Facial Fillers for Cosmetic Wrinkle Treatment

Facial fillers are injectable materials, used to plump up areas of the face, such as the lips, or treat wrinkles. They are different than Botox in that they do not reduce wrinkles by weakening the facial muscle. They do so by filling in lines or depressions. Sometimes they are used together with Botox as the combination may work better than each individual treatment.

Facial fillers today

Historically Collagen was used to fill lines for years. Today other products are used more commonly. The most common fillers used in Dr. Massry’s practice are made from Hyaluronic acid and include Restylane, Juvaderm and Perlane.

Hyaluronic acid is a normal part of the human body which decreases with age leading to facial aging (wrinkles and a gaunter look). Dr. Massry feels filling the face with Restylane, Juvaderm or Perlane can certainly restore a more youthful look. These gels are injected under the skin after application of a topical or injected anesthetic. The fill created from Restylane, Juvaderm and Perlane is seen immediately and the patient and Dr. Massry can then decide together how much is appropriate.

The right amount of facial fillers

If an under-correction is attained (still have wrinkles or hollows), more filler can be given. A vile of Restylane, Juvaderm or Perlane is typically good for 6 months and can be stored in Dr. Massry’s office. If an overcorrection occurs (too much) with creation of an irregularity (lump/bump), a correction can be performed with the injection of a revering agent (Vitrase or Hyaluronidase).

Common use of facial fillers

The most common areas Dr. Massry treats with these fillers are the hollows under the eyes (tear trough), the lines between the lips and cheeks (nasolabial folds), the cheeks, the jowl areas (lower face) and the temples. There are variable degrees of bruising and swelling that can occur after treatment (usually for a few days) depending on the area treated. There is more swelling in areas of thinnest skin and where there are a greater number of visible blood vessels.

Dr. Massry is an Ophthalmic Plastic Surgeon who specializes in cosmetic surgery of the forehead (endoscopic browlift), eyelids (blepharoplasty), and cheeks (mid face lift). As such, Dr.Massry treats eyelid hollows (tear trough) routinely. The tear trough (under-eye hollows) can be seen as dark circles under the eyes, depressions under the eyes, or a sunken eye. Correcting this problem is Dr. Massry’s expertise. Dr. Massry can improve the eyelid appearance with Restylane, Juvaderm or Perlane significantly.

These are Dr. Massry’s preference on the various facial and eyelid fillers he us.

Dr. Massry uses Restylane to restore facial fullness and treat facial wrinkles. Restylane is Dr. Massry’s first choice for under eye hollows (tear trough) which can cause dark circles under the eye. A treatment with Restylane should last 6 months. Repeat treatments are needed to maintain the effect.

Dr. Massry uses Perlane, like Restylane, to replace the lost hyaluronic acid in the face t add fullness and reduce wrinkles. The main difference between Restylane and Perlane is the size of the gel particle with Perlane’s being larger. For this reason Dr. Massry uses Perlane to treat deeper lines or larger depressions such as in the cheeks and lower face.

Dr. Massry feels Juvaderm may have a smoother texture than Restylane and Perlane and he find that is has greater utility in very fines lines of the face.

Side effects of cosmetic wrinkle treatment

Side effects with all three fillers are uncommon and primarily are related to bruising and swelling. No allergy test is needed with any of the hyaluronic acid gels as they are a normal part of the human body. As was previously mentioned, a great benefit of Restylane, Perlane and Juvidrm, is that they can be reversed with an injection so that if a patient does not like the fill it is made temporary.

About the author

Cosmetic wrinkle treatment is a practice which requires a specialist (Ophthalmic Plastic Surgeon) to get the best results. Beverly Hills ophthalmic surgeon, Dr. Guy Massry, has years of experience with cosmetic treatments and would be happy to evaluate your specific needs for enhancing your appearance. He practices cosmetic wrinkle treatment, reconstructive and cosmetic eyelid surgery, reconstructive ophthalmic plastic surgery, and more in Los Angeles, West Hills, and Beverly Hills, California.