Description

Restylane was invented in a Swedish laboratory and first used in the U.S. in 2004. It has been injected 10 million times (worldwide) since then, and remains the leading dermal filler.

Restylane

Restylane was invented in a Swedish laboratory and first used in the U.S. in 2004. It has been injected 10 million times (worldwide) since then, and remains the leading dermal filler. Restylane is generally used for under-eye hollows, lips and labial folds (lines around the nose and mouth). It can last up to 18 months with a repeat injection at four-and-a-half or nine months.

Perlane

Manufactured by the same company (Q-Med in Sweden) that makes Restylane, Perlane came on the U.S. market in 2007. Perlane is made from the same substance as Restylane, but has larger molecules, making it more effective for deeper wrinkles. Dr. Fisher also has also found it to be longer-lasting than Restylane, though it is only FDA approved to last up to six months.

Radiesse

Radiesse is made of calcium-based microspheres, the same component of bones and teeth. The company that makes Radiesse, Bioform, says the filler stimulates the body to produce new collagen, which makes it last longer and reduces the need for touch-ups. Dr. Tehrani likes to use it for an “injection nose job,” where the filler is inserted above the bone in the nose in order to smooth its contours. Dr. Ostad likes to use it on people with jowls, to plump them up and push them back.

Evolence

Evolence came on the U.S. market in 2008. It’s made from porcine (pig) collagen. Though this may sound random, it’s not: Porcine collagen is genetically similar to human collagen, which is lost as we age. This product also can mean there’s less bruising or swelling. But with swine flu giving pigs and sows a bad rap, Dr. Tehrani says he makes sure patients know there is swine product in the filler and explains you can’t get the virus through injection. His patients, he says, aren’t worried.

Juvederm

From Allergan, the same company that makes Botox, this hyaluronic-acid dermal filler came on the U.S. market in 2007 and is good for mid to deep wrinkles, improving contour irregularities of the face, filling crow’s feet and even earlobe plumping, says Dr. Fisher.What is the most popular face filler?

Dysport

Recently approved by the FDA, Dysport (also known as Reloxin) uses the same active ingredient as Botox but may be priced lower. While the doctors interviewed said this was an exciting new development, they would approach it with caution. “I’d use it sparingly at first,” says Dr. Garth Fisher. “Botox has a proven track record in the U.S.” It’s been on the market for nearly 20 years and is the most popular cosmetic treatment in the U.S.

Prevelle Silk

On the U.S. market in 2008, this hyaluronic-acid dermal filler incorporates lidocaine, a local anesthetic, to provide pain relief at the injection site. But it won’t decrease the pain of the needle itself, doctors say–just the discomfort that may result from the injection. The doctors interviewed didn’t seem to feel it was necessary, as most of them use a numbing solution on the area before injection anyway, but Dr. Tehrani liked it for especially sensitive areas, like the lips.What is the most popular face filler?