Facial Fillers (Juvederm, etc.)

Unlike Botox injections, which relax the muscle under a wrinkle, injectable wrinkle fillers actually fill the line or crease with one of several different substances, so it seems to nearly disappear.

Moreover, wrinkle fillers are also now being used as “volumizers,” plumping and lifting the cheeks, filling out thin lips, and plumping sagging hands. Most fill your lines and wrinkles in less than 30 minutes with results that last from four to six months to a year or longer — all for a fraction of the cost of a traditional face-lift. And while results aren’t as dramatic as a face-lift, they can certainly help hold back the hands of time for at least a little while longer.

And while the treatment is fast and easy, all wrinkle fillers have a downside, including the risk of allergic reaction and the formation of tiny bumps under the skin that in some instances may be permanent. Typically, wrinkle fillers with longer-lasting effects are more likely to cause side effects. A bluish skin discoloration known as the Tyndall effect is also possible. The color change can last for several months, but treatments are available. In very rare instances, death of skin cells can occur if the wrinkle fillers are not administered properly.

Perhaps more important, however, is that not every wrinkle is right for every type of wrinkle filler. In fact, experts agree that using the right wrinkle filler in the right way not only reduces risks, but also ensures a better result overall.

By far the most popular category of wrinkle fillers is hyaluronic acid, a natural component of all connective tissue. Each type of hyaluronic acid wrinkle filler works in a slightly different way to fill lines and wrinkles with a varying range of lasting results.

For the most part, side effects of these injections are rare but can include the risk of redness, swelling, and bruising at the injection site, as well as the possibility that the substance may be seen beneath the skin in the form of tiny bumps, a problem which typically improves over time.

While the length of the results may vary from several months to up to a year or longer, there is some medical evidence beginning to emerge that repeated injections of these fillers over time may help stimulate the body’s own natural production of collagen, which in turn helps to naturally decrease some of the lines and wrinkles. There is also some evidence that less filler is needed over time to achieve the same look.