Which filler is right for me and my cheeks? Juvederm or Ellanse? (Photos)

Question

I have decided to take the plunge and go for some volume in my cheek area. I have been offered two types of filler - Juvederm and Ellanse. Whilst I can see Juvederm is the tried and trusted filler, I am curious about Ellanse due to its collagen stimulating properties and apparent longevity. However, I can't get the same body of information about this filler and I see it isn't FDA approved. Should I be wary? If I go for Juvederm, could this over time stimulate my collagen anyway?

Ian Strawford, MBChB, MBCAM · Answer

Ellanse is a unique product that has excellent safety profile and has been shown in clinical studies and in practice to be a very effective treatment to restore volume and improve skin texture and elasticity. I have trained many doctors both in the UK and abroad with Ellanse and have used it extensively in my practice for the last 5 years without any complications. Juvaderm Voluma is a traditional hyaluronic acid filler and also has a good safety record. However as the particles in Juvaderm are very much larger than the tiny microspheres of polycaprolactone (PCL) in Ellanse there is a greater potential for a foreign body reaction to the product which can result in inflammatory nodules or lumps. 
Juvaderm voluma is purely a volumising product and needs to be placed deep. Ellanse however can be used as a volumiser when placed deep in the same way or it can be used more superficially to improve the skin texture and quality to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles.This is because the PCL in Ellanse is a very potent collagen stimulator unlike hyaluronic acids which have not been shown to stimulate healthy collagen. 
The other advantage of Ellanse over hyaluronic acids is that the results can last very much longer as the product can remain intact for up to 4 years unlike hyaluronic acids which will start to be broken down by the body from the day of injection.
It is this unique ability to use Ellanse to correct and restore both volume and skin quality with long lasting results and very low risk of complications to give a very natural results is why Ellanse is the most popular treatment in my clinics other than Botox

Bernard Tan, MBBS, MRCSB · Answer

Ellanse has a longer duration of action (18-24 months) compared to the traditional hyaluronic acid (“HA Filler”) gel based fillers (9-12 months), with the added benefit of collagen stimulation and skin tightening. However, unlike HA Fillers which can be dissolved with the antidote hyaluronidase, Ellanse cannot be reversed. Ellanse is also not used in sensitive areas such as the undereye and lips. For clients getting fillers for the first time or considering treatment of the undereye and lips- HA fillers would be the better choice. For clients who have had HA Fillers before, liked the result and are hoping for a longer lasting treatment- Ellanse would be a good option.

Victoria Manning, MD · Answer

Juverderm is an HA Filler, which will not stimulate
collagen.  The doctors at River Aesthetics
are trainers for Ellanse and confirm that it has gone through all the necessary
regulatory tests to verify it is safe for use and clinically efficacious.   We would not be licensed to treat with it in
the UK if it wasn’t.
 
Unlike traditional HA fillers Ellanse contains
microscopic spheres in the carrier gel which is quickly absorbed, but not
before the spheres have kick started the body’s collagen production.  The unique differentiator with Ellanse – and
the reason why we have such success with it - is that the treatment results
actually improve over time as the filler stimulate the body’s own collagen
production to revolumised the face extremely naturally, and also helps to
improve the skin quality. Results with Ellanse can last up to 4 years.

Monika Soni, MD · Answer

I advise you to go with Juvederm since it is one of the most popular fillers that has been on the market for awhile. I would never suggest you to experiment with newish fillers that are not FDA approved, especially not on your face. Good luck!

Ian Hallam, MBE, BDS · Answer

Hi Jayne. Thank you for your question and I am pleased that you have asked questions about the choices offered in order to make an informed decision.
Firstly, both products are excellent products and will give really nice results. Sinclair Pharma (the company that produces Ellanse) are currently in the process of applying for FDA approval, a process which takes a long time. The evidence shows that Ellanse is a safe product and gives a comparable degree of volumisation to hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Juvderm, but the effects last considerably longer, from one to four years depending on which Ellanse product is used.
Looking at your photographs, I think that you would get a nice improvement to your mid-face contour with a cheek augmentation treatment. I use both HA fillers and Ellanse at my clinic but personally would choose Ellanse in your case. I would recommend discussing the pros and cons again with your practitioner before making a decision. I sure that if you go ahead you will be very happy with the results
Best wishes
Dr Ian Hallam MBE

Which filler is right for me and my cheeks? Juvederm or Ellanse? (Photos)

Answers (10)

Answer: I would never suggest you to experiment with newish fillers that are not FDA approved, especially not on your face

Answer: I would never suggest you to experiment with newish fillers that are not FDA approved, especially not on your face

Answer: Ellanse or Juvederm for cheek augmentation

Answer: Ellanse or Juvederm for cheek augmentation

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Ellanse

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Which filler is right for me and my cheeks? Juvederm or Ellanse? (Photos)

Answers (10)

Answer: I would never suggest you to experiment with newish fillers that are not FDA approved, especially not on your face

Answer: I would never suggest you to experiment with newish fillers that are not FDA approved, especially not on your face

Answer: Ellanse or Juvederm for cheek augmentation

Answer: Ellanse or Juvederm for cheek augmentation

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Ellanse

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.