When considering a lift, there are two basic injections that are often considered: Juvederm and Restylane. Fillers are a non-invasive treatment to correct certain conditions when someone wished to avoid surgery. These two products are remarkably the same, which makes choosing between them a little difficult for some people.
Here’s why there is such difficulty. Both are manufactured in Europe. They both are fillers that are based on hyaluronic acid. Both are often offered by a treatment provider for use around the lips and for fine lines and wrinkles. Juvederm and Restylane even have similar side effects, such as over-augmentation and lumps that can form. Because they are both made from hyaluronic acid, the results of both products can be neutralized with one injection of a counteragent.
With so many similarities between the two products, how can the debate of Juvederm vs. Restylane be resolved? Here are the factors to consider if you’re thinking about choosing one product over the other.
1. How Easy Is It To Inject The Product?
In this instance, Juvederm has a slight edge over Restylane. The filler is just a little smoother and injects a little easier. This makes Juvederm easier to manipulate when it comes to difficult injection sites like the eyelids. It also provides an advantage when working with extremely fine lines that must be altered in order to receive a consistent aesthetic appearance.
It is important to ask who will be making the injections. Many providers will delegate this task away from the cosmetic surgeon and this is something that you do not want. The person who will be injecting the filler should be Board Certified. If they are not, then you will want to find a different treatment provider for either product.
2. What About Deeper Wrinkles And Lines?
Restylane has an advantage when it comes to deeper lines and wrinkles that need correction. While Juvederm tends to disperse immediately into the tissues, Restylane stays more cohesive and will congregate around the injection point. This requires the provider to using molding techniques with the filler to create the desired results. That cohesiveness, when properly applied, helps to smooth out the deeper wrinkles and lines that form more effectively.
Many providers typically recommend Restylane when there are hollow areas underneath the eyes as well. The problem with this type of application, however, is that lumps may form easily with an inexperienced injector and must be actively sculpted to prevent a problematic appearance.
3. How Long Can The Products Endure?
When comparing the length of time the fillers maintain their appearance, Restylane has a slight edge over Juvederm. This is because of its overall cohesiveness. Juvederm remains active for about the same length of time, around 12 months, but because it disperses, the lift results tend to flatten out more in Juvederm when compared to Restylane.
4. What About Concentration Levels?
Juvederm has a higher concentration of hyaluronic acid when compared to Restylane, which may be beneficial for some patients. Both products have a similar cost, however, and both tend to use a full syringe of filler for the application points in question. Because the filler is less cohesive, however, Juvederm tends to settle after being injected and although this creates less of a risk for lumps, it also creates less of a lift effect in some patients.
Which Product Is Right For You?
It is important to consider treatment provider bias when evaluating the differences between Juvederm and Restylane. Both manufacturers offer treatment providers incentives for selling their products to patients. This may create a local bias towards one product over the other because a sales quota may need to be met. With enough filler sold, treatment providers may receive product discounts and other referral advantages.
The one disadvantage is that Restylane has a higher risk of forming lumps than Juvederm. In reality, this tends to be dependent on the skills of the injector. A highly experienced treatment provider will create the lift a patient wants without lumps, but problems are easily corrected with a neutralizing injection.
Both products, however, create similar results for a similar price. It’s a lot like trying to choose between your favorite brand names of cola. It all depends on personal preference and what need must be met. Restylane is slightly more cohesive, so it can fill in areas a little better. That really is the main difference between the two products. You an receive good results with either product.