If you wonder what’s in the syringe that’s used to fill in a wrinkle or a fold, restore facial volume and plump up lips, you’ll be glad to know most of it is pretty simple stuff!
Here’s a component list and what each means
• Hyaluronic Acids (Juvederm, Restylane, and Prevelle) are made from sugar molecules. These molecules are chemically “cross linked” to turn them into a gel that lasts about 6 to 9 months.
• Poly-L-Lactic Acid (Sculptra) is made from the same material as dis-solvable sutures. But it’s not the product that gives you the volume restoration; it’s the stimulation of your own collagen that does the work. Polylactides get their start from cornstarch. Sculptra is less of a wrinkle filler than a collagen catalyst.
• Collagens (Cosmoderm, Cosmoplast) came from human cadaver collagen. Sounds kind of “ick” but collagens can only come from a non-synthesized source. Highly purified, sterile and no allergy testing except for bovine collagen. Collagens are no longer available outside of being used as a carrier for Bellafill.
• Calcium Hydroxyapatite (Radiesse) is a calcium-based mineral compound that has been used many years in orthopedic surgery and dental implants. More for structural changes than for filling a wrinkle, Radiesse is often used for nose shaping and accentuating cheeks.
Hyaluronic gels can be dissolved, so are good choices for those who are new to fillers or are not sure they will like the changes. At this office we have opted to not offer fillers with permanent components such as Bellafill or silicone.