Get Your Fill — Five Fillers and What They Fix

Everyone knows all about Botox, the wrinkle boss that works by stopping muscles from contracting. Those wrinkles formed by muscle contractions, wrinkles such as crow’s feet and the 11s, are called dynamic wrinkles.

The other type of wrinkles are called static wrinkles. They are wrinkles that are due to sun damage and normal aging. Static wrinkles show their crinkly selves at all times. Botox, like Superman after eating a Kryptonite sandwich, has no power on static wrinkles. That’s the realm of dermal fillers.

Dermal fillers are the other kind of injectable, but, as their name implies, they fill in the crease or wrinkle and plump the skin. Some also encourage the production of new collagen in the area. Fillers are injected beneath the wrinkle and basically push the skin back up, erasing the wrinkle. They treat the other kind of wrinkles, static wrinkles; these wrinkles show themselves at all times.

Five popular fillers

Here are the five popular fillers and their characteristics.

• Restylane® — Restylane and Juvederm (below) are the two most popular fillers in the world. Both are made from hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body that is responsible for plumping the skin. To plump the skin, hyaluronic acid binds with water molecules beneath the skin surface. This makes the surface skin smoother. Restylane is very effective at improving wrinkles and creases around the mouth and lips, as well as those under the eyes. It is best on areas with thinner skin.
• Juvederm® — Also of the hyaluronic acid variety, Juvederm restores volume and addresses deeper wrinkles, especially those around the mouth and nose and on the forehead. There are three types of Juvederm: Juvederm XC, Juvederm Voluma XC, and Juvederm Ultra Plus. Each has different characteristics that target different issues such as volume vs. wrinkles.
• Perlane® — Perlane is a cousin of Restylane, although the “huskier, big-boned” one. Made by the same company as Restylane, and also hyaluronic acid-based, Perlane has a much thicker consistency. This makes it best for improving large nasolabial folds and worry lines on the forehead. Perlane, due to its thicker consistency, needs to be injected in areas where there is underlying fat to hide it.
• Radiesse® — Radiesse is different than those hyaluronic acid fillers above. It’s made up of a water-based gel with calcium hydroxylapatites microspheres. It fills wrinkles two ways. It fills in the volume-deficient area with the gel like other fillers. Then, as the body absorbs the filler, the microspheres stimulate collage production at the treatment site. Radiesse can improve moderate to severe facial folds, creases, and wrinkles. It can also be used to augment the nose, chin, and cheeks.
• Sculptra® — Sculptra is one of the longest-lasting fillers, providing results for up to two years. Sculptra is made from poly-L-lactic acid, which encourages the body to produce new collagen. Collagen is the skin’s basic support structure, making it firm and taut, and it decreases with age. Since Sculptra encourages new collagen production, its results are more gradual. Sculptra is effective for nasolabial lines, marionette lines, and lines on the forehead.

At Saltz Spa Vitoria, we offer a full assortment of dermal fillers. Call us at our Salt Lake or Park City offices and let’s talk about which ones could work best for you.