Hyaluronic Acid, Botox, Collagen, Fat, or Radiesse – Which Cosmetic Procedure is best for Wrinkles?

December 13th, 2005

Got wrinkles?  You can go in for the major surgical procedure of a face lift, which will cost around $5,000 or you can opt for a quick trip for an injection to tame the wrinkles.  The facelift of course will last longer and not require frequent trips to the plastic surgeon.  The benefit to getting the injections is that the cost ranges from $370 up to around $1,250 for treatments that can last anywhere from 3 to 6 months on average, sometimes longer depending on the type of treatment.

Botox injections are a diluted form of botulism that will paralyze the specified muscle area.  The results are dramatic and are seen within a few days of the injection.  The cost as stated by a 2004 report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, expect an average cost of around $376 for a treatment.  The results last for approximately 3 – 4 months and getting touchups are required to keep the wrinkles away.  Botox is not recommend for pregnant or nursing women because it is not known the effects on the developing and breast feed baby.

The Collagen injection is used as wrinkle fillers and is made from purified bovine collagen.  The collagen is often used to fill in cheeks and lips to give them a plump and less sunken in appearance.  The collagen can also help fill up the wrinkles and folds and scars on the face as well.  Sometimes it is used on the neck, back and chest.  There is a risk for an allergic reaction with collagen and you need to determine if you have an allergy with the plastic surgeon first.   There is a discomfort factor when being injected if no anesthetic is being used, and afterwards there is a recovery time of possible bruising, swelling and redness in the treated areas.  In approximately 24 hours the swelling will go down for most, but for some, mostly fair skinned people it can take up to a week.  Small scabs may appear where the needle injections were but they will heal.  The length the collagen last depends on each individual.  A time estimate would be around 6 months and more. It could be less and could be more, it really depends on the person and where the collagen was injected.  The cost on average for a collagen treatment is around $370.

Hyaluronic acid injections are made into a gel form.  Hyaluraonic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the body, as we age we lose collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.  The injected gel form is used to fill out wrinkles and lines as well as a lip enhancer.  The Restylane brand treatment will last around 6 – 12 months and will need to be retouched as the effects will fade in time.  If the treatment is a lip enhancement it will usually only last for up to 6 months.   Another brand recently approved by the FDA called Hylaform made by Inamed are said to last between 4 – 6 months.  These treatments are liked because they are not derived from animal products and don’t cause any allergic reactions.  So treatment can be done on the spot.  Cost for the hyaluronic acid treatment is on average around $540.

Fat injections are very safe, as the fat is harvested usually from another procedure from the same patient.  The cost is more expensive with an average cost around $1,225.  The fat is overfilled to allow for shrinkage.  There is a higher chance of having bruising, swelling, redness from this procedure.  If a large area like the cheeks are filled the surgeon may recommend resting after the procedure.  It can take 48 hours to stay out of the sun.  It will take several weeks for the swelling to be gone.  The procedure will last for around 3 - 6 months.  The treatment will need to be retouched in the future.

BioForm Radiesse is one of the latest injected fillers.  The gel is made up of microscopic calcium particles of hydroxylapatite.  Originally this was made for dental reconstruction, bone growth, and vocal cord injection.  The BioForm Radiesse is usually used on the lower part of the face for wrinkles, folds, and sunken in areas.  It does not cause allergic reactions, there is a small chance of having calcium deposit rise to the surface of the skin but are easily removed.  The good news is the injection will last anywhere from 2 to 5 years.  The injections are slightly more painful than Collagen and the Doctor will numb the area before injecting this filler.  Recovery time for this procedure is usually with some swelling in the first 2 days.  The cost for this procedure is on average $901.

The best place to determine what the correct cosmetic procedure is, you should visit at cosmetic surgeons that perform these and discuss your options.  Depending on what your goals are and the area to be treated you will be able to discuss these options with the doctor.

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By Nicole Wilson
Best Syndication Staff Writer

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