Eye Didn't Know!

Dermal Fillers for Facial Sculpting

Did you know? Many patients are familiar with the use of dermal fillers, such as Juvederm, Restylane, and Prevelle, to fill nasolabial folds to give a more youthful appearance. That is just the beginning! Before deciding what treatment is best, it is necessary to use a mirror and evaluate the entire face. Even more common than a prominent nasolabial fold is volume loss of the upper cheek. A youthful face is shaped much like a heart, while an aging face tends to have a hollowed look in the mid and upper cheek. Filling this area with volume can work wonders for restoring a youthful appearance. The lips, as well, flatten with age. Adding a touch of volume and definition to the lips can take years off of a woman's face.

Did you also know? Similarly, Botox is not reserved for the upper face. I frequently use a very small amount of Botox to smooth the skin around the lips and even to raise the corners of a downturned smile!

Prevelle

Did you know? There is a new dermal filler available called Prevelle, made by the Mentor corporation.

Prevelle has a number of advantages. Compared to other dermal fillers, Prevelle is more comfortable, and it is less expensive. It is made of hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in skin, similar to Juvederm Ultra and Restylane. It is designed, however, to last approximately as long as Botox treatments last, which is approximately three to six months.

So far, my patients love it! They report that it is much more comfortable being injected (it contains an anesthetic in the filler), and it is very smooth. Time will tell how long it lasts.

I see it as the ideal introductory filler. Since the cost is about half of the longer lasting fillers, it is not such a large initial investment. If you like the results, you can continue using it, or perhaps opt for a longer lasting filler, if desired. If you don't like the results (that's never happened in my practice!) it will wear off. Also, for those patients who think other products are uncomfortable being injected, this product causes much less discomfort.

Did you also know? Mentor also makes Puragen, a thicker product (like Juvederm Ultra Plus) but is not yet available in the United States.