The New Fillers: The Real Scoop
by Loreen Berlin

People of every age and gender want to look their best; look younger, and feel better about themselves - and today it's more possible than ever before with all of the new products and services now available to the public.

The general public has been made aware of Botox for erasing wrinkles between the eyebrows, and around the eyes, but many are unaware of Hylaform and Restylane for filling in the wrinkle areas around the mouth and above the lips.

“It seems Restylane is a little more popular than Hylaform,” said Ljiljana Vasick, R.N. who is European trained with 20 years of experience in her nursing career and received training and certification in medical esthetics from the Esthetic Skin Institute, Inc.

“Results are showing Restylane lasting longer than Hylaform. We are seeing Hylaform lasting from three to four months with Restylane four to six months and over time, with layering, which are subsequent applications, Restylane may actually last up to a year in some individuals,” said Vasick.

Both products are a form of hyaluronic acid that is naturally found in all living things. It is bio identical in all species of plants, humans and animals.

Hyaluronic acid is found in the body, with 68 percent contained within the skin, said Sasha Parker, R.N., LMT, FS, who is known nationally for training and certification in esthetics for nurses, doctors and physician’s assistants, through her company the Esthetic Skin Institute (www.esiw.com).

Thomas Simerson, M.D. said that there are quite a few new products on the market that have been used in Europe that will shortly be coming to America. “People use Restylane and Hylaform because they improve their self-esteem when they see they look better,” Simerson said.

"Hylaform and Restylane are what make us look younger and gives the skin its plump, fullness of youth look," Parker said. "The reason is, that the substances are said to hold their weight in water 1,000 times, because they are water 'attractors' and make the skin 'plump'," said Parker.

Vasick said patients love their lips and call the next day to say how happy they are and how good it makes them feel. “We are fortunate to have these products in this day and age. The baby boomers are particularly interested in the products,” she said.

“Working with many nurses, I see a pretty broad spectrum of people, and the patient satisfaction is extremely high,” said Simerson.

After the age of 30 the skin starts losing the hyaluronic acid and collagen; however, after the age of 50, the skin starts losing one percent every year, which is significant, Parker said. “That’s why our tissue (skin) starts to sag, we get wrinkles, and the lips start to fall and get smaller.”

Restylane was developed by a company in Sweden (Q-Med), but is marketed by the American Company, Medicis. FDA approval was received in December of 2003.

Hylaform is manufactured in the United States by Inamed Aesthetics, which also produces collagen, and has been the gold standard filler for years. Hylaform was FDA approved in April of 2004.

Both products are used in medical offices and medical spas with both being widely used in Europe, South America and Canada for years.

Restylane will last six to nine months and Hylaform three to four months, depending on a person’s individual health status, if they are a smoker, or have lots of sun exposure, said Vasick.

Vasick, who instructs nationally in medical aesthetics for the medical profession, and works as part of the medical team at Suddenly Younger & Slimmer Wellness Center in Los Alamitos, said that, “all factor into how the product will be absorbed, as well as how it was administered; its longevity is multi-faceted,” she said.

Parker said both products are used interchangeably for the nasal-labial folds by the nose and mouth and are used to plump up the lips. “The Marionette lines at the corner of the mouth, down towards the chin are the three most common areas treated,” Parker said.

“Primarily women use Restylane, with 3 to 5 percent of men using the product for the nasal labial area, which are the lines around the mouth area,” said Simerson, explaining that patients range in age from 35 to 75 and occasionally up to 80 years of age. “Our 80-year old patient called back to say that she loves the results,” Simerson said.

Vasick said Botox is the treatment of choice for the upper third portion of the face, but below that area, fillers such as Hylaform and Restylane work best.

“Dr. Simerson is very responsible and recommends products based on his own experience of what is good. He will follow the use of a product and its results for two years before he makes a decision whether or not to use it,” Vasick said. “We want to be sure of the realistic expectations; and safety is always first, so we provide patients with the best information so they can make a good judgement,” Vasick said.

“We like to take reasonable information and build from our own experience,” Simerson said.

Asked if there are side effects with the products, Parker said that with any medical procedure, there could be side effects such as bruising, and the remote risk of an allergic reaction, swelling, and redness. “These are common side effects, so we tell people to be prepared,” she said. “There can be downtime for up to a week for bruising and swelling.”

"Side effects are extremely rare, and include minor bruises that diminish within seven to 10 days," Simerson said.

Parker said she has a motto, “ To under promise and over deliver, and make sure to tell the client everything – it’s about setting realistic expectations.”

In teaching, Parker said she not only teaches the procedure, but also teaches the importance of the client/patient bond.

“The popularity and demand for Hylaform and Restylane is increasing by leaps and bounds and crossing all socio-economic groups and barriers as the general awareness of what it can do is there,” Parker said, noting that the general population likes to look the best it can.

“We have things that work today and they are at our disposal. Scientific and medical advances have been so great that it has opened the ability to have these procedures,” said Parker.

Although the buyers of these services have generally been a female demographic of a certain age group, increasingly a younger population as well as an increase in the male population is emerging, according to Parker.

“Nurses are also very skilled at giving injections and much of their nursing education is based on a holistic approach that makes them strong in that client/practitioner bond,” said Parker, who is the author of six copyrighted teaching manuals on the specialties

Parker said they are dealing from the wellness continuum rather than the illness continuum.

“This is a whole new shift that that we bring to our clients and the service, bringing not only a conscientious medical professional attitude, but a creative side which is the beauty of the program,” said Parker.

For information, call Suddenly Slimmer & Younger Wellness Center at 562/596-1019.

 Dr. Lorraine Urbina, D.C., the owner and operator of Suddenly Slimmer and Younger Wellness Center, works in conjunction with a medical team at 4152 Katella Ave., Ste. 102, in Los Alamitos. She will be happy to answer any questions at 562/596-1019.