Why have surgery when you don’t need it yet?

These days, non-surgical options, such as injectable fillers, are all the rage. They offer the benefits of surgery, such as making you look younger, without the long recovery time or high upfront cost.

At this point, there are plenty of fillers available on the market. So many that picking the right one might seem difficult.

Here’s a rundown of the injectables available at The Choe Center in Virginia Beach, as well as information on what each one does. When it comes to choosing the right filler for you, it’s important to have a chat with your facial plastic surgeon so that you both understand what you’re looking for and what the treatment will do for you.

Juvederm

Juvederm is one of several fillers made from hyaluronic acid, a substance that your body naturally produces. The filler is designed to help ease the look of lines and wrinkles by the mouth and nose. It can also be used to add volume to thin lips. Treatment with Juvederm is quick, usually taking less than 20 minutes and recovery is quick, too. You  might have some swelling, but that usually diminishes after a day or two.

The results from Juvederm don’t last very long, just six to nine months on average. You have a repeat treatment after that to maintain your youthful appearance.

Juvederm Voluma

JuvedermVoluma is a new form of Juvederm. It’s thicker and is injected deeper into the skin, but is still made from hyaluronic acid. Voluma has a different goal than standard Juvederm. It’s used to add volume or to plump up the cheek area. The injection also helps smooth out lines and wrinkles as it volumizes the face. While Juvederm gel is smooth and flows easily, Voluma gel is thicker and sculptable. The results last longer with Voluma, up to two years.

Restylane

Another filler made from hyaluronic acid, Restylane can also be used to smooth lines and wrinkles by the mouth and nose. It’s also used to add volume to the lips and can be used during non-surgical rhinoplasty to create a more symmetrical nose or to reduce the size of a bump on the nose. The  results from Restylane can last for up to 18 months.

Perlane

The company that makes Restylane also makes Perlane, another filler made from hyaluronic acid. The big difference between Restylane and Perlane is the size of the particles that make up the gel. Perlane is also injected more deeply into the skin, so it is able to fill in deeper set lines and wrinkles by the mouth and nose. The results from an injection of Perlane can last for up to a year. Although it is more volumizing than Restylane, Perlane isn’t recommended for use in the lips.

Belotero

Belotero is another injectable made from hyaluronic acid. It is formulated slightly differently than other hyaluronic acid fillers, so that it works on deeper lines, such as the nasolabial folds, and on finer lines, such as the wrinkles above the upper lip. As with other fillers, treatment with Belotero is very quick, as is the recovery. It can be performed in the office in less than an hour and usually requires almost no downtime. Results from an injection typically last at least six months.

Radiesse

Not every dermal filler is made of hyaluronic acid, and Radiesse is proof of that. It’s made of calcium hydroxyapatite, a heavier substance that is also naturally occurring.  The big difference between Radiesse and other fillers is how it works. It’s used to fill in lines and wrinkles by the mouth and nose and also to restore volume to those areas. The injection provides instantly visible results. But the ingredient also stimulates the product of collagen beneath the skin, so that the results continue to last over time. In many cases, the results from a treatment of Radiesse can last for more than a year.

Sculptra

Unlike other injectables, Sculptra isn’t exactly a filler. Made from a synthetic form of poly-l-lactic acid, the substance is a collagen stimulator, meaning it encourages the production of collagen in the body over time. Often, you need multiple treatments with Sculptra to get the results you want, and it can take several months for those results to appear.

Sculptra is similar to Juvederm Voluma, in that it’s designed to add volume to the face. Once the results from the treatment appear, they can last for up to two years.

Now that you  know more about the various fillers on offer, it’s time to decide which one is right for you. Dr. Kyle Choe, a board certified facial plastic surgeon in Virginia Beach, can help you pick the best filler for you. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Choe, call 757.389.5850 today.