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Home | Aesthetic Treatments | Soft Tissue Fillers

Soft Tissue Fillers

For patients with finer wrinkles of the lower facial areas (especially around the mouth), the new generation of hyaluronic acid facial fillers are very effective. Popular options for injectable soft-tissue fillers in Chicago include Restylane®, JUVÉDERM® and Prevelle®, all of which are FDA-approved injectable fillers which have largely supplanted collagen.

These are all based on a purified form of hyaluronic acid, a compound found in the tissues of all living organisms (particularly cartilage), which is formulated as a clear gel. When this is injected into facial folds or wrinkles, it binds water, which maintains its "viscoelasticity" and effectively fills in these defects and/or augments the soft tissues (such as in the lip area). Fillers work differently than BOTOX® Cosmetic and are generally used for different areas of cosmetic concern.

The principle differences between these otherwise similar products are:

• Restylane – The effect usually lasts for approximately 6-8 months, and in our experience is probably most appropriate for the nasolabial folds areas.
• JUVÉDERM – This slightly more expensive filler has a different cross linking profile, generally lasts 8-10 months, is somewhat smoother to inject, and therefore is also very useful not only around the mouth, but also for direct lip augmentation many Chicago area patients seek.
• Prevelle – This product is formulated with lidocaine (local anesthesia) already mixed in, which makes it more comfortable to inject, but lasts only 3-4 months. It is priced accordingly.

All of these products gradually metabolize over time, but the filler effect is often noticed almost immediately. Restylane and JUVÉDERM do usually require the injection of local anesthesia into the gum line areas to achieve the best anesthesia, although occasionally topical creams can be effective. The injection of peri-oral fillers generally takes 15-20 minutes as an in-office procedure, and these treatments are personally administered by Dr. Steinwald.

Your Next Step

If you are thinking about wrinkle reduction or lip enhancement in Chicago, it's easy to take the next step. Simply request a consultation online with Dr. Steinwald and save $50 off the regular consultation fee. Or, call the Lake Forest Plastic Surgery office at (847) 234-9464 to schedule your visit. All dermal filler treatments can be performed at the time of your initial consultation.