What Do Facial Fillers Do?

Facial fillers, also called dermal fillers or injectables, are a temporary solution to wrinkles and facial volume loss. Facial fillers are known as “liquid facelifts” because they can provide immediate results similar to facelift surgery at a lower cost. Fillers are also popularly called “the lunch hour facelift” because treatment is done in just under an hour and requires no recovery time.

Facial fillers can add volume and decrease wrinkles in the following areas:

• Around the eyes
• Between the eyebrows
• Forehead
• Nasolabial folds (“smile lines”)
• Around the mouth and lips
• Lips (for augmentation)
• Mid Cheek areas

Facial Fillers vs. Facelift Surgery

For those considering facial fillers as an alternative to facelift surgery, understand that fillers do not give you a facelift.  They can provide improvement to the face and delay the need for a surgical facelift.  Please observe the following comparison chart:

Facial fillers are made of different substances and some of them work better to fill specific areas of the face. Dr. Spies will evaluate your skin, as well as the results you desire, to determine exactly which areas will benefit from injectable fillers. He will then decide which filler to use based on his assessment. Sometimes BOTOX® Cosmetic or Dysport® injections are used along with or instead of facial fillers for wrinkle reduction between the eyebrows or at the crow’s feet area depending on the patient’s needs.

Restylane®

Restylane® is a hyaluronic acid filler that adds volume and fullness to the skin while reducing facial wrinkles. It works best to correct moderate to severe wrinkles, such as the nasolabial folds. Restylane® is FDA approved to add fullness to the lips in patients over 21 years. Depending on the area treated, results last approximately six to eight months.

Perlane®

Like Restylane®, Perlane® is a clear gel filler made of hyaluronic acid, which acts like the body’s natural substances to add volume and fullness to the skin. The average size of the particles and the depth of injection with Perlane® make it a good choice for more severe facial wrinkles. Results can last from six to eight months.

JUVÉDERM™

JUVÉDERM™ is a smooth gel filler that improves moderate wrinkles, especially “smile lines” and wrinkles around the mouth. It is the only hyaluronic acid dermal filler that is FDA-approved to last up to one year.

Radiesse®

Radiesse® is made of very tiny, smooth calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres. Radiesse® is different than other dermal fillers because of its ability to generate the body’s natural collagen production over time. Results will appear similar to other dermal fillers after the first three months. New tissue will then begin to develop for extended correction for one to two years.

Sculptra®

Sculptra® is a synthetic material (Poly-L-Lactic Acid) that adds volume to tissues by stimulating fibroblasts to produce more collagen.  It is technically a volumizer not a filler. Studies have shown that collagen will continue to be produced for two years.

Dermal fillers are an excellent non-surgical way to achieve a younger-looking facial contour. If you are interested in replacing lost facial volume or decreasing facial wrinkles, please schedule a consultation with me by calling (480) 890-0600 or filling out our online contact form.