As demand for youthful, wrinkle-free skin continues to grow, the market is flooded with facial filler options - which ultimately is in the patients best interest. With so many options, manufacturers are coming out with products to better target specific issues. Gone are the days of a one-injectable fix-all... these days, the type of injectable filler you choose depends on the type of wrinkle or line you are trying to eradicate.

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One of the exciting new injectables that will soon be available in the U.S. is Belotero. In Phase III trials of the FDA-approval process in the U.S., it is only time before this injectable passes and can be used to treat fine lines and wrinkles. Recently at the summer meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), American Health and Beauty sat down with leading dermatologist, Dr. Heidi Waldorf to discuss Belotero and what it brings to the injectables game.
Similar to Restylane and Juvederm, Belotero is a hyaluronic acid based dermal filler that is injected into the skin to treat lines, creases and wrinkles. Produced by Merz Aesthetics, Belotero was first launched in Germany in 2005 and has been successfully used throughout Europe to combat aging skin. As Dr. Waldorf says, what makes Belotero stand out is it's ability to treat superficial lines. "There are some patients for who need fine line filling - whether you treated volume underneath the fine lines or whether they just have some very superficial lines. We know we can resurface patients but there are just some who don't need that much resurfacing or do not have the time for the downtime."
Another exciting difference that makes Belotero stand out in the field of dermal fillers is also tied in to it's ability to address superficial lines. Dr. Waldorf says, "Due to light scattering, clear dermal fillers (Restylane and Juvederm) may cause a blue hue if they are placed too superficially. It appears that Belotero does not." Known as The Tyndall Effect, skin that is injected too superficially with dermal fillers will appear slightly bluish, as if bruised or there is an appearance of blood vessels. In studies and cases that have been performed in Europe, this has not been associated with Belotero.
Belotero is not meant for only superficial dermal filling but Dr. Waldorf uses her entire arsenal of fillers when working with a patient and chooses the precise filler for exactly what she is trying to treat. To treat deeper wrinkles and lines, Dr. Waldorf says, "I'll use a robust hyaluronic acid like Juvederm Ultaplus or Perlane or perhaps Sculptra or Radiesse for volume enhancement." But for fine lines, Dr. Waldorf is eagerly anticipating the FDA-approval of Belotero. "It will be helpful around the lips and eyes, in particular." Another area on the face that will greatly benefit from Belotero is the glabella, an area that is prone to superficial lines.
We never liked One-Size-Fits-All anyway.
Watch Dr. Heidi Waldorf discuss Belotero below.