The visible signs of facial aging occur over time and wrinkles are one of the earliest signs. Softening of these facial lines and the restoration of volume and fullness in the face often can be achieved non-surgically with injectable fillers. This can be done in a couple of minutes and may last up to six months.  There are several different types and brands of fillers. Choosing one depends on your needs. Dr. Bidros will help you choose the right filler.

Collagen is a natural protein that is present in our body. Injectable collagen formulas derived from human dermis include Cosmoderm® or Cosmoplast®. Zyderm® and Zyplast® are forms of bovine collagen that, unlike human derived collagen, require prior allergy testing. This filler may last 2 to 4 months and is a good choice for lip augmentation.

Hyaluronic Acid is also a natural substance found in our bodies. It is well suited to plump thin lips and fill facial creases such as nasolabial folds. It may also be appropriate for some surface wrinkles and concave scars. The results may last 6 months or longer. Common brands that differ in formulation of hyaluronic acid include Restylane and Juvederm

Radiesse® dermal filler is made of calcium-based microspheres suspended in a water-based gel. Made of Hydroxylapatite, a mineral compound found naturally as a part of human bone, Radiesse is recommended to fill deeper creases such as nasolabial folds, marionette lines and frown lines, as well as to enhance fullness of the cheeks and other facial contours.

Human fat, harvested from your own body, can be reinjected to enhance facial fullness, fill deep creases and to build up shallow contours. Fat injection requires a more extensive procedure than other injectable fillers because it uses liposuction techniques to extract the fat prior to injection. Dr. Bidros prefers this technique when a substantial amount of soft tissue augmentation is needed.

ArteFill is a dual-acting injectable wrinkle filler. It contains 20% ArteFill Precision-Filtered Microspheres™ (made of PMMA, the same material used for dozens of medical implants over the last 50 years) and 80% ArteFill Purified Bovine Collagen™ gel with lidocaine, an anesthetic. This is recommended for the correction of facial wrinkles known as smile lines.

Dr. Bidros will discuss each of those fillers with you and help you determine which is best for you. You can also go to the respective websites to learn more.