A non-surgical procedure is normally well tolerated. It may be used in different ways in order to achieve skin lift and different facial characteristics (like shaping or augumentation of lips, enhancement of the the nasal-labial fold lines, etc).
Effects of these injections are not permanent, and injections may need to be repeated to maintain the result.
Collagen, often of bovine provenience, is very useful in some facial lines because of its thick consistence. In order to avoid secondary effects of this product a previous allergy test is needed even if exists the possibility to use the patient’s own collagen. Nowdays there are hyaluronic acid preparations similar to collagen for the low viscosity which allows the fine wrinkles correction with a more durable effect.
Hyaluronic acid (Restylane®, Juvederm®, Hylaform®) is a range of products very used in the United Kingdom and France since a long time by now, there are three different densities of the product for adjusting to the needed area. Hyaluronic acid is a well tolerated and natural product. Normally its use is free of long term complications. Results are more durable than the ones with collagen, varying between 6 and 8 months.
Polylactic acid (Newfill®) is also reabsorbable, but lasts more. It may be preferred in specific areas with deep folds and for specific skin types.
Other injectable permanent filler substancies not mentioned here may have a more durable aesthetic effect but on the other hand even the collateral effects may last longer.
The right use of these treatments produces rejuvenation effects as well as increasing volume effects. These treatments may be combined alongside other procedures of facial plastic surgery or be substituted by fat grafting.
