Facial Fillers  

When used on the face, injectable fillers do what their name implies: they plump up surface depressions, furrows, and wrinkles. While Botox and Dysport are excellent at relaxing overactive muscles in the upper half of the face, making them the perfect choice for smoothing a wrinkled forehead or softening crow’s feet, fillers work well on deep wrinkles, like the nasolabial folds (the lines that run from the corners of your nose to your mouth).

Of course, fillers have all sorts of other applications. They can be used to add volume to the lips and reverse the “hollow” look that age often brings to the eyes and cheeks. By restoring youthful volume to these areas of the face, fillers can even cause sagging skin to appear more lifted. Dr. Yagoda has developed many innovative non-surgical procedures, such as the Tr-EYE-umph! and non-surgical facelift that harness the unique properties of fillers to produce amazing, instant results with minimal or no downtime.

The right facial filler for you depends on the location and the depth of the area to be filled, and how long you want the results to last. Dr. Yagoda will take the time to patiently explain all of your alternatives, so that you can make informed decisions. Great care goes into the planning and the execution of your nonsurgical wrinkle reduction procedure, and Dr. Yagoda is both gentle and precise. Side effects or complications are rare although some of the more common ones are bruising, swelling, and redness at the injection sites. These effects are all temporary and generally short-lived.

There are currently many injectable fillers on the market. Here is a brief guide to some of the ones offered at Dr. Yagoda’s office:

Restylane^® and Perlane^®

Restylane and Perlane are both made of hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that is found in all of your cells, and is already a component of your skin and joint fluid. Therefore, no skin test is necessary.

Restylane and Perlane are used to treat facial wrinkles and folds, providing a more youthful and energetic appearance. Restylane is injected into the dermal layer and superficial dermal layer of the skin to fill in fine and moderate depth wrinkles, depressions, or irregularities. Perlane is injected more deeply to provide larger volume replacement. While the effects are not permanent and the duration of the results is variable from individual to individual, on average they will last six-ten months.

Areas treated most commonly by Restylane and Perlane are the nasolabial folds (the lines that run from the nose to the corners of the mouth), the corners or the mouth, the lips, or any other deep line on the face.

Juvéderm^®

Juvéderm is similar to Restylane and has a very similar profile of safety and effectiveness. Juvéderm is most commonly used to soften patients’ nasolabial folds or smile lines, to fill in hollow places on the face, and to diminish the appearance of sunken scars by plumping up the skin. This filler also usually lasts about six months. Like Restylane, Juvéderm is a smooth consistency gel made of hyaluronic acid. Also like Restylane, injections of Juvéderm may cause some minor bruising or swelling. Juvéderm is the first FDA-approved hyaluronic acid filler proven to be safe and effective for persons of color. Studies with Juvéderm showed no increased risk of hyperpigmentation or hypertrophic scarring in patients of color.

Radiesse^®

Radiesse is another hyaluronic acid-based filler that lasts longer than Restylane or Juvéderm. The effects of Radiesse can last for one to five years after your injection. Tiny calcium microspheres are used to support and stimulate the growth of your own collagen. Radiesse is thicker than Restylane so it works better on deep lines and wrinkles. It is great for the nasolabial folds and smile lines, and is also used to build back cheek volume that is lost with age.

Sculptra^®

Sculptra, like Radiesse, is an injectable filler that produces long lasting results. It’s made from a biocompatible substance called poly-L-lactic acid. Given as a series of treatments (usually three sessions spread out over a few months), Sculptra helps to replace lost collagen. When the full results are achieved, they can last up to two years.

LaViv^TM

Dr. Yagoda is pleased to announce the arrival of LaViv^TM (Fibrocell Science, Exton, PA), an all-natural injectable filler made from one's very own collagen-producing cells, to her practice. LaViv is a breakthrough for those who prefer fillers made of natural materials.  It uses absolutely no synthetic materials-just one's own collagen-producing cells!  FDA-approved for reducing lines and wrinkles, and for restoring volume, LaViv is a welcome addition to Dr. Yagoda's integrative aesthetic and facial plastic surgery practice where she already offers a wide range of anti-aging and volumizing therapies.  

Belotero^®

New from Merz, Belotero^® Balance is another FDA-approved hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler for facial wrinkles and folds. With another competitor on the market, there may some more competitive pricing. In addition, some believe that this filler will prove to be more effective for fine lip lines and lines around the eyes.

CosmoPlast, CosmoDerm and other collagen-based fillers

Unlike collagen fillers of decades past that were derived from cows and therefore required skin tests to avoid allergic reactions, modern collagen fillers are derived from purified human collagen. No skin tests are required, there’s generally little swelling or redness, and the results can last as long as six months—longer than some other injectable fillers. There are, however, risks associated with some collagen fillers and patients who have rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, multiple allergies, asthma, or eczema might not be suitable candidates for collagen.