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Some of us in the industry remember the early 80s, when collagen first received FDA approval. During that time, people considering it were hopeful about looking better, but most were scared about allergic reactions, painful injections, and swelling. In 2009, we have a variety of safe and effective dermal fillers to choose from. They can be injected into the lines that travel from your nose to each side of your mouth or fill-in areas that have lost volume, such as thin lips and those deep furrows between your brows. Having any of these areas injected can take years off the face. It may even allow you to postpone cosmetic surgery for a while.

But the question always asked remains: “Which one should I choose?”

Below is a list and brief description of 5 popular dermal fillers that are available from medical practitioners. Just to be clear: because of their exceptional safety and efficacy, our office carries only Radiesse and Juvederm.

1. Restylane – a hyaluronic acid based filler touted as “the world’s best-selling dermal filler.” It is used for correcting moderate facial wrinkles and folds.
2. Perlane – very similar to Restylane, it is designed primarily for treating deeper and more severe wrinkles and folds.
3. Radiesse – this thick compound is made with (natural, biocompatible) calcium based microspheres in water based gel.
4. Prevelle Silk – this hyaluronic acid gel filler is commonly used for lip augmentation treatments.
5. Juvederm – Like Perlane, this popular filler is designed for treating deeper wrinkles and restoring volume to the face. It’s been called the “liquid facelift” treatment.
6. Evolence – one of the newer injectables on the market, Evolence is made with purified pig collagen. It helps create plumper cheeks and lips, and is said to provide quick results and minimal bruising.

If you’re pursuing a treatment of this type, you should choose a physician you trust – one that makes you feel comfortable. If you want more information about fillers, or need help choosing the proper brand, contact us at Dr. Stacy Cosmetic.

Questionnaires sent out by researchers from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) have given us some insight about why patients choose wrinkle treatments. Researchers sent the surveys out last March to 687 patients who had received Botox and/or dermal filler treatment. 

The following statistics illustrate the opinions of the ‘typical’ patient. Who is the ‘typical’ patient?  According to the results, she is “a married, working mother between 41-55 years of age with a household income of under $100,000.”

• Roughly 70 percent of the respondents claimed that Botox and dermal fillers play an important role in their cosmetic routine.  About the same number of respondents said they used both Botox and wrinkle fillers.  
• When asked what their motivation was for pursuing Botox treatment, 34 percent said their appearance looked “stressed” or “angry”. Others said that a friend, family member, or their physician had recommended it, or they were preparing for a social event.
• 66 percent said they received Botox treatment 2-3 times per year. 72 percent of the respondents chose Botox to treat glabellar lines – the vertical lines that appear between your eyebrows.  
• When asked about their motivation to use hyaluronic acid fillers, the majority (63 percent) of patients reported a desire to remove facial wrinkles and folds – mostly the nasolabial folds that travel from the nose to each side of the mouth.

A full summary of the results is available (in MS Word) here.