Do Different Fillers Work Differently?

Dermal fillers offer a great way to reduce the noticeable signs of aging and restore the more youthful appearance you’ve been hoping for. From adding volume to sunken cheeks to smoothing lines and folds that appear as your skin sags, fillers address many aesthetic concerns.

With so many options for dermal fillers, many of our patients at HK Dermatology in San Juan Capistrano, California, ask us if different fillers work in different ways and which is right for them. Dr. Jeffrey Klein and our team of providers answer your questions in this informative post! 

How dermal fillers work

Dermal fillers are created using gel-like substances. Our team injects them just below the surface of your skin. They work using either hyaluronic acid or biostimulatory fillers. There are plans to introduce EZ Gel, the new autologous volumizing gel using your own Albumin-Rich Plasma and Platelet-Rich Fibrin.

Your body naturally produces both hyaluronic acid and collagen. Hyaluronic acid helps keep your skin and tissues hydrated by binding with many times its weight in water molecules. It also plays an essential role in skin and tissue lubrication. 

Collagen proteins come together to create strong and sturdy fibers. These bands of collagen make up most of the connective tissue in your body. Collagen also promotes elasticity and encourages the top layer of your skin to regenerate to repair any damage — including damage from aging. 

When you get dermal fillers, your skin gets a boost, either by directly adding hyaluronic acid or by stimulating collagen production. Some of the most popular age-related skin issues we treat using fillers at HK Dermatology include:

• Skin laxity (loose skin)
• Hollow or sunken cheeks
• Lack of fullness at the temple
• Creases, lines, and deeper wrinkles
• Lip lines and thinning lips
• Nasolabial folds and parentheses lines 

Different fillers, however, have different properties. That means they offer different degrees of softness to your face and work for different amounts of time.

What different fillers can do

At HK Dermatology, we offer a varied selection of the most trusted and effective dermal fillers available. Here’s a closer look at our selection and what these different fillers can do:

Sculptra® and Radiesse®

Both Sculptra Aesthetic and Radiesse work by increasing your natural collagen production. As a result, they help restore lost volume and minimize the appearance of folds and wrinkles. Depending on how many treatments you get, they last up to two years.

You can use them to treat many issues, including:

• Pre-jowl folds
• Down-turning lips
• Smile and marionette lines
• Chin wrinkles
• Aging hands

And since your body’s collagen production stays elevated over time after your injection, you’ll get natural-looking results that evolve over time.

Juvéderm® fillers

The hyaluronic acid-based Juvéderm collection works well at returning fullness and volume to the skin tissues. Here’s a closer look at some of your options:

• Juvéderm Ultra® XC to soften lines surrounding your mouth (parentheses lines)
• Juvéderm Voluma® XC to address lost volume in your cheeks and temples

Juvéderm fillers are FDA approved and last between 1-2 years depending on which filler we use, along with your skin condition, health, and lifestyle factors. 

Belotero® Balance

Belotero Balance is a hyaluronic acid filler that works well to smooth parentheses lines and the folds that can stretch from your nose to your mouth. Its soft and cohesive properties make it perfect for molding facial contours by adding volume and structure. It’s also a great choice for smoothing lip lines.

Restylane®

Restylane products offer a way for people to minimize moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. These formulas help reduce lines, folds, and wrinkles, add volume, create contours, and help define and plump your lips. Talk to our HK Dermatology providers about which Restylane product is right for you.

Revanesse® VersaTM

Revanesse Versa is an HA filler that can be used to treat lines on your face such as nasolabial folds (smile lines). Your results may last up to a year depending on the number of treatments you receive. Versa contains 20% more product per syringe, and is the perfect product for you if you require more product to be brought to full correction or are seeking a more cost-effective treatment option.

RHA®

The only FDA approved hyaluronic acid filler for dynamic wrinkles and folds and include three approved formulas: RHA® 2, RHA® 3, and RHA® 4. These wrinkles and folds can be difficult to treat because some dermal fillers may cause the area to appear stiff or unnatural when the face moves. The RHA® Collection is designed to be resilient enough to adapt to your facial movement, which may provide a more natural look at rest and in motion.Talk to our HK Dermatology providers about which RHA product is right for you.

Choosing the right filler for you

Because different dermal fillers have different properties, it's best to consult with a skin expert when choosing a dermal filler. Our HK Dermatology providers talk with you about the areas you’d like treated, your aesthetic goals, and evaluate your skin to help determine the best fillers for you.

Hyaluronic acid fillers, like those in the Juvéderm and RHA families, might be the right choice to fill in lines and add plumpness back to your face. Studies have shown some hyaluronic acid fillers also stimulate collagen production for added benefits. Collagen-stimulating fillers, like Radiesse, can help lift skin folds and creases, fill in scars, plump thinning lips, and restore a youthful appearance to your hands.

Once we select a filler, we administer your injections in our office. Side effects from hyaluronic acid and collagen-stimulating fillers are rare but may include redness, bruising, swelling, or bumps at the injection site. 

Ready to learn more about dermal fillers and what they can do for you? Schedule an appointment online or over the phone with our providers at HK Dermatology.