Skin Rejuvenation

Home » Skin Rejuvenation » Injectable Fillers

Injectable Fillers

Injectable fillers are used to round out wrinkles, lines, and scars, or to give the face a more desirable shape. Fillers are made from a variety of different substances, including collagen, hyaluronic acid (e.g., Restylane®), and poly-L-lactic acid (e.g., Sculptra®). A qualified physician can determine which filler is best.

In this procedure, the treatment area is cleansed, an anesthetic is applied, if necessary, and the filler is injected under the skin using a tiny needle. Patients may feel some discomfort or pain during the injections. Side effects, which include bleeding, pain, swelling, bruising, and infection, may be treated using ice packs or medications. Most patients require multiple treatments over time, as the results of injectable fillers are usually temporary.

Many patients feel that collagen injections are less painful than other types of injectable fillers. Side effects include redness, bruising, swelling, or stinging and burning at the injection sites, but many patients do not experience side effects. Following treatment, most recover within 3 hours. Collagen treatments usually are effective for 3 to 6 months.

There are risks involved with collagen treatments. Collagen can come from two sources—humans and cows. Approximately 3% of patients are allergic to collagen from cows and physicians normally perform skin tests before the actual procedure to make sure the patient is not allergic.

Patients who have a condition that affects the immune system (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis) should not receive collagen injections. Other risks include infection and unsatisfactory results (e.g., problems with the shape of the face).

Hyaluronic acid often is used to improve the contour of the skin and to enlarge the lips. The procedure used is similar to the procedure used for collagen injections. However, results generally last longer (about 6 months) and fewer patients experience allergic reactions.

One popular brand of hyaluronic acid, Restylane®, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003 and is commonly used to improve lines near the nose and lips. Complications (e.g., swelling, bruising) usually are minor and resolve quickly. The injections may be painful and some patients may require an anesthetic prior to treatment.

Sculptra® is the brand name of an injectable filler that contains poly-L-lactic acid, which comes from corn. This filler often is used in patients who have HIV and experience facial fat loss. It takes some time for the full effects of Sculptra® to be noticeable, but once treatments are complete, the results can last 2 years.

Due to the risk for an allergic reaction to ingredients in the filler, the patient's medical history should be reviewed thoroughly before Sculptra® treatments. Patients who have been treated with Sculptra® may develop small bumps beneath the skin of the treatment area, often 6 months to a year after treatment. Although these bumps may disappear by themselves, it is recommended that patients who experience them see a dermatologist to rule out infection.

© 1998-2008 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Skin Rejuvenation Resources

	Join Our Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted.
	Stay Updated Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.
Advertising Disclaimer To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer