Injectable Fillers

What Real Women Say

Patricia, 70s, New York

In 2003, Patricia had injections of Radiance and bovine collagen to fill out the nasolabial folds (which run from the nose down toward the mouth) and lines from the sides of the chin toward the jaw. The Radiance procedure took only half an hour. An anesthetic cream prevented pain. "It was excellent. I went back to work as a volunteer the next day," she says. Patricia pays about $400 per vial of collagen, and she needs two vials per visit every few months. The Radiance, which lasts much longer, costs about $2,500. (Patricia received a significant discount of about $1,000 as a trial patient.)

"I think this is the future of cosmetic improvements," she says. "I didn't want to do anything drastic. I'm not trying to look like a young girl. For me this is a marvelous thing. I'm able to wear brighter colors now. It's taken some years off my face. It's a very natural look."

Karen, 43, Miami, Florida

"I have a long face and I wanted to fill it out," says Karen. So in the summer of 2003, when she underwent liposuction of her thighs and lower back, she decided to also include fat transfer to her face. The doctor injected her own fat into her cheeks, mouth area, and temples. "At first, I swelled up like a pig and thought I was deformed!" Karen says. But her doctor told her to be patient. After a few days, the swelling started to subside. "For a while, I had a round, fat face," Karen says. Then her new look settled in. "You can see a difference in photos. I look fuller," she says, sounding pleased. Karen paid $1,800 for the fat injections, plus $2,500 for the liposuction.

To Learn More: Visit the Public Site section of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery's Web site. Or call their toll-free referral line at 1-888-ASAPS-11.

Check out the Learn section of BeautySurg.com, the "cosmetic surgery supersite."

For physician referrals, call the American Society of Plastic Surgeons referral service at 1-888-4PLASTIC or visit them online. Click on "Learn About Procedures" to find out more.