Types of Fillers & How They Work
Fillers in Dubai | 3 September 2018
Unlike botulinum toxin injectables—such as Botox, Dysport or Xeomin – which impact the way muscles move in your upper face, dermal fillers are meant to “take up space” just under the skin to fill in lines and restore volume lost to aging.
HYALURONIC ACID DERMAL FILLERS
Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers are well-loved for their long-lasting, natural-looking results. Here’s the lowdown on hyaluronic acid fillers like the Juvéderm family of fillers, Belotero Balance and Restylane Lyft.
For the science buffs: hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan found in epithelial, neural, and connective tissues in humans. For the rest of us: HA is a carbohydrate that naturally occurs in the body. Because it attracts water, HA helps keep skin lubricated, supple, and youthful-looking. The dermis (deepest layer of skin) is composed of hyaluronic acid and collagen—and as we age, our reserves of both are naturally depleted.
The reason HA makes such a powerful ingredient in dermal fillers is the way it interacts with the moisture in your skin. In gel form, HA will swell when combined with water, which ultimately smooths and fills lines and wrinkles while restoring natural-looking volume. The HA used in dermal fillers is either synthesized using bacteria or derived from animals, such as rooster comb. Because it mimics the HA already in our bodies, there is very low risk of adverse reaction.
Thanks to advancements in our understanding of the aging process, how hyaluronic acid works, and the quality of available dermal fillers, we are able to provide more consistent, longer-lasting results. Often, the hyaluronic acid in dermal fillers has gone through a crosslinking process, where the molecules have been chemically bonded to help them last in the body for longer periods of time.
Not all hyaluronic acid fillers are the same, and certain products are better-suited to addressing certain concerns. The consistency, size of the hyaluronic acid molecule, and how the molecules are bonded all impact where a filler works best and how long results will last.
NON-HYALURONIC ACID FILLERS
While hyaluronic acid fillers may be popular, they’re not your only option—and sometimes an alternate product will provide you with better results. Non-hyaluronic acid fillers are composed of a variety of ingredients ranging from collagen to mineral compounds. Often, these products provide a two-fold benefit: they physically fill in lines and plump up the skin in addition to helping your body make more collagen for a fuller, healthier look.
While you can likely expect nice looking results from any of the products, it’s important to be open with your provider and provide clear information about your expectations and any allergies you may have. It’s also worth your while to ask what can be done if you do not like your results – unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, the above fillers cannot be “undone” by anything other than time.
POPULAR DERMAL FILLER BRANDS
The Juvéderm family of fillers include multiple formulations specifically designed for treating different areas of the face and addressing a variety of concerns. All Juvéderm products contain lidocaine to help ensure treatment is as comfortable as possible.
- Juvéderm XC instantly softens the appearance of moderate to severe creases on the mid- and lower-face for up to a year.
- Juvéderm VOLLURE XC is a firmer, crosslinked gel that is ideal for smoothing deeper wrinkles around the nose and mouth for over a year. It uses Juvéderm’s patented VYCROSS technology (a particular ratio of large and small HA molecules) to create a very smooth result that is still durable enough to handle the movements of the lower face beautifully. VOLLURE is great for treating smile lines, marionette lines, and nasolabial folds.
- Juvéderm VOLUMA XC is used to restore volume in all three areas of the cheeks and create a youthful contour in the midface. It provides a subtle lift, helping patients look noticeably younger, for up to two years.
- Juvéderm VOLBELLA XC can subtly enhance lip volume, improve lip definition, and soften vertical lip lines. It has a lower concentration of HA in differently weighted particles to ensure it is soft enough to provide very natural results but durable enough to last at least a year.
Like Juvéderm products, Belotero Balance is formulated with hyaluronic acid and designed to fill in creases and correct age-related volume loss. What makes these two products different is their crosslinking, how cohesive the product is, and the firmness of the gel. Belotero is less viscous and thus able to spread to all the small areas of the dermis, which is why it is often recommended for treating “etched in” creases.
Restylane Lyft, on the other hand, is a denser hyaluronic acid gel with a higher molecular weight, meaning it’s a good option for treating deeper nasolabial folds, filling in severe lip lines, and adding volume to the cheeks.
Bellafill fills in lines and improves the appearance of scarring for up to five years. It contains a mixture of collagen gel and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microspheres to improve wrinkles in two ways: it physically restores volume and plumps deep wrinkles and scars as the product rests under the skin and it provides an internal support structure to prompt your body’s natural collagen production. That means that while you’ll see see instant results, your skin will look and function better long-term and results will improve with time.
Radiesse contains calcium hydroxylapatite, which is a mineral compound found naturally in human bones and cartilage. When injected, it quickly acts to replenish lost volume while simultaneously prompting collagen production for lasting improvement. Radiesse can be mixed with lidocaine to reduce discomfort during injection. In addition to correcting facial wrinkles, Radiesse is often favored for hand rejuvenation.
Sculptra is an injectable poly-L-lactic acid that works by stimulating collagen production, restoring your skin’s inner structure, and increasing volume subtly and gradually over time. Sculptra is unique in its ability to provide improvement for at least two years after a treatment course of three to four injection sessions.