Is Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse or Bellafill Best for Wrinkles, Deep or Fine Lines or Restoring Volume? – by Inland Empire Expert MD

Restylane Inland Empire, Restylane San Diego, Restylane Cleveland
Carol - before and after Restylane Silk

If you have wrinkles, fine lines, deep lines or hollows in your face, as we often see in the dry climate of Inland Empire, California where I practice, you may be wondering about your best solution.  A facelift is the ultimate answer for many of these problems.  But even the best facelift surgery cannot address the loss of volume that causes facial hollows.  And if you’re not ready for a facelift but still want to get rid of the wrinkles, lines and hollows in your face, you’re probably wondering what to do.  You may have heard that dermal fillers like Juvéderm, Restylane, Radiesse and Bellafill can help these issues, which we see in Inland Empire where I practice and across the country.  They can.  But which one is the best solution for which problem?  I’d like to give you the benefit of my years of experience.


Editor’s Note:  Dr. Brian Machida is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who practices in Ontario, CA, part of California’s Inland Empire.  He has an exceptional level of experience and taught for years at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine.  So far in his career, Dr. Machida has performed nearly 4,000 facelifts. 


What causes wrinkles, lines and facial hollows?  Volume loss is a major factor

wrinkles, turkey neck BeforeThree factors cause a lot of facial aging.  First, UV light from too much sun can damage your skin.  Second, as you get older, your collagen and elastin production begin to decline.  Collagen forms the building blocks of new skin and elastin helps skin stay firm and tight.  And third, fat starts to leave the fat pads under your face (volume loss) and get deposited elsewhere.  Your face can lose its youthful rounded edges and your features sharpen.  Wrinkles, lines and hollows begin to form.

There are two ways to deal with these problems.  If they’re advanced, a surgical procedure like a facelift, browlift, blepharoplasty or neck lift can work wonders.  But while these will tighten your skin, they won’t address volume loss.  And if you’re younger, volume loss may be the main thing you need to replace.  Dermal fillers are one popular and effective way to replace it.  Here are some of the fillers I recommend and where they’re most effective.

What you need to know about fillers before starting injections

Filler injections can work wonders to smooth wrinkles, soften or eliminate lines and restore facial hollows to more pleasing contours.  It’s important to remember, though, that fillers are outside substances that are injected into your body.  For that reason alone, it’s vital to use fillers that are FDA approved for the specific use you want.  Injecting the right filler is important.

Fillers Cleveland, nasolabial folds Cleveland, Before and After by Dr. Ritu Malhotra, facial plastic surgeon
Before & After filler injections by my colleague, Dr. Ritu Malhotra of Cleveland, OH

A skillful injector is also crucial for a good result.  Board certified facial plastic surgeons, plastic surgeons and dermatologists have special training on the best and safest methods.  The more experienced a board certified specialist is, the more likely you are to get the great new look you want.  Trying to save a little money by having an injector who’s not properly trained or certified can lead to real problems you don’t want.

Your body best accepts fillers based on substances it naturally produces.  Artificial fillers like silicone can cause some real problems, especially if they’re administered by anyone other than a board-certified plastic or facial plastic surgeon or dermatologist.  One major reason is that silicone can cause inflammation.  It also can migrate to another part of your face.  Both can cause disfigurement. In addition, silicone can only be removed by surgery, which can cause scar tissue to build up.  The media is full of horror stories about silicone injections going wrong.  Trying to save money by injecting liquid silicone can lead to getting the kind of new look no one wants.

Juvederm Inland Empire, Restylane Inland Empire, Juvederm Cleveland, Restylane Cleveland, Juvederm San Diego, Restylane San Diego

FDA-approved fillers are based on natural body substances that are processed to make them work to fill wrinkles, lines and facial hollows.  Many are based on hyaluronic acid.  This body fluid is present in your eyes and helps to lubricate your joints.  The body generally tolerates it very well.

Restylane, Juvéderm and Voluma are all based on hyaluronic acid.  Your body will absorb this filler gradually after it’s injected.  In about a year after injection, you’ll notice your wrinkles, lines and hollows starting to reappear.  In order to keep your great new look you’ll have to plan on getting reinjected every 12 months or so.

Longer-lasting FDA-Approved Fillers 

Radiesse is a natural substance (calcium hydroxylapatite) composed of the same material that makes up the mineral content of human bone.  It contains calcium microspheres that provide volume.  Collagen will form around the calcium.  This can make its effects last up to 1 ½ years.

Bellafill, the longest lasting filler, uses PPMA – a substance used in orthopedic bone cement – to provide scaffolding for your own natural collagen.  It delivers both instant and long-lasting results.  Bellafill has millions of round microscopic particles (microspheres) of PPMA evenly suspended in bovine collagen, a once popular filler that provides immediate results.  Your body will absorb the bovine collagen in just a few months.  But during that time, Bellafill’s PPMA microspheres will attract your body’s own natural collagen, which will start growing around them.  And, as your own collagen forms around the microspheres, you’ll continue looking good for a long time – up to 5 years or even longer.

jowls Inland Empire,Bellafill, filler, nasolabial folds, Before and After photos, Inland Empire, CA

Is Juvederm, Restylane or Bellafill the right filler for you?

