You’re familiar with Juvéderm. You’ve probably heard of Radiesse and Restylane, too. But do you know what Artefill is—or what makes it different from these other injectable fillers? First, the specifics: Artefill is the first and only nonresorbable filler to be approved by the FDA for use in correcting smile lines. It’s composed of 20% PMMA microspheres (tiny synthetic particles), 80% purified bovine collagen gel, plus a tiny bit of lidocaine (a local anesthetic), which helps to minimize discomfort for patients during injection.

What does this all mean? Basically, this: Artefill—unlike other fillers in its category, which are temporary—is designed in a way that prevents the body from absorbing it over time. So, while Artefill’s visible effects are virtually identical to those of Radiesse, Restylane, or Juvéderm, its life span is far longer. The bovine collagen within Artefill does eventually absorb into the body over time, but its microspheres don’t—they remain where they were injected, and help your skin produce more of its own collagen to replace the bovine collagen as it breaks down. This cycle of collagen replenishment makes it possible for Artefill to last as much as five times longer than the other fillers in its class, and to get the results you desire in just one or two treatments (depending on the depth of the wrinkles you wish to treat).

You’ll notice when you start comparing the various injectable fillers available that Artefill does carry a higher price tag than its competitors. Ultimately, though, since fewer injections are necessary with Artefill, most people find it to be a cost-effective choice—more up-front investment, but longer-lasting results.

If you’re interested in learning more about Artefill, give the San Francisco Plastic Surgery & Laser Center a call and set up a free consultation. We’ll be happy to help you figure out if this is the filler for you, or if one of the other fillers we offer here are better suited to what you’re looking for.