Aesthetic Medicine

The use of injectable dermal fillers into the face has become common practice by many physicians offering cosmetic improvements.

The names of the products are well-emblazoned in the vocabulary of most Americans. Recently, there has been an addition of some newer products to the list of FDA-approved fillers. Radiesse dermal filler is a unique product; it contains tiny calcium microspheres that are suspended in a gel. When the combination is injected just underneath the skin surface, it stimulates the body to produce its own natural collagen and it is the building of that additional collagen which helps plump and fill the depressions particularly around the mouth and chin.

Another product that has received a lot of attention is Sculptra. This is a synthetic material that originally was used to treat the aggressive facial fat loss in HIV patients. It showed its stuff and has been approved for use to fill the face for cosmetic purposes. It is particularly helpful for those patients who are seeing a shrinkage of the tissue of the cheeks and particularly those who have lost large amounts of weight. It can also be used to plump up the tissue over the cheekbones simulating larger cheekbones. It has worked nicely in the nasolabial crease, the parenthesis-like depressions that demarcate the upper lip from the cheek. It has had a ten-year run in Europe and the doctors there are still very happy with the results.

Juvederm and Restylane are well known and have proven their value. These are both made from hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring sugar-like substance. It typically lasts four to six months. A thicker version of Restylane is known as Perlane – often a favorite for plumping the lips.

Evolence is a collagen product which has been used for years in Europe and Canada is just now reaching the U.S. market. At Rinnova, we like this product very much and strongly recommend it to our patients. We have seen excellent results, which last about 12 months.

We have a special on Evolence until the end of the year – check it out and make an appointment so we can evaluate your needs and offer an individual aesthetic treatment package.

Science never sleeps, and there will be newer, more long-lasting products coming through the pipeline. We will report latest advances in due course.