Wrinkle Treatment and Lip Augmentation
(Restylane, Radiesse, Juvederm, Collagen Injection, etc.)
Because fuller lips and the reduction of wrinkles can be treated with similar materials and techniques, we've grouped the two topics on one page for your convenience.
Throughout recorded history, full lips have been recognized as a sign of youth, beauty, and sensuality. Likewise, the appearance of wrinkles, especially those around the mouth and eyes, detracts from the appearance of the face. Not surprisingly, therefore, lip enhancement (lip augmentation/lip injection) or wrinkle reduction are frequent desires of patients seeking cosmetic improvement and the restoration of a more youthful face. This is especially true here in Orange Park and the greater Jacksonville, Florida and Ponte Vedra Beach areas where there is an emphasis on looking one's best.
Such procedures are also attractive because the cost of injections is relatively low compared to many surgical procedures, and even the best anti-wrinkle creams can't compare to the results of these treatments.
Most commonly, improvement is achieved through the use of soft-tissue fillers (injections) and implants. Until very recently, however, patients in the U.S. were restricted to a relatively limited set of options. Not anymore! In this section of our website we will focus on a few of the most common choices now available (and an important few that have just become available!).
See "Before and After" photos of ArteFill, Radiesse, and Restylane patients of Dr. Pearson's. (The gallery will open in a new window.)
Formerly known as Radiance FN, Radiesse™ is a soft-tissue filler made from calcium hydroxylapatite, the same substance that is the major mineral in our bones. Calcium hydroxylapatite has been used for other medical purposes for over 15 years, requires no allergy testing, and is extremely compatible with our tissues. Radiesse's greatest advantage is that it is very long lasting, with resorption taking as long as one to three years (although Dr. Pearson suggests that one to one-and-a-half years is a more realistic expectation). Usually this long-lasting correction is achieved over the course of two injection sessions separated by a month or more to achieve optimal contour.
Radiesse is an extremely good choice for correction of the melolabial folds (the folds that run from the edge of the nostrils to the corners of the mouth.) and it has become Dr. Pearson's preferred filler for this otherwise hard-to-correct area. 
It's potential drawback when used for lip enhancement, on the otherhand, is the small chance of developing nodules or bumps around the filler which occurs in as many as 10% of patients having their lips treated and may require additional treatment. For this reason, Dr. Pearson rarely uses Radiesse within the lips, preferring instead fillers such as Restylane for lip enhancement.
Like ArteFill, Radiesse can also be used for non-surgical rhinoplasty. You can read more about this use on our Rhinoplasty page.
Note: Bioform Medical, the makers of Radiesse, were so pleased with his results that they have selected one of Dr. Pearson's patients to include in their nationwide patient brochures as a "before and after" example of the results achievable with Radiesse injections. Dr. Pearson was one of only three doctors in the entire country selected for inclusion in the Radiesse pamphlet.
Approved by the FDA in December 2003, Restylane® is an injectable filler made from hyaluronic acid gel. Hyaluronic acid is a natural carbohydrate found in the tissues of all vertebrate animals and is chemically identical across all species. Because of this, no skin testing for allergies is required. To further enhance safety, the hyaluronic acid used in Restylane® is derived from a non-animal source by using genetically-engineered bacteria to produce it.Dr. Pearson first used hyaluronic acid gels during his fellowship training in Canada (where the product has been available for many years), and is particularly pleased that it is now available to his patients here in Florida. The big advantage over collagen is longevity. Studies, as well as our experience, suggest Restylane® lasts up to twice as long as collagen. Generally patients can expect the product to last about 4-6 months. Restylane is especially good for lip enhancement, both for creating fuller lips and for filling so-called "smoker's lines" and is usually a better choice than collagen.
The newest hyaluronic acid gel fillers on the market are Juvederm (from the makers of Botox) and Perlane (from the makers of Restylane). Only recently approved by the FDA, both gels are somewhat thicker than Restylane and seem to provide longer-lasting results. Dr. Pearson is always skeptically optimistic about such promises and he has been treating select patients with these fillers, particularly those seeking fuller lips. Juvederm seems to be especially good for lip enhancement due to its very smooth consistency and its longer duration of effect. On average, we've been seeing Juvederm lasting for six to eight months, depending on the area injected and patient factors. So far, the results with these newer fillers have been very positive.
More recently, though, the manufacturer of bovine collagen now offers injectable human collagen (CosmoPlast® and CosmoDerm®) which has all the same great properties of bovine collagen but none of the risk of allergic reactions. The injections are usually done in the office and require only local or topical anesthesia. So what's the downside? Transience. Over time, collagen injections are slowly resorbed by the body and disappear. For lip augmentation, Dr. Pearson expects patients will have results lasting only about 2-4 months, at which time patients may return to the office for re-injection. Because of this, and the availability of longer-lasting fillers, like Restylane and Juvederm, Dr. Pearson is rarely using collagen injection anymore, but we mention it here for completeness.
•What to expect
Two of the most attractive aspects of the various fillers described above is that they are relatively inexpensive and also require little to no "down time" for the patient. The procedure only takes a few minutes to perform, and requires no bandages, dressings, or ointments afterward. And because the fillers are injections done in our office in Orange Park and require local anesthesia at most, patients can resume their normal activities immediately.After cleaning the overlying skin with an antiseptic, the appropriate filler is injected into the selected wrinkles or folds, or into the lips, using a very fine needle to deposit the filler into the tissues. With the exception of Sculptra, correction is nearly immediate except for any swelling added by the needle site itself. As always, our goal is to create a natural, more youthful improvement, not a "done" or over-corrected look.
Post-procedure, the only patient restriction is to avoid strenuous physical activity for the first twenty-four hours after the injection. It's also important not to rub or massage the treated areas for the first day or two afterwards to avoid displacing the filler. The possibility of swelling or bruising can be minimized by the application of cold packs to the area for the first 24 hours as well. The specific potential risks of injectable fillers will be thoroughly discussed with you before your first treatment.
For more information about wrinkle fillers, lip augmentation, and cosmetic facial plastic surgery here in Orange Park and the greater Jacksonville, Florida area, please check our Frequently Asked Questions page or call to schedule an appointment.
please call 904-215-7377 or e-mail us.
