Dermal fillers have been around for over 15 years, with Restylane the first to receive FDA approval in 2005, followed by Juvéderm in 2006. These two hyaluronic acid dermal fillers have been among the most popular cosmetic procedures every year since, and their success has spawned a series of line extensions for each product targeting different specific areas such as the cheeks and the lips.
But if those “hyaluronic acid” fillers had the stage mostly to themselves, there’s suddenly a new potential star — “resilient hyaluronic acid” fillers, RHA for short.
RHA dermal fillers have been available in Europe for over five years, but recently received FDA approval for the U.S. market. They provide the same wrinkle control, but they do so by providing a more natural appearance when the person makes facial expressions and movements. We’re excited to offer three Teoxane RHA fillers at Dr. Beaty’s Beaty Facial Plastic Surgery.
What are RHA Dermal Fillers?
Resilient hyaluronic acid is the latest advance in dermal filler science. They take all the great aspects of hyaluronic acid — naturally occurring substance in the human body; binds with nearby water molecules when injected; hydrates, plumps, and firms the skin — and they improve upon them. These fillers are designed for the dynamics of our facial movements, so the volume they provide looks more natural and adapts to movement without breaking down as quickly.
There are currently three available Teoxane RHA dermal fillers, RHA 2, RHA 3, and RHA 4. These fillers all received FDA approval in late 2017.
What areas are RHA Teoxane Fillers meant to treat?
All three RHA dermal fillers closely resemble the native hyaluronic acid present in our skin, so they adapt quite well to our tissue when injected. This allows exceptional results for patients at every angle all the way through the entire length of movement. In other words, they return volume and erase lines, but you don’t notice them when you make normal facial movements.
- RHA 2 works best on fine lines and wrinkles including nasolabial folds, the colloquial “smile lines” that run from the nose down to the corners of the mouth, crow’s feet, and vertical lip lines.
- RHA 3 can be used for nasolabial folds and the commissures, the corners of the mouth, as well as deeper marionette lines.
- RHA 4 is most appropriate for deeper nasolabial folds and for deeper lines in the lower face and jawline. RHA 4 can also be used off-label in the midface to add volume to sunken cheeks.
Who is a good candidate for Teoxane RHA Fillers at Beaty Facial Plastic Surgery?
Like the other dermal fillers, RHA fillers are meant to address the static wrinkles and areas of volume loss found on the mid to lower face, such as nasolabial folds, lip augmentation, parentheses lines, and marionette lines.
Because RHA fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, which occurs naturally in the human body, reactions are very rare. Just about anyone bothered by telltale lines and creases on the mid to lower face is a great candidate for this latest generation of dermal fillers in RHA 2, RHA 3, and RHA 4.
How are RHA Fillers different from other dermal fillers?
You could refer to the Juvéderm and Restylane lines as “first generation” fillers. All of these fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the human body (and most other mammals) that is responsible for hydrating, plumping, and firming the skin. Hyaluronic acid does this by binding with nearby water molecules.
These fillers have provided and continue to provide great results for our patients at Beaty Facial Plastic Surgery. But for some situations and some individual patients, they don’t respond as well when the patient’s face moves with normal expression.s and the like. That’s because hyaluronic acid breaks down rapidly and is metabolized in about 48 hours. To prevent this from happening, with first-generation dermal fillers the hyaluronic acid is crosslinked with suspended chemical proteins. These proteins make the HA in first-generation dermal fillers not as malleable with facial movements.
That’s where this second generation of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers is different. These new fillers have fewer chemical modifications and less crosslinking in longer chains of HA. This makes resilient hyaluronic acid fillers closer to the natural hyaluronic acid that is found throughout the human body in their flexibility in usage, natural-looking results, and longevity of results. Basically, RHA fillers are closer to natural hyaluronic acid, so they are undetectable regardless of facial movements. That’s the improvement RHA fillers make over the first-generation HA fillers.
How long will RHA Fillers provide results?
These new RHA fillers also extend the duration of their results over the first-generation hyaluronic acid fillers. Teoxane RHA fillers can provide natural-looking results for up to 15 months.
How long do RHA Fillers take to deliver their results?
Just as with the first-generation hyaluronic acid fillers, RHA fillers provide instant results. As soon as Dr. Beaty injects them, the hyaluronic acid instantly binds with nearby water molecules and hydrates, firms, and plumps the area, erasing the line or filling the area of volume loss.
What are the risks involved with Teoxane RHA Fillers?
The safety of these new hyaluronic acid fillers is no different than that of the first generation. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the human body. Its job is to hydrate and plump the skin. These fillers simply add hyaluronic acid when injected. The usual side effects are the same as with fillers like Restylane. There can be some slight swelling and redness at the injection sites. As with any hyaluronic acid filler, if a lump forms or if you don’t like the way the filler looks, Dr. Beaty can inject an enzyme, hyaluronidase, that instantly neutralizes the hyaluronic acid and dissolves the filler.
Do I need to do anything to prepare before receiving RHA Fillers?
No preparation is necessary. Just as with Juvéderm or Restylane, the sessions take just 30 minutes or so, and you can go right back to work or your normal activities immediately afterwards.
Schedule Your Consultation Today!
For more information or to schedule your appointment with Beaty Facial Plastic Surgery, contact us today by calling (770) 273-0037 or click here to fill out an online contact form! Our practice serves Atlanta, Alpharetta and the surrounding areas of Georgia.
