What is Restylane®?

The Restylane® line of products is formulated to act like your body’s own naturally occurring hyaluronic acid, restoring volume to your skin.

What types of Restylane® products are available to patients?

Dr. Hancock and Dr. Nachlas offer an array of Restylane® treatment options and are happy to share information about each type of Restylane® product.
Several types of Restylane® are available:

What is Radiesse®?

Radiesse® is a semi-permanent filler that uses unique, calcium-based microspheres to create scaffolding for your own collagen to grow around. Radiesse® eventually breaks down, but the collagen stays so you can enjoy your renewed, more youthful look and for longer. Patients treated with Radiesse® leave the office looking great without downtime or without waiting days or weeks for visible results.

How is Radiesse® used?

Dr. Hancock and Dr. Nachlas use Radiesse® for facial contouring and volume restoration. Radiesse® has a slightly thicker consistency then the hyaluronic acid-based fillers that works great for lifting deflated facial tissue, volumizing the face, and augmenting facial structure. Radiesse® is unique in its ability to act as a scaffold under the skin, providing lift and stimulating the production of natural collagen. Adding volume and structural support to the overlying facial tissues will give a lifted and refreshed appearance.

Dr. Hancock and Dr. Nachlas may use Radiesse® to enhance your looks by augmenting the chin or cheeks, smoothing the jawline, softening hollowed temples, or slightly altering the shape of your nose with Non-surgical Rhinoplasty. The Radiesse® product is mixed with a small amount of lidocaine, which is a numbing medication, in order to minimize any discomfort associated with injections. Injections are easily performed in the office with no significant downtime. Mild swelling and bruising can result as with any injection, but most patients easily return to normal daily activity after the injection. Using Radiesse® to shape and contour the face will rejuvenate your face and reduce the obvious signs of aging.

Having your Radiesse® injections performed by an experienced injector like Dr. Hancock or Dr. Nachlas is important since Radiesse isn’t ideal for all areas of the face. To obtain the best results, Radiesse is typically injected deeper using a different technique than the hyaluronic acid fillers. Radiesse® is not to be used under the eyes or in lips. The skin of the under-eye area is too thin and injections of Radiesse in this area can lead to visible lumps. The lips are also an area that Radiesse shouldn’t be injected. There have been several reports of lumps known as granuloma that can form when this product is used in the lips. These lumps can last a long time and may be permanent in some patients.

What is the advantage of Radiesse® compared to other dermal fillers?

Radiesse® is synthetic calcium hydroxylapatite, a compound that is equivalent to natural ground bone, so it does not provoke an allergic reaction in the body.

Radiesse® does more than just temporarily fill in facial folds and wrinkles; it rebuilds your skin’s foundation and restores your youthful look – immediately. Injections are made deep into the soft tissue of the face and skin. These injections stimulate the production of natural collagen, leading to the deposition of collagen within the tissues. This provides a much longer lasting effect. The effects of Radiesse® injections can last more than 1 year in many patients.

What is Sculptra?

Sculptra is a dermal injectable that stimulates the body to create more collagen, creating a more youthful, natural, and refreshed appearance. This innovative product is made of synthetic, biocompatible material known as poly-L-lactic acid. The body’s collagen production decreases as we age. This contributes to the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, and hollow areas of the face. Sculptra is used to add volume and thicken the skin in the areas of your face that you wish to treat. This FDA approved injectable can be used to smooth and fill many different parts of the face, such as smile lines, the jawline, and hollow temples. Sculptra differs from other dermal fillers, offering natural results instead of an “over-stuffed” appearance.

How does Sculptra work?

Sculptra works by increasing the amount of collagen in the treatment areas. It is able to encourage your body’s natural collagen production. Collagen is essential for a youthful appearance. This fibrous protein provides support for the structure of your skin and helps with the production of hyaluronic acid and elastin. Hyaluronic acid helps your skin to retain moisture and elastin is what keeps your skin firm and tight.

Unfortunately, as we age our collagen production significantly decreases. Once we reach the age of forty, the average individual has already lost up to 20% of their collagen. Sculptra is a solution to this problem as it stimulates your body to naturally produce collagen. After your treatment, collagen production will gradually begin to increase over a few weeks. Due to the gradual creation of collagen, the results appear over the course of a few weeks. Many patients prefer the results of Sculptra injections, as it is not noticeable to others that they have had cosmetic enhancements. Rather they simply appear more refreshed and youthful to others. They also find that the injection can be softer and more natural than other dermal fillers such as, hyaluronic acid fillers.

In what areas is Sculptra used?

Many areas of the face can be treated with Sculptra to give you a more voluminous, radiant, and youthful appearance. The nasolabial folds and marionette lines (your smile lines) are common places where Sculptra is used. It can also balance the face by defining the jawline and adding volume to hollow temples and cheeks. It is not recommended to be injected in the sensitive areas under the eyes. By stimulating your body’s collagen production, Sculptra can add volume to the shallow areas of the face and smooth out wrinkles and fine lines.

How many Sculptra treatments are needed?

Due to Sculptra triggering your body’s natural collagen production, results are not as drastic as other dermal injections. This is why these treatments are preferred by some patients. This is also why it often takes multiple sessions to get the desired look. For most patients to achieve preferred results, it is recommended to receive 2-3 treatments with at least a 6 week rest period in between. This allows the body’s collagen production to become visible.

How long does Sculptra last?

Sculptra can last for up to 2 years after the first session of injections. In order to maintain desired results, it is recommended to repeat injections when reaching the 2-year mark. This will help maintain your more youthful appearance. The results of Sculptra last much longer when compared to other dermal fillers.