SKIN FILLERS

Skin creases, acne scars, or other irregular depressions can be improved simply by the injection of a skin (dermal) filler. Collagen, a natural skin protein, has been used for more than twenty years. Collagen injections are safe, easy to tolerate, and reliable, but the effect usually only lasts approximately six months. Lipstick bleed lines on the lips and cheek wrinkles are commonly treated with Collagen. The newer hyaluronic acid injectables, such as Restylane or Hylaform, are thicker and are used for deeper folds, such as those from the nose down to the corners of the mouth (jowl folds). The hyaluronic acid injectables seem to last six to nine months. These are also effective for adding fullness to the lips. Although fat is a natural substance, the results from fat injections are not always predictable. Fat injections seem more effective for broad areas of depression and not for individual lines. However, since we all have available fat, fat injections are an option to treat certain contour depressions. The problem with all injectables, today, is that their improvement is temporary, as your body absorbs the material gradually. Nevertheless, skin fillers represent a convenient, easy, temporary improvement for skin lines.