Question:
How does Juvederm compare to Restylane for lip augmentation?
Answer:
Juvederm has a slightly higher concentration of hyaluronic acid than Restylane. It therefore tends to draw more water into the lip and produces a slightly softer result. We prefer Juvederm in the lips for this reason. Contrary to that, we prefer Restylane around the eyes. Since these injections tend to be deep, we prefer the more firm feel of Restylane. Juvederm more often causes excessive swelling around the eyes as well.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
Can fillers be used to treat tear troughs and, if so, which one is best?
Answer:
Yes. Fillers are an excellent option for filling tear troughs. While we recommend only using the hyaluronic acid fillers for tear troughs, others can be used. We prefer Restylane over Juvederm in this area as we find it to be more predictable and cause less swelling.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
What are the best fillers for treating fine lines around the eyes?
Answer:
The only filler I would inject around the eyes is either Juvederm or Restylane. Fat can also be used. Usually the lines around the eyes are treated with Botox and resurfacing however. I occasionally use filler in these lines, but there is invariably some areas of irregularity visible because of the thin nature of the skin. These are not usually visible to the casual observer, but can be to the patient. This is different than filler placed into the tear trough which is highly effective and rarely visible.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I am a 39-year-old diabetic woman. Would Restylane injections have any effect on my insulin treatments?
Answer:
No, Restylane would not affect your insulin treatments and your diabetes should not have any effect on the Restylane either. It is perfectly safe in diabetes.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I feel as if fillers would be beneficial and enhance the appearance of my face. How often would I need to get this procedure repeated?
Answer:
The answer depends on what type of filler you choose and what area of the face to be injected. There are basically three different classes of filler available that are all temporary. Hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm will last about 6 months in the lips and over a year when used in the lower eyelid tear trough for example. The longevity of the area depends on how much that area moves. The mobile area of the mouth has less longevity than areas that are stable, such as the periorbital area. The second class of fillers is calcium hydroxyl appetite or Radiesse. Radiesse is not a good filler for lips, but can be used other places. Radiesse tends to last a little longer than HA fillers. The third major class of filler is poly-L lactic acid, Sculptra. Sculptra differs from the other types of fillers in that it does not cause filling of the tissue, but rather causes the body to deposit collagen over time leading to a filling result. Sculptra needs to be injected over several treatment sessions and allow the collagen to build up, but once the result is achieved it will last 2-5 years.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
