Wrinkle Fillers

Restylane, Sculptra, Radiesse, or Juvéderm Wrinkle Removal in Los Angeles

If you've seen a sun-dried tomato or a raisin, then you know what happens to a piece of fruit when its flesh has lost volume and structure. The very same volume-loss happens to the tissues of our face as we age. The deterioration of soft tissues can cause gauntness of our cheeks, furrows and deep lines along the nose and mouth (consequently called nasolabial folds and marionette lines), and thinning of the lips.

Wrinkle fillers are substances injected beneath the skin to replace lost tissue volume thereby allowing the skin to un-furrow and unfold giving your features ample fullness and youthful contours. Wrinkle fillers can also alleviate scar depressions and indentations.

Once you've learned about wrinkle fillers on this page, you can call our office at 800.763.9968 to schedule an appointment or you can contact us for additional advice and confidential information you can trust from the privacy of your computer.

At Marina Plastic Surgery, we offer Sculptra, Restylane, Radiesse, and Juvéderm wrinkle fillers. Wrinkle filler procedures take approximately 30 minutes depending on the treatment area. Wrinkle fillers are not permanent and can be repeated as necessary.

In order to determine the precise and optimal treatment regimen that addresses your unique skin care needs, talk to your skin care specialist about VISIA Digital Complexion Analysis.

Sculptra

Sculptra is a safe, synthetic injectable material known as "poly-L-lactic acid." Sculptra is best used to replace facial fat loss by gradually and significantly increasing skin thickness, especially along the cheeks, reducing gaunt or sunken features. Since poly-L-lactic acid is biocompatible (a material that does not harm the body), no skin test is required. Results may last up to 2 years, after which it becomes biodegradable (able to be broken down by the body).

Restylane

Restylane is made of non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA™). Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in your skin and other tissues. No skin test is necessary before treatment. After Restylane is injected beneath your skin, the hyaluronic acid attracts and bonds with water molecules sustaining the affects for up to 12 months. Restylane is best used for filling nasolabial folds and marionette lines.

Radiesse

Radiesse is made of very tiny, smooth calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres. The microspheres are suspended in a clear gel that is injected using very tiny needles. Your body naturally produces collagen between the microspheres which contributes to Radiesse's long term effects. Recent studies have shown that a single Radiesse treatment can last a year or longer. Radiesse is used to create fuller lips and to fill deep wrinkles and lines. Unlike collagen, no skin testing is required and allergic reactions are uncommon. Results are visible immediately following the treatment and Radiesse is popular among patients because it contains no animal products, is very compatible with the body, and lasts much longer than some other injectable fillers.

Juvéderm

Juvéderm is a new injectable gel filler known for its flexibility. Based on hyaluronic acid, the active ingredient also used in Restylane, Juvéderm comes in a variety of formulations for different applications. This makes the product an effective choice for filling those small, vertical lines around the lips as well as deeper nasolabial folds. It can also be used for enhancing facial features, such as sculpting cheeks and chin, and it’s increasingly used to add volume to lips.

Juvéderm works well for men and women from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. The effects last up to about a year.

Wrinkle filler injection treatments are performed in our Southern California offices. Local anesthesia or topical creams are used to numb the treatment area. Very thin needles are used to gently inject the filler beneath the surface of your skin. Results are typically seen immediately, and you can return to your regular activities the next day.

Risks from injections are very minimal. The most common side effects are bruising at the injection site or swelling of the treatment area. These reactions diminish quickly and can be treated with ice packs or over the counter pain medication.

If you are interested in more injectable cosmetic treatments, you may want to read about BOTOX®. If you are interested in laser treatments, take a moment to read about Thermage™, ThermaFrax^sm, or the GentleWaves Laser.