With Aquamid being only available in Europe because of the FDA’s lengthy process of approving the drug, the next best facial filler is Juvederm ® because while Artecoll ® is similar to Aquamid ® in that it lasts 10 years it’s only approved to be used in the nasolabial folds. Juvederm can be used to fill in almost anything on the face, including lips, cheek, and other areas of the face.
Is it worth it to fly over to Europe to get Aquamid injected instead of getting Juvederm locally?

The True Cost Of Getting Aquamid
Aquamid is only available in Europe, and is commonly used in London. The airfare to London, cost of the hotel, cost of food, and how long of a stay greatly impacts this cost. A frugal estimate would be $2000-$3000 just to stay in London for 5 days. The actual cost of the procedure can vary, but the average is about the same as a face lift which is $5000.

It’s going to be expensive, above $5000. But, the filler will last up to 10 years.

The True Cost of Getting Juvederm
The average cost of getting Juvederm done is $690. Wherever you live in the United States, it’s easy to find a plastic surgeon or dermatologist within driving distance. Also the filler will last up to two years.

If you were to get new injections every two years, that would cost you $3450. That’s significantly less than one injection of Aquamid.

Over 10 years
Aquamid is the more expensive choice, and it may be FDA approved in the near future as clinical trials started in August of 2006. With Juvederm costing thousands less initially and over time clearly the cost winner is Juvederm.

Juvederm is cheaper, but only a Doctor can tell you which facial filler is right for you.

Here is a pretty good video (although old, November 2006) that shows patients being injected with facial fillers like Juvederm and Sculptra. The results are more natural and subtle than face lifts. Sculptra is reported as lasting up to two years.

If you’re sick and tired of people asking you “Did you get enough sleep? You look so tired!” then facial fillers can help. As people age, their faces ’sink’. Facial fillers will fill them in and restore your natural beauty. Your friends won’t be able to tell that you’ve had plastic surgery, and everyone will think you look great.

Everybody loves top 5’s. What are the five most popular facial fillers? I don’t know.. but here’s my top 5 list anyways.

5) ArteColl ®/ ArteFill ® - This is the first injectable to provide a permanent support solution to fill wrinkles and prevent further wrinkling. (In the United States, ArteColl ® is approved strictly for correction of nasolabial folds.)

4) Sculptra ® - An injectable made of synthetic polylactic acid contained in microspheres, Sculptra ® is the first FDA-approved injectable for the restoration of lost facial volume (correction of lipoatrophy) in people with HIV infection.

3) Radiesse ® (formerly known as Radiance) - This is a synthetic dermal filler made of calcium hydroxyapatite is utilized for the correction of moderate to severe wrinkles and folds. This injectable is a longer-lasting filler because the body forms collagen around the microspheres; adding bulk to the injected areas.

2) Restylane ® - A non-animal, biodegradable gel composed of hyaluronic acid, Restylane ® is a soft tissue filler that adds volume to the skin through tiny injections; smoothing facial folds and wrinkles in areas around the mouth and eyes.

1) Juvederm ™ - Made of a hyaluronic acid gel, Juvederm ™ is a naturally-occurring substance in the skin that contributes to volume and hydration. Juvederm ™ is designed to temporarily correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds.

Image courtesy of fairesplasticsurgery.com

On average Juvederm costs $684. Doctors usually charge per tube. Make sure you ask to see before and after photos, and how many times he or she has done the procedure.

Be sure to read testimonials and become educated on the subject before you get the procedure done.

When you undergo a face lift, your face will look different, and not always in a good way. Take for example actress Jessica Lange. The photo on the left is from 1980, and the photo on the right is from 2005. You can tell in the photo on the right that she has a very surprised look. This is a considered a classic sign of a traditional face lift.

The reason for this is when you get a face lift, your skin is stretched to the top of your face. There are many cases where getting a face lift does not give the surprised look. In fact, many plastic surgeons can give you a face lift without making you look surprised all the time.

A wonderful alternative to face lifts is facial fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse, Pearlane and Sculptra. Each of these fillers are slightly different, and vary in what they are made from, how much they cost, where they are used on the face, and how long they last.

However, all of them are not cheap. They are cheaper than a face lift though. How much is your face worth to you? To many people it is worth the expense. Usually these injections will cost $500-$1000 and have to be performed 2 - 3 times a year. While a face lift can cost around $4000, and easily cost more with added procedures commonly being done at the same time as a face lift.

The best thing about facial fillers is that they build upon the natural beauty that people have. They fill in the gaps that age brings upon us. Some facial fillers, such as Juvederm, have been known to actually stimulate collagen growth.

A perfect example of facial fillers working great is Demi Moore. You can see how facial fillers have given her a natural look. She still looks just as young as she did years ago. That is what is so great about facial fillers. Perhaps face lifts will slowly fade out as more facial fillers come on market.

Johnson and Johnson is even releasing their own wrinkle fighting filler. It was approved by the FDA and has been in use by other countries since 2004. It’s called Evolence and is made from tendons harvested from pigs. It’s unlikey it will make a huge dent against Juvederm and Restylane which are produced in a lab.

Facial fillers are used by cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists, and plastic surgeons to reduce wrinkles and soften the deep folds in faces of patients. The fillers are usually made with collagen, Hyaluronan Acid, or even your own body fat!

What are they called?
Some of the more popular facial fillers are Juvéderm (often written as Juvederm), and Restylane. There are other fillers out there as well, such as collagen (Zyplast), Hydroxylapatite, PMMA (Polymethylmethacrylate), and even your own fat harvested from your body.

Juvéderm is made from Hyaluronan Acid and is usually used to fill in wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. Juvéderm is also used to fill in scars on some patients.

Restylane is also made from Hyaluronic acid. It is most commonly used for lip augmentation. It can also be used for filling in wrinkles and filling in the facial hollows underneath the eyes.

How long does it last?
Depending on what facial filler you get, your results will vary. Juvéderm is expected to last from 6-9 months, with many patients reporting the injection lasted an entire year. Restylane lasts around six months.

How much does it cost?
Juvederm costs around $500-$700 dollars per tube. If you are to get a near face lift quality procedure, then you will typically use around three or four tubes. Prices vary by location and doctor. The only way to know how much your procedure will cost, will be to get a consultation with a cosmetic or plastic surgeon. If you need help finding a doctor, try this plastic surgery site.