Fillers are nothing short of miraculous when it comes to turning back time. They can make us look instantly younger by plumping lips, filling in cheek and the hollows under our eyes that appear after age 40 (no matter how much sleep we get!), lifting our eyebrows, widening our eyes and smoothing and softening expression lines. Best of all, fillers are quick (they typically take less than an hour) and have little or no downtime (mild bruising is the worst of it) and the effects can last from a few months to over a year.
Before and after the new Restylane® Refyne.
There’s now at least one type of filler for pretty much every area of the face. But understanding what each of them does and weighing the pros and cons can feel overwhelming. We’ve created this primer to help you get to know the players in this growing field.
Use this information the next time you come in for an appointment at Serenity Medspa. Bring your questions and together we’ll help you decide on the best solution for your needs and budget.
Restylane
Main ingredient: Hyaluronic acid
Uses: Restylane is used to improve mild to moderate facial folds, wrinkles and lips. Restylane is Dr. Lisa’s filler of choice for filling the tear-troughs and sunkenness under the eyes as it tends to create less swelling than other fillers.
How it works: Hyaluronic acid acts like a sponge. It absorbs water and plumps the injected area.
Staying power: Several months to a year.
Can it be reversed? Yes, with hyaluronidase.
Restylane Lyft
Main ingredient: Hyaluronic acid
Uses: Restylane Lyft is used to add volume to the face and help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and deep folds. Restylane Lyft is thicker than Restylane, making it better for more pronounced rejuvenation. Restylane Lyft also works well in the cheek bone area and the nose.
How it works: Hyaluronic acid acts like a sponge. It absorbs water and plumps the injected area.
Staying power: Several months to a year.
Can it be reversed? Yes, with hyaluronidase.
Restylane Refyne
Main ingredient: Hyaluronic acid (made with XpresHAn TechnologyTM)
Uses: Restylane Refyne adds volume to the lines that run from the sides of your nose toward the corners of your mouth (nasolabial folds) and those that run from the corner of your mouth toward the chin (marionette lines). These are also known as “laugh lines.”
How it works: The unique cross-linking of the Restylane Refyne gel is designed to support your natural facial expressions—for real-life results that help maintain natural movement when you’re smiling, frowning and even puckering up.
Staying power: Several months to a year.
Can it be reversed? Yes, with hyaluronidase.
Restalane Defyne
Main ingredient: Hyaluronic acid (made with XpresHAn TechnologyTM)
Uses: Restylane Defyne smooths out deep laugh lines (nasolabial folds and marionette lines).
How it works: The unique cross-linking of the Restylane Defyne gel is designed to restore a more youthful, natural-looking appearance, while maintaining movement and expressions.
Staying power: Several months to a year.
Can it be reversed? Yes, with hyaluronidase.
Juvéderm Ultra XC
Main ingredient: Hyaluronic acid
Uses: Juvéderm Ultra is perfect for softening fine lines and wrinkles, including the parentheses around the mouth and upper lip lines. It is Dr. Lisa’s filler of choice for enhancing the volume for the lips. It can be used to create a very natural-appearing shape and volume in the lips. Juvéderm Ultra also contains lidocaine to help reduce pain.
How it works: Hyaluronic acid acts like a sponge. It absorbs water and plumps the injected area.
Staying power: Juvéderm Ultra XC can last up to one year.
Can it be reversed? Yes, with hyaluronidase.
Juvéderm Voluma XC
Main ingredient: Hyaluronic acid
Uses: Juvéderm Voluma XC is great for adding volume and definition in the mid-face. Due to its thickness, it is great at lifting tissue and it is injected more deeply than other thinner fillers. Juvéderm Voluma is Dr. Lisa’s filler of choice for creating youthful apple cheek bones and performing an instant “liquid facelift”. Juvéderm Voluma is also Dr. Lisa’s filler of choice for enhancing the nose – the 5 minute “nose job”.
How it works: Hyaluronic acid acts like a sponge. It absorbs water and plumps the injected area. The XC version also includes lidocaine, to help reduce any pain associated with injections.
Staying power: Up to two years.
Can it be reversed? Yes, with hyaluronidase.
Radiesse
Main ingredient: Calcium hydroxylapatite.
Uses: Radiesse is used to reverse moderate to severe facial wrinkles, including nasolabial folds. It can also be used to plump cheekbones and to enhance the chin. It’s not used in the lips.
How it works: Radiesse stimulates the body to form new collagen. This makes the produce last longer, reducing the need for frequent touch-ups. The calcium-based microspheres also add volume to the injected area.
Staying power: A year or more.
Can it be reversed? No.
Sculptra
Main ingredient: Poly-L-Lactic Acid
Uses: Sculptra helps build up the cheeks, temples and other areas by filling in sunken areas and increasing skin thickness to decrease the appearance of folds and lines. Sculptra is Dr. Lisa’s filler of choice for those with thin faces that need general volume, especially in the temples and the cheek area. Sculptra is not used to enhance the lips.
How it works: Unlike the hyaluronic acid based fillers, Sculptra encourages new collagen to gradually form in the injected area. Multiple treatments—at least two to three sessions— are required, approximately four weeks apart. Results are seen over the period of a few months and are long-lasting.
Staying power: Up to 2 years after the first treatment session.
Can it be reversed? No.