Hyaluronic Acid vs. Synthetic Wrinkle Fillers
Wrinkle fillers are a type of dermal fillers which are used specifically to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles in the skin, which are a normal side effect of aging. This is a non-surgical cosmetic procedure which is performed directly at the office of your board-certified dermatologist.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is the most popular active ingredient for most wrinkle fillers available in America today. It is a naturally occurring substance, found normally in human skin which produces results that last anywhere from six months to a couple of years on average.
Facial fillers composed of hyaluronic acid offered at Calabasas Dermatology Center include:
- Belotero Balance
- Juvederm Voluma
- Juvederm XC
- Restylane
- Restylane Silk
- Juvederm Volbella
- Xeomin
Side Effects of Hyaluronic Acid
Side effects are uncommon with hyaluronic wrinkle treatment. However, on rare occasions patients do display one or more of the following symptoms:
- Mild itching, or redness, centered on an injection site.
- Facial swelling, centered on an injection site.
- Bruising, over the site of the injection; bruises may be evident for slightly longer than any swelling or itching.
- The filler can sometimes form tiny, temporary bumps under the skin. When this happens, it will usually fade within a few hours to one to two days (depending upon the filler).
If symptoms persist beyond a few hours, or become painful however mildly, contact your dermatologist. He will provide a prescription which will reduce your discomfort. In most cases, these symptoms are not serious.
Synthetic Wrinkle Fillers
As with many forms of enhancement surgery, there are synthetic counterparts to hyaluronic acid, which are also available in many wrinkle treatments. These are produced in a laboratory and are used in the event of an allergy to hyaluronic acid treatment.
Synthetic facial fillers offered at our office with Dr. Weitzbuch include Radiesse and Sculptra.
Side Effects of Synthetic Wrinkle Treatment
There are pros and cons to the use of synthetic ingredients for cosmetic enhancement. One of the biggest perks is duration: synthetic treatments are semi-permanent (lasting for several years, or longer) or permanent.
Synthetic treatments do produce side effects, however. They are not universal, but they are more commonly experienced than those which sometimes accompany hyaluronic acid treatment. Swelling is more prominent and any itching might also be accompanied by a burning sensation.