When I first trained in Dermal Filler and anti wrinkle toxin there was very little choice in products to use.
Training
2007 I went on a 2 day advanced nurse course to learn all about Botox and dermal filler, Botox is a registered trade mark and at the time there was really only that that most people had heard of.
There were 2 brands of fillers Restylane (which I trained with) and Juvederm. Juvederm was made by the same company as botox (Allergan) so was popular with some clinics. I was interested in the NASHA technology behind restylane and continued to use it in my practice until this day.
Restylane dermal filler
Restylane originally used NASHA technology, which is the component of a number of medical products that use this unique HA and its properties to provide healthcare solutions. NASHA is highly purified non-animal hyaluronic acid (HA) The process uses bacterial fermentation to obtain a high degree of purity of natural HA.
Over the years there have been more and more dermal fillers literally filling up the market, some which can be trusted as they are very well tried, tested and researched and registered with the MHRA which is the government medicine agency to be safe for use in the United Kingdom for example Teyosyl which I use their redensity 2 for tear trough filling before restylane brought out their own tear trough filler.
However, many are not registered with the MHRA and as with most things just like training shoes and electronics, counterfit products can be obtained as well as many online shops selling dermal filler directly to the general public with no as for proof of medical qualifications and a lot can go wrong in unqualified hands.
After many annual conference visits seeing all the new dermal fillers coming out over the years and the lovely sales people convincing me to try new fillers I have tried quite a few other brands, but even other MHRA licenced dermal fillers do not have the longevity (last as long) as Restylane in my opinion and experience and so after trying them I have soon switched back to the brand I know love and trust.