With more choices comes more confusion. The following is a guide to help you choose.
Safety and track record – These fillers are approved by the FDA for use in the United States, and the FDA has very high standards. To give you an example, the rest of the world (including Canada and Europe) had been using Restylane for almost ten years on almost a million patients before the FDA allowed doctors in the United States to inject Restylane. The newer filler (Juvederm) required much less time for approval. So as far as safety is concerned, the FDA considers both to be safe, but Restylane has by far the longest track record with the most people injected worldwide. Juvederm has not been available as long as Restylane, but it is a very similar product (both consist of cross-linked hylaronic acid). Restylane and Juvederm are tied in terms of Safety, but Restylane is the winner in terms of its Track Record.
Longest lasting – Restylane and Juvederm have similar properties because they are made of the same material. Both last equally long, up to one year. Winner = tie
Least bruising and least pain – Both Juvederm and Restylane are smooth material to inject, causing minimal pain and bruising. Winner = tie
Most natural correction – They are both natural looking. Sometimes, especially if you have never had a filler injected, you will be aware of it for several weeks after the procedure. You may even be able to feel it with your finger (or with your tongue from the inside of your mouth). Although you may feel it, you will not see it. Winner = tie.
Bottom line – As you can see; these two fillers are very similar. They are both safe and give natural-looking results. There are other fillers currently available in the United States, but we prefer Restylane and Juvederm for all the reasons listed above. No other available fillers can claim the same high levels of patient satisfaction, low risk of side effects, and natural-looking results.