Restylane and Juvederm - facial fillers

Restylane and Juvederm are facial fillers used to help reduce the signs of aging without surgery. These substances are made of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body. Restylane and Juvederm are two different brands of hyaluronic acid designed for injection under the skin. They help fill hollows in the face which result from aging, such as lines under the eyes (also known as tear trough deformity), smile lines and marionette lines. An excellent tool to understand how facial fillers can improve your appearance can be found on the Juvederm website. The effects of treatment fade slowly over time, with most patients requesting retreatment about every six months. One of the most requested uses of Restylane and Juvederm is to provide a more full, plump appearance to lips. This type of treatment usually lasts about three months.

Injection of facial fillers is performed by plastic surgeons and dermatologists. There is an increasing trend whereby non-physicians perform injections under "physician supervision". Physician supervision is in quotation marks, because the supervising physician may not even be in the same building. Before you have an injection, make sure the person treating you is fully qualified to perform the procedure and manage any potential complications. There are many "weekend" courses which teach people to do these injections. Obviously, no weekend course can teach an understanding of complex issues in facial aesthetics acquired through years of formal training in plastic surgery or dermatology. Dr. Kapadia personally performs all Restylane and Juvederm treatments in his practice.

As mentioned previously, Restylane and Juvederm are made of hyaluronic acid, a substance which is found naturally in the human body. Allergic reactions to these medications are rare. While these products have only been FDA approved for a few years, there are already more than one million procedures performed in the United States each year. The most common adverse effect of these treatments is redness and swelling around the injection sites. Skin usually returns to a normal appearance within a few days. A consultation with Dr. Kapadia can help determine if these treatments are right for you. Juvederm and Restylane treatments start at $600.

Additional information about Juvederm and Restylane: