Tissue fillers are substances that restore volume and shape to the skin and certain parts of the face. A number of different products have been developed as tissue fillers. These substances can help replenish volume to areas that are in need such as acne pox marks or minor skin irregularities. They can be used to provide bulk and shape to the lips, cheek, or brow. They have also been used to fill the deep lines that are produced as a result of aging. One of the more popular fillers has been Collagen (Xyderm and Xyplast). This substance is made from animal tissue and gets absorbed by the body in about 3 months. Restylane is a newer product that has the advantage of lasting up to 6 months.

The purpose of injecting a tissue filler is to reduce or eliminate the deep, persistent lines of the face, to contour and shape parts of the face, and to fill in small irregularities in the skin. Common locations for injection of tissue fillers have been the frown line and the nasolabial folds. Tissue fillers have also been used to fill deep scars and depressions produced by acne or other conditions that affect the surface of the skin. The choice of filling agent depends on what you want to achieve. Today we have many choices for fillers. Some fillers are made from your own body's tissue such as fat or dermal grafts. The advantage of using your own body's tissue is that it is never rejected. In addition, some of these grafts are longer lasting.   The disadvantage of using fat or dermis is that it entails harvesting the graft from some part of your body. The recovery time may be more than using a substance such as Collagen or Restylane. The advantage of using filling agents that do not belong to your own body is that you do not have to harvest them. They are made by animal or non-animal chemical substances and are ready for injection. However some people are allergic to these substances and their body may react to them in an adverse way. Furthermore most of these products are not long lasting. Restylane, which has been recently approved for use in the United States, is one of the longer lasting tissue fillers. It may last up to 6 months after injection.   You should choose the tissue filler that can best address your problem with the minimum of adverse side effects. In order to make this decision it is best that you discuss this with your plastic surgeon.

The procedure is done by injection of the tissue filler (collagen, Restylane, alloderm, ect.) directly into the deep layer of the skin that has facial line. The area to be injected can be anesthetized so that you do not feel the sting of the injection. Usually 1 or 2 cc is enough to produce the desired effect.

After the injection the area may remain numb as a result of the local anesthetic for 1-2 hours. Occasionally, there may be a small amount of bruising in the injection site. This may be due to a small blood vessel being injured during the injection. The swelling from the injection will be completely gone in 1-2 days. Within 2-3 days you will start to see the beneficial effects of this medicine. The facial lines become softer and less conspicuous. Fillers such as Restylane may undergo periodic swelling and subsiding for several weeks. This is due to the natural absorbent quality of Restylane. Water may accumulate inside the filler depending on your hydration state.

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