As you age, your face loses volume due to fat loss as well as a decrease in your bone density from osteoporosis. This loss of fullness contributes to the deflation and sagging we often notice with age. Additionally, years of sun exposure and facial animation can cause wrinkles and lines to begin to appear. Injecting dermal fillers can help address many of these changes by adding volume to the face and reducing the appearance of fine lines.
There are many dermal fillers available on the market. They are primarily classified as HA (hyaluronic acid) fillers or non-HA fillers. Hyaluronic acid is a natural sugar that is found in the skin. Over time, your skin reduces the production of hyaluronic acid, which results in facial wrinkles and folds. HA fillers are a very effective and popular option to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
HA fillers are synthetically produced, which helps reduce the likelihood of the adverse reactions that were previously seen with “old school” collagen injections. HA fillers are specially processed and cross-linked in order to improve longevity and produce a variety of fillers with unique characteristics. Just like the hyaluronic acid that you naturally produce, your body will slowly dissolve the filler with time.
HA fillers typically last 6-12 months before you may desire a repeat injection. Many patients find that with subsequent injections, less filler is needed. Fortunately, complications are rare, but if they do occur, HA fillers are reversible by injecting a medication called hyaluronidase into the affected area.
Hyaluronic Acid Fillers (Restylane®)
Carolina Skin and Laser offers an array of options in both the Restylane family of hyaluronic acid fillers. These include Restylane-L®, Restylane® Defyne, Restylane® Lyft, Restylane® Contour, and Restylane® Kysse, the first HA lip filler with XpresHAn technology for natural-looking volume and Kysse-able softness!
Dr. Choe and/or our Aesthetic Nurse will perform a thorough consultation to discuss your aesthetic goals and budget before determining which product is best suited for your particular needs. Common popular injection areas include “parentheses” lines from you nose to your mouth, referred to as the nasolabial folds, the marionette lines, vertical lip lines (smoker lines), lip volume loss, cheek augmentation for volume loss and tear troughs (under eye hollows).
Sculptra® Aesthetic
In addition to the above HA fillers, Carolina Skin and Laser carries the non-HA filler, Sculptra® Aesthetic. Sculptra® is a new type of facial injectable made from poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), which is a biocompatible, biodegradable material similar in composition to a type of suture that has commonly been used in surgery for decades. As PLLA dissolves, it stimulates the body to produce collagen. Unlike HA fillers, Sculptra® Aesthetic is not an overnight miracle and injecting it in conjunction with an HA filler is recommended for both immediate and long-term results. However, it is long lasting! And, it is the first facial injectable that gives you subtle results over time by replacing lost collagen. Because of these factors, Sculptra® Aesthetic is particularly well suited for full facial revolumization to create the foundation for comprehensive facial rejuvenation.
A full treatment of Sculptra® Aesthetic typically requires an average of three injection sessions spread over a few months. Although individual results can vary, results can last more than two years. Sculptra® Aesthetic gives you a more natural-looking appearance, without giving you away.
*Individual results may vary.
