Many of us in the industry probably remember when collagen first received FDA approval over 20 years ago. People considering it at the time were hopeful about looking better, but scared about allergic reactions, painful injections, and swelling. In 2009, we have a wider variety of fillers to choose from that are safe and effective.

Fillers can be injected into facial folds, lines, and wrinkles 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 surgery.

Patients usually ask: “Which one should I choose?”

Below is a list and brief description of 5 popular dermal fillers:

• 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.
• Perlane – very similar to Restylane, it is designed primarily for treating deeper and more severe wrinkles and folds.
• Radiesse – this thick compound is made with the same materials as our bones and teeth and reportedly stimulates collagen production.
• Prevelle Silk – this hyaluronic acid gel filler is commonly used for lip augmentation treatments.
• 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.
• Sculptra – a poly-L-lactic acid filler that was FDA approved to treat facial lipoatrophy – the loss of facial tissue. Sculptra is great for filling in hollowness in the cheeks and other imperfections like nasolabial folds.

If you’re considering treatment with any of these products, consult with a qualified surgeon that you trust. For help choosing the right wrinkle filler, or for more information on the risks and benefits, contact the Ohio office of Dr. Mandell-Brown.