Fill Up the Lines
Move over the Botox: Dermal fillers are becoming the latest craze among those who want to erase their "laugh lines" and other wrinkles, but don't want to go under the knife. Some doctors say they provide a more natural look than cosmetic surgery, with minimal risk and less discomfort — in just minutes. Injected into the skin, fillers promise to restore a youthful appearance by plumping upFill Up the Lines areas that have, with aging, lost fat and other structural components. Fillers claim to be able to contour your face to give you a more shapely chin or fuller lips and cheeks, for example. Here's what you should know.

The old and the new

Different fillers have different cosmetic effects and last for varying amounts of time; each has pros and cons.

Bovine (cow) collagen, the first approved filler, lasts about two to six months before being reabsorbed into the skin, and so must be re-injected fairly often to maintain the appearance. And some people may be allergic to it, so allergy testing is necessary.

Hyaluronic acid, approved a few years ago, lasts longer; it breaks down harmlessly in the body after six months to a year, and is less likely to cause allergic reactions.

Sculptra & Radiesse, the latest generation of fillers containing synthetic materials, work by enhancing volume or act as a scaffold for the body's own collagen. Such fillers are considered semi permanent because their effects may last for several years.

Artefill - made from no degradable Fill Up the Linesbeads suspended in bovine collagen - is the first permanent filler approved by the USA FDA for filling in certain facial creases. If you are considering a procedure, before you fill ask about

* Side effects: Though serious ones are rare, all fillers have potential risk, including allergic reactions, bleeding, swelling, redness, bruising, bumps, scarring, and infections.

* Long-term safety aspects: Like what happens cosmetically as a person continues to age. Fillers, after all, don't stop the aging process.

* Previous experience: Make sure your doctor is well versed in the proper injection technique.

* What exactly a filler can - and can't - do: Not everything can be fixed well with a filler (like lipstick lines and jowls), and no result is guaranteed.

* Whether errors can be undone: Poor results may be difficult or impossible to correct, and even the best doctor can leave a bruise. Start with a more temporary filler to see if you like the results before proceeding to a longer-lasting one.