An experienced board certified facial plastic surgeon, plastic surgeon or cosmetic dermatologist can recommend the right filler for the facial improvement you need.  Here’s what my training and experience has taught me are best:

  • Fine lines and wrinkles – Juvéderm, Restylane or Bellafill
  • Deep lines – Radiesse or Bellafill

Of course, your individual situation makes a difference in which of these fillers is best for your particular needs.  Bellafill can last 5 years or longer.  While it initially costs more, in the end you’ll save because you won’t need additional injections every year or so, as you will with other fillers.  However, some people are allergic to bovine collagen, so you’ll need to be tested before using it.  Neither Radiesse nor Bellafill are reversible.  For that reason, I inject patients progressively to avoid over-filling.

Therefore, if you want to look your best immediately, perhaps for a special occasion, choose Restylane or Juvéderm.  If by some chance your wrinkles, lines and facial hollows get over-filled, injecting another agent can reverse that immediately.  But if you have time and want a longer-lasting solution, Radiesse or Bellafill are best.  I favor Bellafill because its results can last so long.

Bellafill wrinkles Inland Empire, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, filler, cheek filler
Before and After Bellafill for nasolabial folds

You should be able to find an experienced injector among the board certified facial plastic or plastic surgeons or cosmetic dermatologists in your area.  If you’d like Juvéderm, Restylane, Radiesse or Bellafill injections to fill your facial lines, wrinkles or hollows and you’re in Inland Empire east of Los Angeles, California, you can find me at STC Plastic Surgery in Ontario.

Please share this article using the icons below:

About Dr. Brian Machida, MD, FACS

Dr. Brian K. Machida, MD, FACS is a double board certified facial plastic surgeon. He has an exceptional level of experience, having performed ( read more )

Articles by Dr. Brian Machida, MD, FACS

Nasolabial Folds – Facelift or Filler? What’s the Most Cost-Effective Solution?

What’s your best and most cost-effective option for improving your nasolabial folds – filler injections or a facelift? Expert facial plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Machida discusses the pros and cons of each method, including how much each will cost you. [Read More]

Facelift Inflation – Does a Higher Price Guarantee a Better Result?

Inflation – now it has hit the facial plastic surgery market. Is facelift inflation necessary? Can you get an outstanding facelift for less in the United States? [Read More]

Bags Under Your Eyes – What’s the Better Solution – Blepharoplasty or Filler Injections?

If bags under your eyes are making you look older than you feel, what’s the best way to treat them? Is blepharoplasty – eyelid surgery – the best way to go? Or, are fillers a good option? An expert facial plastic surgeon reveals the facts. [Read More]

How Can You Afford a Great Facelift?

Can you afford a facelift in this time of inflation? How can you get an outstanding new look that fits your budget? For a great, affordable facelift Inland Empire highly experienced facial plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Machida tells what should be on your checklist. [Read More]

Marionette Lines – How Can You Get Rid of Them?

Marionette lines can make you look old and sad when you don’t feel that way. How can you get rid of marionette lines? Is a facelift the only way? Are there marionette lines fillers? Does Botox work? Inland Empire, California expert facial plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Machida tells you the answers. [Read More]

Sagging Cheeks – What’s the Most Cost-Effective Way to Rejuvenate Them?

If you want to firm up your sagging cheeks, what’s the most cost-effective way to do it? A highly experienced, board-certified facial plastic surgeon tell you how. [Read More]

Thick Neck? Tech Neck? Why Neck Liposuction Often Fails in Younger People

Do you have a thick neck? Or, have you developed a Tech Neck? Many younger people with these issues turn to neck liposuction. But this may not solve the problem? Why not? Could there be a better solution? An expert facial plastic surgeon gives you the facts. [Read More]

Is the Ponytail Facelift a Better Facelift?

Should you get the Ponytail Facelift? Is the “new facelift” better? Highly experienced, board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Brian Machida of Inland Empire, CA discusses what the “new facelift” can and cannot do and presents what might be a better alternative for you. [Read More]

Facelift Scars – Will People See Yours?

If you’re considering a facelift, are you worried about facelift scars? A highly skilled and experienced facial plastic surgeon discusses whether or not you need to be concerned about facelift scars, and what to do if you have noticeable facelift scars. [Read More]

How to Make a $27,000 Beverly Hills-Quality Facelift Cost Much Less

How much should an outstanding facelift cost? A highly experienced facial plastic surgeon, who performed 4,000 facelifts and taught at the University of Southern California, shows how the right surgeon using the right methods can make a great facelift much more affordable. [Read More]