Facial Fillers

Facial fillers, also called dermal fillers or soft tissue fillers, have been nicknamed “liquid facelifts” for their ability to restore a youthful fullness to the face without requiring surgery or downtime. Facial fillers can temporarily plump up the lips, enhance the curves and contours of your face, and soften facial creases and wrinkles.

Dr. Quardt is happy to talk with you about the many options available for facial fillers, as well as the possibility that an alternate or additional treatment (such as Botox® Cosmetic, fat transfer or a chemical peel) is best for your specific needs.

Below are brief descriptions of the facial fillers Dr. Quardt offers at her Palm Springs practice:

Restylane® and Perlane®

Restylane® and Perlane® belong to the same family of facial fillers. They work by restoring a natural moisturizer in the body called hyaluronic acid that helps give the skin a youthful fullness. Specifically, Restylane® and Perlane® add volume to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, including lines at the corners of the mouth, lipstick lines, “marionette” lines, and laugh lines or smile lines, which are technically known as nasolabial folds (lines running from the nose to the corners of the mouth).

Restylane® is ideal for wrinkles and folds that arise from the mid- to deep dermal layer of the skin, while Perlane® uses larger particles to reach deeper sources. With both fillers, results can be seen immediately after treatment. There is little to no downtime. Almost all people who receive Restylane® treatment continue to enjoy smoother lines and folds for up to 18 months. Most people who receive Perlane® treatment see improvement for six months. You may choose to return for touch-up treatments to help maximize the benefits of these facial fillers.

Restylane® and Perlane® are made from safe materials that the body gradually breaks down and reabsorbs.

 

Juvéderm®

Juvéderm® is a smooth gel filler that can erase wrinkles around the mouth and nose. Like Restylane® and Perlane®, Juvéderm® works by supplementing the body’s natural supply of hyaluronic acid, which can dwindle as we age and result in unwanted wrinkles and folds. Injected into the dermal layer of the skin, it is designed to correct vertical lip lines, marionette lines around or below the corners of the mouth, and the smile lines that look like parentheses around your mouth. The results of one treatment can last as long as a year.

 

Hylaform® and Hylaform Plus®

Hylaform® and Hylaform Plus® are a third option for hyaluronic acid fillers. They also restore the skin’s youthful volume to minimize moderate to severe facial lines and folds and to accentuate your contours. Results are immediate.

Dr. Quardt can advise you on whether hyaluronic acid is a good solution for your facial wrinkles and folds and which of the above options might be optimal for your needs.

 

Radiesse®

When we are young, our skin contains plenty of elastic collagen that gives our skin volume, flexibility and strength. A loss of collagen as we age can result in wrinkles, lines and loose skin. Radiesse® replenishes collagen in the skin to restore volume and smooth out those age-related lines and folds. It can improve the appearance of smile lines (nasolabial folds), “marionette” lines, wrinkles at the corners of the mouth (oral commissure), and sagging at the sides of the chin (“pre-jowl”) for up to a year after one treatment. Plus, Radiesse® stimulates the body’s production of natural collagen to prolong results even more.

 

Sculptra® Aesthetic

Like Radiesse®, Sculptra® Aesthetic works by replacing lost collagen to restore smooth fullness in the face. But Sculptra® does not itself contain collagen. It is made of a synthetic substance called poly-L-lactic acid that has been used safely for decades in materials such as absorbable stitches. When injected into the deep dermis, Sculptra® can correct deep facial wrinkles and folds, including smile lines (nasolabial folds), “marionette” lines and chin wrinkles. Results appear gradually as collagen production rises. A full treatment of Sculptra® Aesthetic (about three injections over a few months) can give you results that last up to two years.

Contact Dr. Quardt to find out more about facial fillers.