Dermal fillers are injectable gels placed beneath the skin to restore volume that has been lost and to smooth lines and folds. Most are made from hyaluronic acid, a substance found naturally in the body that binds with water to maintain volume and hydration. One of the four we offer, Radiesse, is different: it is made from calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres in a gel carrier that act as a scaffold beneath the skin. Elume Medspa in Fairfax, Virginia offers Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse and Belotero, all administered under the care of Shaheen Ghafari, a licensed Nurse Practitioner. This page sets out what separates them, so you can arrive at a consultation with a question rather than a brand name.
Fillers and wrinkle relaxers do different jobs
These are the two groups people most often confuse. Wrinkle relaxers such as Botox and Dysport temporarily relax the small facial muscles whose repeated contractions cause dynamic wrinkles, lines like frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet. Dermal fillers do the opposite: they add volume back. They restore lost volume and smooth deeper lines and folds in areas such as the cheeks, lips and nasolabial folds. If your concern is a line that only appears when you move your face, a relaxer is the usual answer. If it is a line or a hollow that is there when your face is still, a filler is. The full menu of both sits on our injectables hub.
Comparing the four fillers
Everything in this table is drawn from the four treatment pages themselves. Durations are typical ranges rather than promises, and every one of them depends on which formulation is used, the area treated and your own metabolism.
| Filler | Often chosen for | Gel type | Typical areas | Results typically last |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juvederm | Smooth, natural looking volume, placed precisely and blended evenly | Hyaluronic acid | Lips, cheeks and jawline | 6 months to 2 years |
| Restylane | Detailed work where the formulation is matched to the area being treated | Hyaluronic acid, a family of formulations | Cheeks, lips, under the eyes and hands | 6 to 18 months |
| Radiesse | Deeper folds and lost volume, with your own collagen production stimulated over time | Calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres in a gel carrier | Nasolabial folds, marionette lines, pre-jowl folds and hands | 12 to 18 months |
| Belotero | Superficial lines where the surrounding skin is delicate, for a subtle result | Soft hyaluronic acid that integrates into the surrounding tissue | Vertical lip lines, crow’s feet, chin wrinkles, nasolabial folds and marionette lines | 6 to 12 months |
A closer look at each one
Juvederm
The smooth consistency of Juvederm’s hyaluronic acid gel lets it be placed precisely and blend evenly, which is why it is used in areas such as the lips, cheeks and jawline. When injected it replenishes lost hyaluronic acid, smooths wrinkles and plumps areas with volume loss, and visible improvements can be seen right after treatment. It comes in several formulations, which is why the duration range is the widest of the four. Full detail is on the Juvederm treatment page.
Restylane
Restylane is a family of smooth hyaluronic acid gels, each formulation matched to the area being treated, which is what makes it the filler used here for detailed work on the lips and the area under the eyes. It adds volume and smooths lines by attracting and retaining moisture in the skin, and over time the product integrates with your skin. Because different formulations address different concerns, the choice within the family is part of the treatment plan rather than something settled in advance. See the Restylane treatment page.
Radiesse
Radiesse differs from the other three in what it is made of. Calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres in a gel carrier act as a scaffold beneath the skin, smoothing wrinkles and filling areas of lost volume, and over time those microspheres stimulate your body’s natural collagen production, which helps maintain the result even after the gel has been absorbed. That mechanism is why it is the one to read about if deeper folds or the backs of the hands are what you want treated. See the Radiesse treatment page.
Belotero
Belotero is the filler chosen when a line is superficial and the skin around it is delicate. Its soft hyaluronic acid gel integrates evenly into the surrounding tissue, and its smooth consistency allows precise treatment of even the most delicate areas, so the result is subtle rather than volumizing. It is commonly used on vertical lip lines, crow’s feet, chin wrinkles, nasolabial folds and marionette lines. See the Belotero treatment page.
How to choose between them
In practice the treatment area narrows the choice before the brand name does, and the two comparisons people ask for most are already written up. If you are weighing the two most widely used hyaluronic acid brands, read Juvederm vs Restylane. If you are weighing a hyaluronic acid filler against the collagen stimulating option, read Radiesse vs Juvederm.
You do not need to arrive with an answer. A consultation is where your provider assesses your skin, discusses your goals and determines which product and treatment plan suit your needs, and it is free, in person or by phone. Filler appointments are arranged through that consultation rather than online booking, so the conversation happens before anything is scheduled. Bringing two things makes it faster: the specific area you want treated, and how long you would like the result to hold.
Where to find us
Book a free consultation
Book a free filler consultation
Prefer to talk it through first? Ring (703) 383-0431, or browse every bookable service on the scheduling page.
Dermal filler questions
What is the difference between a hyaluronic acid filler and Radiesse?
Juvederm, Restylane and Belotero are hyaluronic acid fillers. They use a gel form of a substance found naturally in the body, which binds with water to add volume and smooth lines at the site of injection. Radiesse is made of calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres in a gel carrier instead. It acts as a scaffold beneath the skin and, over time, stimulates your body’s own collagen production, so part of its effect continues after the gel itself has been absorbed.
How long do dermal filler results last?
It depends on the product and the area. Belotero typically lasts 6 to 12 months, Restylane 6 to 18 months, Radiesse 12 to 18 months, and Juvederm anywhere from 6 months to 2 years depending on which formulation is used. Duration also varies with the amount of filler used, the treatment area and your individual metabolism, which is why each brand page gives a range rather than a figure.
How much do dermal fillers cost at Elume Medspa?
Fillers are priced per syringe, and how many syringes a treatment needs depends on the area and the result you are after. Because the dose is matched to your anatomy and your goals, we quote fillers at your consultation rather than publishing a flat rate.
Do I have to pick a brand before I book?
No. Consultations exist for exactly this. Your provider assesses your skin, discusses your goals and recommends the product and treatment plan that fit, and for several of these brands the choice of formulation within the family is part of that plan. Come with the area you want treated rather than a product name.
