surgeon.
Many patients like this option because it is natural and allows you to remove fat from a problem area and inject it into the face to increase volume and smooth wrinkles.
Which Filler Is Best For Me?
Every filler is made to have a different density, injection depth, and texture. Some fillers work better than others for different parts of the skin. Your healthcare provider will determine which fillers can work best for you; some like to use softer fillers for the lips and firmer ones for enhancing the cheekbones.
Below is more information about which filler could be best for a particular part of the body:
- Botox and Dysport: Smooth brow furrows, frown lines, and crow’s feet
- Belotero and Restylane: Smooth lines under the eyes and tear troughs
- Radiesse and Restylane: Enhance and lift the cheeks
- Restylane, Beletaro, and Bellafill: Reduce and smooth marionette lines
- Belotero and Restylane: Plump the lips
- Belotero and Restylane: Smooth vertical lip lines
- Belotero, Restylane, and Radiesse: Soften laugh and smile lines
Request A Facial Filler Consultation
Considering a facial filler procedure in New Jersey? Dr. Smita. R. Ramanadham can help you obtain the results you want. Dr. Ramanadham will go over your options, goals, and more to determine if you’re a good candidate for a variety of facial filler procedures.
References
- Injectable Fillers Guide. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/procedure-learning-center/non-surgical/injectable-fillers-guide/
- Facial Fillers Overview. (2020). Accessed at https://www.verywellhealth.com/facial-fillers-different-types-2710254