Cosmetic Injectable Fillers
For correction of facial folds and wrinkles

TEMPORARY fillers
Restylane, Perlane and Restylane Fine Lines are “fillers”, gels that are injected directly into the skin using an ultrafine needle to correct facial lines and folds. The gels are composed of hyaluronic acid, one of the building blocks of skin. The gels bind water in the skin, where they remain for 6-12 months. The duration of the treatment depends on many factors, such as age, skin type, lifestyle and muscle activity. As the gel particles are absorbed over time, they are gradually replaced by water, and disappear unnoticed from the body.

These gels are similar to products that are used inside the eye during cataract surgery to protect delicate ocular tissues, as well as during certain types of knee and jaw operations.

The difference between the three products is the gel particle size. Restylane is used for wrinkle correction and lip enhancements. Perlane is used for shaping facial contours, such as cheeks and chin, as well as to correct deep folds around the nose and mouth. Restylane Fine Lines is used to correct thin, superficial lines, such as those that occur around the eyes. Depending on the cosmetic result desired, a combination of products may be used. These products can also be combined with Botox Cosmetic™ as required.

Since 1996, Restylane products have been successfully used in more than 1.5 million treatments in over 60 countries. They are not derived from animal sources and are fully biocompatible. As such, there is no risk of transmitting diseases or causing allergic reactions in patients who are sensitive to common foods such as eggs. No allergy testing is required prior to treatment. Patients should refrain from using aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, St. John’s Wort or high doses of Vitamin E supplements prior to treatment, because these may increase bruising or bleeding at the injection site. In patients who have previously suffered from facial cold sores, there is a risk that the needle punctures could contribute to another recurrence.

For further information, please visit www.restylane.ca.

 

Semi-permanent fillers
Dermalive and Dermadeep are semipermanent fillers, products that are injected into the skin in order to correct wrinkles, folds and skin imperfections, as well as to remodel facial contours. They are made of flexible, nonresorbable acrylic hydrogel fragments and hyaluronic acid. Acrylic hydrogel is a type of material used for years in lens implants placed in the eye after cataract extraction. Hyaluronic acid is one of the building blocks of the skin, and is also used in temporary fillers. The hyaluronic acid acts as a carrier for the acrylic hydrogel fragments, which act as microscopic implants in the skin. Over time, the body absorbs the hyaluronic acid as it builds collagen around the fragments of acrylic hydrogel, resulting in smoothing of folds and wrinkles. Dermalive and Dermadeep differ in the size of their particles and this determines the cosmetic effects obtained from each product. On average, two treatments are required to achieve the desired cosmetic result, with a wait of three months after each treatment in order to allow time for the body to build collagen around the implants.

These products are not derived from animal sources, and do not require skin testing prior to treatment. They last in the skin for years, but do not stop the aging process. Therefore, retouching sessions may be required after several years. Potential complications, including lumps, redness, swelling, infection and granuloma formation, are relatively rare. A pre-treatment consultation will help determine the best combination of products for each individual patient.