Newport Beach Plastic Surgery | Dr. Hendrick's Blog

Dermal fillers have made it possible for both men and women to erase the signs of aging: facial lines, wrinkles, creases and folds that appear courtesy of heredity, sun exposure and time. In the past, it was common for the effectiveness of these fillers to last approximately 6 months or longer. Now, with advances in technology, dermal fillers last longer and work more effectively to help smooth the face and provide a more youthful appearance.

Below are several hyaluronic acid dermal fillers that may last up to 1 year. Hyaluronic acids are naturally-occurring substances in the body.

• Restylane®
• Juvederm® – actually FDA-approved to last 1 year
• Perlane®
• Radiesse®

There are other types of dermal fillers that may last longer than one year including:

• Sculptra® – a synthetic polymer filler that produces progressive results over time, results that can last up to 2 years
• Radiesse – Hydroxyapatite is a white gel consisting mainly of calcium. When used for soft tissue enhancement, it provides a soft filling of deeper lines and wrinkles that can last for years. IT has also been used as an alternative to chin implants or cheek implants where highlighting of this area is desired but surgery can be avoided.
• ArteFill® – synthetic polymer microspheres suspended in cow collagen; because the microspheres do no reabsorb, the results can last up to 5 years –not currently available from the US manufacturer.

If you live in Newport Beach or anywhere in Orange County, California and are interested in exploring the various non-surgical cosmetic techniques to reduce the signs of aging, please contact Dr. Hendricks at Pacifica Cosmetic Surgery Center for a consultation to determine which treatment might be right for you.

In 2002 the FDA approved BOTOX® Cosmetic injections for the treatment of wrinkles on the face for both men and women. These diluted botulinum toxin injections are highly effective in erasing creases that appear between the eyes, on the forehead and around the eyes (the “crow’s feet”). The muscles that cause the deep wrinkles are weakened with the injections causing the injected areas to become smooth and relaxed.

BOTOX® injections are quick, virtually painless and provide results in just a couple of days after treatment, and those results can last in some cases up to 6 months.

What are future competitors of BOTOX®?

• Reloxin is a new botulinum toxin injection that is expected to become FDA-approved sometime in 2009. This new treatment claims to work faster than BOTOX and provide longer-lasting results.
• PurTox is another botulinum toxin injection that is working toward FDA-approval.
• Revance claims to be a botulinum toxin that can be applied directly to the skin, without injections, to provide the same results as BOTOX. This product is still awaiting FDA-approval.

As technology continues to advance in the field of cosmetic injections, patients will have more and more options from which to choose. If you would like to discuss the different FDA-approved options available today, please contact Orange County cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Douglas Hendricks at the Pacifica Cosmetic Surgery Center for a consultation.

Lines and wrinkles on the face are inevitable as we grow older. Some experience these signs of aging more quickly than others because of sun exposure or heredity. Regardless of when the lines appear, more and more people looking for non-surgical ways to erase these lines from their faces.

Dermal fillers have gained popularity over the years to help people restore fullness and youthfulness in their faces. Restylane® is one such product that provides immediate results. Restylane is made of a hyaluronic acid, a substance that naturally exists in the body. When injected into wrinkles and folds in the mid-to-deep dermis region of the face, Restylane delivers nutrients and binds to water in the body to plump and smooth the facial lines and provide long-lasting results. Most patients will see visible benefits of a Restylane treatment for 6 months or longer.

Are there other hyaluronic acid treatments available?

Yes, there are other hyaluronic acid treatments available, including:
• Hylaform® - this is an animal-based product that comes from rooster combs
• Captique® - this is a plant-based product
• Juvederm® - hyaluronic acid that is “cross-linked” to form a gel

If you are considering non-surgical methods to reduce the signs of aging on your face, please contact Orange County cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Douglas Hendricks at the Pacifica Cosmetic Surgery Center for a free consultation to determine which treatment might be right for you.