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O.K., so you’ve decided to give dermal fillers a try to treat your smile lines. Or maybe you’re looking for mid face rejuvenation and want to bring back those full cheeks that have seemed to fallen over the years. Let’s not forget about those lip lines – yes, it would be nice to stop your lipstick from bleeding onto the skin every time you put it on. Then there’s temples and tear troughs, marionettes and lips, even earlobes are getting some attention these days.
The truth is, fillers are being used to restore volume, soften lines and fold and even lift the skin in more and more areas. These exciting new advancements and techniques in rejuvenation have also come with more and more dermal fillers on the market.
Yes, we’ve hear about Juvéderm®, Restylane® and Radiesse®, Ultra, Ultra Plus, Fine Lines and Perlane – now there’s Belotero and Voluma in the mix.
“It can actually get confusing,” says Dr. Miriam Hanson, board-certified dermatology and aesthetic expert at Sanova Dermatology. “Patients are looking for optimal volume correction and longevity from their procedure. But not all fillers are created equal. Just because one last longer or gives more robust volume restoration, it doesn’t necessarily mean that that is the filler for you”
Take Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers for example. These dermal fillers are composed of soluble gels that are injected just beneath the skin. Dr. Hanson matches the specific filler to the problem needing correction. When doing this, she considers the stiffness of the product one of the most important factors when planning her treatment.
The stiffness of an HA filler is referred to as the G′ (G prime) or elastic modulus. Basically, the HA filler is sandwiched between two plates and its ability to resist deformation is measured. More robust and stiffer products resist the force and thus have a higher G’. More fluid products have a lower G’ and disperse more in the skin.
“I often use the G’ value to determine which HA filler should go where,” says Dr. Hanson. Higher G’ agents can be used for mid face rejuvenation, to fill deeper lines and folds and for lift. “I’ve even used it to even out bumps and depressions and along the nose, or lift up the nasal tip.” Low G’ products are softer and are more optimal for lip lines, tear troughs and other more delicate areas.”
“Knowing the science is important,” explains Dr. Hanson, “it’s really the only way to match the best product to the problem, and get optimal results.
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