With the increasing number of dermal fillers available in the US, it’s getting even more confusing for the average aesthetic patient to understand what should be used where and when, or even if. This is where understanding the nuances and intricacies of each product is essential for an Aesthetic Provider to appropriately recommend treatments that will truly benefit the patient and get them closer to their goals.

Restylane Silk is one of my favorite products because of its nuances: very small particle size, ability to squeeze into tiny areas (think lines around the mouth) without elevating the area, filling in sharp lines without creating bulk, and making lips look moisturized without creating the “Trout Pout”. It also can be placed in those difficult to disguise areas like the horizontal neck lines (rings around the neck) and the famous “V lines” that happen on the décolleté. What happens is a look that is very soft, replenished, and natural (not to mention youthful!).

Restylane Silk is also the only lip filler that has been approved by the FDA for lip augmentation done with a cannula. This procedure allows treatment with only two small needle sticks in the corners of the mouth. The cannula is then placed in those areas and progressed into the lips. This treatment allows for less trauma as well as less bruising.

Products That Make A Difference

Historically (and presently) retinoids are a true mainstay of antiaging and maintaining healthy, beautiful skin. One of the oldest retinoids (if not THE oldest) is tretinoin, or its trade name Retin-A. The formula, a vitamin-A derivative, was first patented in 1957 and studied extensively for acne in the early 1960s. As its use for acne became popular in the 1970s and 80s, it was apparent that the skin on the users did not age the same as non-users. One of its mechanisms is the increased cell-turnover that actually keeps your skin newer, or younger. The result is less wrinkled, glowing skin with a thinner epidermis (thickening normally as we age) and a thicker dermis (thinning normally as we age). Later, it was demonstrated that there was a decrease in the amount of facial skin cancer in people using a retinoid. The downside is that the retinoids take some getting used to. Presumably in part due to the increased cell turnover, the skin becomes a bit inflamed and somewhat stingy in the first few weeks. This can be alleviated by extra moisturizing utilizing a moisturizer high in antioxidants and peptides such as the YOUTH Crème by iS Clinical. That, together with a more tolerable retinoid such as the SkinMedica Retinol, is my favorite combination to keep people younger!