You know the term “baby fat” — that plumpness that fades away during adolescence. What you may not realize is that it keeps waning, and once you pass your 20s, you start to notice and wish you had it back. With each passing year, you lose more volume and your skin becomes thinner until you spot your first wrinkle.
You’re not ready for a facelift, but you could sure use a little help with your thinning lips and wrinkling skin. Enter dermal fillers. These safe and effective aesthetic treatments deliver great results quickly and easily, but there are so many to choose from.
Here to help you decipher the benefits of the multiple dermal fillers available, Dr. Michael Tachuk at Viva Wellness Medical Group in San Diego, California, has composed these handy guidelines highlighting the purpose and benefits of some of the most popular dermal filler brands.
Of course, several of them have overlapping attributes, so Dr. Tachuk advises you about the exact product he recommends once he gets to know you and your skin.
Dermal filler similarities
All dermal fillers have the same purpose: replace lost volume. They all deliver plumping agents under your skin through a series of injections. In general, they can all smooth out your wrinkles, restore sunken features, diminish fine lines, and improve the balance and symmetry of your facial features — they each just go about it a little differently.
Dermal filler differences
The differences between the various brands of dermal fillers and the specific products within each line are more apparent when you take a closer look at the ingredients. Here are the most common active ingredients and what they do for you.
Hyaluronic acid
A naturally occurring substance that your body already produces, hyaluronic acid (HA) keeps your skin hydrated and plump. So if you’re running low on HA, a dose injected under your skin can restore that lost volume. The FDA-approved brands of dermal fillers that contain HA include:
- Restylane®️ (Restylane Silk, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Refyne, Restylane Defyne, and Restylane Kysse)
- Juvéderm®️ (Juvéderm XC, VOLUMA, VOLBELLA, and VOLLURE)
- Belotero Balance®️
HA injections typically last 6-12 months, but Juvéderm VOLUMA and Restylane Lyft can last up to two years.
Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA)
Your bones have a good supply of CaHA, so you know it’s strong. Radiesse®️ contains this ingredient. When we inject it under your skin, it can improve the appearance of moderate to severe facial wrinkles, especially nasolabial folds.
Poly-L-lactic acid
One of the primary causes of aging skin is the loss of collagen, which is the protein that forms your connective tissue and gives your skin its structure. Poly-L-lactic acid, which has been used for many years in dissolvable stitches, has also been found to stimulate your body’s collagen production. The effect can last for up to two years. You can find FDA-approved Poly-L-lactic acid in Sculptra®️.
Which dermal filler is best for your face?
Each brand of dermal filler differs slightly from the next, and with each manufacturer’s line, the individual products also vary in texture, density, purpose, injection depth, and longevity. This guide can help you narrow down your choices depending on the skin issue and area you want to improve.
- Marionette lines: Juvéderm, Restylane Refyne, Restylane Defyne, and Bolotero
- Sunken eyes: Juvéderm and Restylane
- Thin lips: Juvéderm Ultra, Restylane Kysse, and VOLBELLA
- Cheek lift: Restylane Lyft and VOLUMA
- Acne scars: Radiesse and Juvéderm
- Nasolabial folds: Juvéderm, Belotero, Restylane, Radiesse, and Sculptra
- Vertical lip lines: Restylane Silk, Belotero, and VOLBELLA
- Wrinkled chin: Belotero, Juvéderm, Radiesse, and Restylane
- Chin implant: Juvéderm VOLUMA and Restylane Lyft
As noted, there’s a lot of overlap between these products, but that’s where Dr. Tachuk’s experience comes in. He knows what to expect from these treatments and knows precisely where and how to inject them for optimal results. While these guidelines give you a good general picture of which dermal fillers do what, you can be confident with your final decision once you and Dr. Tachuk meet.
To schedule a consultation, call Viva Wellness Medical Group at 619-369-3081, or request an appointment using our online tool today.