A Basic Guide to the Different Types of Facial Fillers

Whether you have just a few tiny lines or are noticing more pronounced creases in your face, wrinkles are one of the inevitable things that we all will have to deal with at some point in life. After all, we can’t stop time, gravity, and the effects of the world around us from taking their toll on this thin, fragile skin. All the processes that work together to keep your skin silky and buoyant significantly slow down as the decades go by, so your skin eventually contains less collagen, elastin, water, and fat. Even bone mass starts to reduce, changing the shape of your face. Dermal fillers, as Chicago’s Dr. Lawrence Iteld of Iteld Plastic Surgery explains, are an efficient way of reducing the depth of wrinkles and creases that develop, especially on the middle and lower part of your face. Basically, fillers work by flowing into the empty spaces beneath the skin’s surface, essentially acting as a replacement for the collagen, fat, and other elements of volume that have been lost from the skin.

Fillers are not just to help reduce the signs of aging. They can plump and enhance the lips and other facial features, refine facial contours, add volume to sunken areas, and improve the shape of areas we may not love, such as the jawline.

If you’ve decided that fillers are the treatment that will give you the results you want, the next part can sometimes be confusing: How do you know which of the filler types will be best for you? Because there are so many different options available, it may seem a little overwhelming. To anyone in this position, know that your injector knows the specific benefits of each option and will guide you in your decision. You don’t have to know everything about them as that’s what the professionals are for!

That said, even a little knowledge can go a long way. On a basic level, there are two primary groups of fillers: hyaluronic acid fillers and biostimulating fillers. Within these groups, there are several different materials used.

Hyaluronic Acid Facial Fillers

Your body naturally contains a transparent, viscous substance called hyaluronic acid, which is responsible for keeping the skin (and other tissues) well hydrated and holding onto water molecules. In fact, this sugar is capable of retaining up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Many of the popular dermal filler options—like the Juvederm® and Restylane® brands—are made with a synthetic version of hyaluronic acid as their active ingredient. These are temporary fillers designed to instantly volumize the skin. Within the Juvederm® and Restylane® collections, there are a range of fillers that have slightly different formulations that can be used for different concerns on separate areas of the face.

The formulas used for the two major brands are very similar, but injectors often have their own preferences for how they are used. Both fillers are biodegradable and are broken down by the body over time. One of the major benefits of these types of fillers is that the results can be reversed with an enzyme called hyaluronidase if you so choose. If this is the first time you’re having fillers and you’re not sure if you’ll like your resulting look, hyaluronic acid types might be the ideal choice.

Biostimulating Facial Fillers

Biostimulating fillers not only fill in the skin by adding volume, but also encourage the generation of new collagen, which gradually improves the skin’s internal structure and outlasts the filler material itself. Biostimulating fillers don’t contain hyaluronic acid, but are often water-based or have similar carries that contain particles or chemicals to stimulate collagen production.

These fillers are typically applied to large sections of the face where substantial amounts of volume have been depleted, such as the cheeks, mid-face, jawline, and temples. Sculptra® contains poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and is used to address facial fat loss, as well as fill in deep folds and creases.

Note that the results of these fillers aren’t reversible, though the collagen they stimulate will eventually break down, as does all collagen in the skin.

Need more advice on dermal fillers? The Iteld Plastic Surgery can help you find the ideal solution for your unique skin concerns and goals. Schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Lawrence Iteld or his nurse injectors by calling 312.757.4505, or submit a contact form to get started.