The world of dermal fillers is vast, and it seems like there is a filler for every occasion imaginable. Yet, there are very few dermal fillers that truly stand out from the crowd. Few are able to offer a smoother, overall more attractive, and natural look over and over again.

That's one of the reasons we love Intraline®. Although it's a lesser-known brand of dermal filler, we have seen better and more consistent results with our patients.

But that's not today's topic. Our focus is Resilient Hyaluronic Acid®, a new revolutionary cosmetic treatment causing quite a stir and garnering a lot of praise. Although we do not offer this brand yet, we have received a lot of questions about it. So we thought we'd answer some of the most frequently asked questions about RHA® Resilient Hyaluronic Acid® fillers.

#1 What are RHA® Resilient Hyaluronic Acid® fillers?

The most common fillers are made with hyaluronic acid - a polysaccharide that occurs naturally in humans. Hyaluronic acid (HA) helps retain skin and lubricate joints. However, as we age, the body produces less and less HA, leading to conditions such as osteoarthritis, ageing skin, and more. The good news is the chemical modification of HA has enabled its application in new areas of cosmetology and skin care.

Fillers made with HA have proven to be the most reliable, provide the most consistent results, and are associated with the lowest risk.

Read: Complete Guide to Types of Fillers

Where the Resilient Hyaluronic Acid (RHA) fillers differ from other brands of HA fillers is that they are designed to conform to your own facial expressions even better than before.

The hyaluronic acid in them has been formulated to closely resemble the natural hyaluronic acid in your own skin. This allows it to stretch and integrate beautifully, even in facial areas with a lot of movement or expression. Hence the name Resilient.

#2 Is RHA Superior to Other HA Fillers?

The ability of RHA to conform to facial movements is an undeniably strong selling point. This makes it one of the only HA fillers that can treat dynamic wrinkles. At Dr. Aesthetica, we are excited about such advances in this field.

That said, we are not suggesting that RHA fillers are outright superior. Over the years that we have been providing dermal filler treatments, we have found that each HA filler brand is unique in some way. For example, a brand might be better suited for certain tissue types, anatomical features or skin depths more than another.

Generally speaking, most HA fillers are more similar than they are different. It really depends on how the injector handles the brand of filler. That's why we stress in almost every blog about dermal fillers that you should choose your injector carefully.

#3 What is the Difference Between RHA 2, 3, and 4?

The ® family of fillers includes RHA Density, RHA 1 & 2, and RHA 4. They are manufactured by the Swiss company Teoxane, which produces hyaluronic acid products.

This filler series received FDA approval in the US in 2021 for the treatment of dynamic wrinkles and folds.

Each filler in the collection is classified according to its flow properties, i.e., how well it retains its structure. Depending on where the filler is injected, you may want it to retain its texture better or be more pliable for a softer, more realistic look.

• RHA 2 is highly resilient and fluid. It is designed to treat superficial lines and wrinkles, including vertical lip lines, radial cheek lines, glabellar lines ( a.k.a. the "elevens"), and crow's feet.
• RHA 3 is best for treating deep wrinkles and creases, such as the nasolabial folds and mouth corners. It can also be used to volumize the lips and midface and smooth the cheeks.
• RHA 4 has the least extensibility. It is specifically designed to be injected deep into the skin to smooth deep wrinkles and restore lost volume. It is also effective in contouring the cheeks to create the appearance of high cheekbones.
• Redensity is the newest hyaluronic acid filler in the collection from RHA. It is designed for the finest wrinkles and lines around the lips - kiss lines or smoker's lines - and smile lines.

#4 How Long Before You See Results From RHA filler?

Similar to HA fillers, Resilient Hyaluronic Acid® fillers begin to work immediately after injection, adding volume and smoothing wrinkles. Results are likely to occur within 24-48 hours, with final results seen within 10-14 days. As with other HA fillers, side effects are not severe enough to keep you from your daily activities.

At most, expect mild redness, irritation, and swelling at the treatment sites. There is evidence that these common side effects are even less with RHA fillers. With the exception of strenuous workouts, you can resume your activities and work immediately.

Clinical trials showed that Resilient Hyaluronic Acid® fillers are among the longest-lasting dermal injectables on the market. Results will typically last up to 15 months. Since this is a relatively new treatment, it will be a few more years before we have conclusive data from actual treatments.

Always remember that even with treatment as safe as RHA filler injection, it is still a cosmetic treatment. That means there is always a small risk of something going wrong.

#5 Are RHA® Fillers Being Offered in the UK?

Resilient Hyaluronic Acid® fillers were developed in Teoxane in 2015. At the start of 2020, Revance Therapeutics- a biotechnology company specializing in neuromodulator innovations-announced a distribution agreement with Teoxane in the United States. Clinical trials began soon after, and the filler collection received FDA approval in late 2021. As could be expected, this new generation of fillers was quickly adopted by the US cosmetics and beauty industry.

The filler brand is slowly being introduced in UK clinics as well. However, it will be some time before we see a large uptake across the board. At Dr. Aesthetica, we are closely monitoring the developments of this filler brand among many other emerging non-surgical treatment technologies. We will keep you updated if we decide to offer RHA fillers down the line.

In the meantime, we are pleased with the results we are seeing with our current line of dermal filler brands. If you would like more information or have any questions about the treatments we offer, please feel free to contact us at 0121 769 0242 or email [email protected].