In this uncertain economy, people are having less cosmetic surgery. Its not that they don’t want it, demand for procedures continues to grow. However, money is tight and patients can’t take time off work to recover. With company layoffs looming, no one wants to return to the office after their facelift looking refreshed, rested but unemployed. So what’s the alternative to plastic surgery? I often recommend dermal wrinkle fillers.

These fillers are injected into the dermis to fill lines and give fullness, producing a natural youthful look. One of the most popular is made from hyaluronic acid, a natural occurring substance. Two companies produce it, using slightly different processes (Juvaderm, Restylane). Both claim that theirs last longer. In my experience, they both last about eight to ten months, depending on where and how much is injected. Unlike collagen, no allergy testing is needed.

Downtime is minimal; there is often some bruising or swelling, but most everyone can return to work the following day. The results are quite technique dependent. If done by a skilled physician, you should get a nice refreshed appearance requiring significantly less downtime and expense than surgery.