Question:
I have marionette lines, lip lines and some other superficial fine wrinkles. Can one filler be used to treat these or would I need to use different fillers?
Answer:
The choice of which filler to use for facial wrinkles is one that should be personalized for each patient. Radiesse is excellent filler that can be used for the marionette lines. It is composed of calcium particles and actually induces collagen deposition. This filler is good for moderate to severe wrinkles and achieves a great result for the marionette lines. It lasts approximately one year and can be mixed with lidocaine for a painless injection.
The lip lines, also known smoker’s lines, are more superficial wrinkles and I prefer to use a hyaluronic acid filler, such as Restylane, for these wrinkles. It is injected in a very superficial plane to help fill these wrinkles. In addition, I occasionally add some Botox in conjunction to help relax the upper lip muscles. This combination works well to improve the wrinkles.
Patients sometimes ask me for a more permanent solution for the smoker’s lines. For these patients, I recommend dermabrasion. This procedure will effectively and permanently remove the upper lip wrinkles. This procedure is done under local anesthesia and works by gently removing the superficial layer of skin. The recovery is about five to seven days. The results are great and most patients are very satisfied with the result.
Posted by Dr. Bustillo