Soft Tissue Fillers
Before trreatment After treatment	RESTORING NATURAL BEAUTY   Fillers are materials that are placed into deeper lines and wrinkles, those too deep to be treated with lasers or peels.  Most commonly they are used for smile lines, wrinkles between the eyebrows, sagging cheekbones and to enhance  the appearance of the upper and lower lips (lip augmentation).  Acne and chicken pox scars can also be improved.   A variety of filler agents are available.  During your consultation, Dr. Henry will assess which material will best suit your situation.   Collagen (Cosmoderm® and Cosmoplast®) are used for smile lines and aother wrinkles, lip enhancement and scar corrections.  These materials are among the more popular filler agents for the patient who likes collagen.  No skin testing is required, and results typically last 2-6 months.   Among the newer agents are those containing hyaluronic acid.  This sugar like material is highly popular in Europe and Canada. Several products are available including Restylane™ , Perlane™ , Hylaform® and Captique™ .  This material is soft and is very popular for the treatment of smile lines.  Results typically last 3-8 months.   Radiesse™  (formerly Radiance) is a filler agent made up of a calcium material called calcium hydroxyapatite.  It is unique among fillers in that it can last up to 2 years.  This agent is very popular for those patients with deeper smile lines who want longer lasting results.   Sculptra™  is included in the category of fillers, but is better called a skin volume enhancer.  The injected substance is poly L-lactic acid.  The material is used to treat sunken cheeks which result from the aging process. A series of injections over several months is required and final improvement will take up to six months.  The clinical benefit, however, can last up to two years.    Injectable medical grade liquid silicone was originally introduced in the early 1960's, and was widely used for correction of wrinkles and soft tissue defects. Used properly, liquid silicone injections can give an excellent, permanent correction.  Currently on the market is a medical grade injectable silicone, Silikon 1000®, FDA approved for treatment of detached retina. This product is being used "off-label" for soft tissue augmention.   Autologous fat transfer is an option for patients undergoing liposuction of the neck area.  During this procedure, Dr. Henry will transfer harvested fat to replace volume loss in the cheeks or to correct deep wrinkles in the smile lines.  Fat transfer typically lasts 6 months, but results vary.