ArteFill: What You Need to Know

Written byChris EllisUpdated on February 21, 2024
You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.
Written byChris EllisUpdated on February 21, 2024
You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.

Artefill is an injectable filler used for the correction of nasolabial folds, or smile lines, the deep lines that run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth. 

Artefill was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2006 for the treatment of nasolabial lines and folds, but the treatment was rebranded as Bellafill in 2014. Artefill is currently available in the U.K. and Australia. A previous version called Artecoll was also marketed outside the U.S. between 1994 and 2006. 

Like Bellafill, Artefill is formulated with microspheres of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) suspended in bovine collagen.The PMMA acts both as a dermal filler and as a stimulant for your body’s own collagen production, leading to longer-lasting results than with hyaluronic acid fillers.

Studies have also shown that Artefill can be “very effective” for treatment of mature, mildly depressed “rolling” acne scars.

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Pros

  • Artefill lasts up to five years—significantly longer than collagen or hyaluronic acid fillers, since the enzymes in those injections can break down after about a year.
  • Results tend to look natural because your body’s own collagen fills in the lines.

Cons

  • Artefill may not be safe to use on areas of your face with thinner skin, like the crow's-feet or eyelids.
  • It contains bovine collagen, so vegetarians and vegans as well as people who are allergic to bovine collagen should take that into consideration.

  • Average Cost:
  • $2,300

The price you pay will depend on your provider's expertise and level of experience, their practice location, and how much filler is used.

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The ArteFill photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Your provider may perform a skin test prior to your treatment, to rule out a bovine collagen allergy. You’ll also be asked about any medications you’re on, if you’re pregnant, and if you’re prone to scarring.

The treatment area may be numbed with a topical anesthetic before your provider injects Artefill into the lines or folds, gradually adding the filler to create the desired effect.

The whole process should take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how many areas you have treated.

It’s common to have mild bruising for up to three weeks and minimal swelling for 3 to 10 days.

You can mitigate swelling by steering clear of alcohol for a few days before and after your treatment and avoiding intense workouts, saunas, hot tubs, and other high-heat environments until the swelling subsides.

Other than this swelling and bruising, there’s no downtime—you’ll be able to get back to your normal activities right away.

You’ll see initial results immediately, and they’ll continue to improve for the next three to six months as the PMMA works to stimulate collagen production. 

Results can last up to five years.

Updated February 21, 2024

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