Can You Fill in Wrinkles? - An Overview of New Fillers

By Kevin C. Smith MD FACP FRCPC

By now, many people are aware that hyaluronic acid (Restylane® and Perlane®) and collagen (Cosmoderm® and Cosmoplast®) can be used to fill creases, wrinkles and scars on the face and neck, in both men and women, and can also be used to enhance the fullness of the lips. .

These fillers have been very successful, and the rapid growth of the filler market has attracted new competitors and new technologies, offering consumers a wider range of choices. Read about other treatments for sun-damaged skin can be found on Treatment for sun damaged skin.

Collagen treatments usually start to wear off in 3-6 months, and hyaluronic acid treatments start to wear off after 6-12 months. Some individuals who are starting to have treatment with fillers prefer products which will wear off in less than a year, so that they can be confident that the product will disappear if they wish to return to their original appearance.

Most people who have had filler treatments are delighted with the results, and desire products which will produce a longer lasting improvement in their appearance. To satisfy this market, Evolence®, Radiesse®, and Artecoll® have been introduced to the Canadian market, after years of availability and testing in the United States, Europe and Israel.

Evolence® is a long-lasting form of collagen, which is so well tolerated that (unlike other forms of collagen) no skin testing is needed before treatment. Evolence® is very easy to administer, and is very well tolerated. The benefits of treatment generally last for at least one year, and Evolence® can be used on any part of the body, including the lips.

Radiesse® is a filler material whose benefits last for 12-18 months - sometimes longer. Radiesse® is of particular value for deep creases on the face and frown lines on the forehead.

Artecoll® is the one filler material which can produce corrections and enhancements of lines, creases and lips which last for many years. Artecoll® works by stimulating the body to produce its own natural collagen wherever the Artecoll® is injected. The best way to use Artecoll® is to have several small treatments, three or four months apart. This allows time for the Artecoll® to blend in imperceptibly with your skin and become part of you. The correction is gradual - a fact which is appreciated by those who desire a very discrete treatment program (so that their friends and business associates will simply notice that they are looking better, but will not be able to identify the reason for the improvement.)

It is sometimes helpful to combine fillers with BOTOX® treatments, in particular in cases where unwanted facial expressions (for example, chronic frowning) have created permanent frown line creases on the forehead. In such a case, BOTOX® is used to relax the overactive "frowning" muscles, and a filler is used to correct the creases and produce a very rapid improvement in an individual's appearance - and to improve the way the world sees and regards that individual. Read more about Botox® on Botox Facts.ca.

This expanded range of fillers makes it a real pleasure to correct skin folds, creases and scars, and to enhance features like lips.

About the author:

Dr. Kevin Smith is a dermatologist in Niagara Falls, Ontario with a particular interest in protecting the skin and in correcting skin problems resulting from aging, rosacea and sun damage. He is an expert in the use of Botox®, fillers, lasers and intense pulsed light to maintain and enhance the appearance of the skin, and have lectured on those subjects across North America, and in Europe, Asia and Mexico. Read more at www.smithlaser.com