Belotero

Belotero fillers are hyaluronic acid-based injectables. Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of your skin. It is ideal to fill wrinkles and folds, because it easily absorbs and retains water, creating volume. The hyaluronic acid in ‘Belotero Balance and Soft’ is especially formulated to create a unique liquid gel. The injectable gel is easily absorbed by the natural skin structure and fills any wrinkles. As a result, your skin will feel very natural and smooth.

WHAT DOES BELOTERO DO?

‘Belotero Balance’ is very suitable for filling superficial fine lines in your skin. That is, because ‘Belotero Balance’ is easily absorbed by the skin. That makes it suitable, for example, for treating wrinkles in your neck, or so-called smoking lines.

Compared with ‘Belotero Balance’, ‘Belotero Soft’ is slightly more fluid, and can thus be used to fill very superficial fine lines. Belotero is the first monophasic dermal filler (unlike the biphasic one). This means that it has been made from stabilised, non-particle hyaluronic acid. As a result, Belotero Balance and Belotero Soft give fewer lumps and can hardly be felt either after it has been injected, because it integrates better with your own skin.

DIFFERENCE COMPARED WITH OTHER FILLERS

Belotero differs from other hyaluronic acids, because Belotero (left) is absorbed better than conventional hyaluronic acids (right)

Unlike other hyaluronic acid-based fillers, Belotero seems to add volume, without the filling becoming lumpy. The reason is that the hyaluronic acid in Belotero has a softer consistency, improving integration with the skin.

Tyndall effect

The ‘Tyndall effect’ can be found when working with more conventional hyaluronic acids injected superficially.

In addition, you won’t see the blue discolouration in ‘Belotero Balance’ and ‘Belotero Soft’. Other fillers sometimes give that discolouration, when they are used to treat superficial wrinkles (for example around the eyes). This is also referred to as the ‘Tyndall effect’. Less product is needed to fill a wrinkle as it is injected very superficially. In practice, this means that a lot of wrinkles can be filled with 1 cc of Belotero.

Why is Belotero used for treatment?

‘Belotero Balance’ and ‘Belotero Soft’ are hyaluronic acid-based fillers, which have specifically been manufactured because they are absorbed better by the skin covering your face. When injected, you get a soft gel that immediately fills the skin, softening any mild to deep lines in your face. The product is strong enough to treat moderate nasal/labial folds (the wrinkle from your nose to the side of your mouth). However, the strength of Belotero is primarily where delicate areas are treated, such as the neck lines, and vertical labial lines (the small lines below and above your lips).

WHAT IS BELOTERO USED FOR?

Belotero Balance AND Belotero Soft are used as dermal fillers for treating:

  • Frown lines (Glabella)
  • Crow’s feet (periorbital wrinkles)
  • Horizontal wrinkles a cross the bridge of your nose (bunny lines)
  • Sunken cheek bones
  • Laugh lines (nasolabial folds)
  • Smoking lines (perioral lines)
  • Margin (vermillion border)
  • Laugh lines around mouth and chin (mentolabial folds)
  • Hand wrinkles
  • Decolleté wrinkles
  • Neck wrinkles
  • Shoulder wrinkles
  • Acne scarring
  • Forehead wrinkles or worry lines

It depends on the depth of the lines whether or not a treatment using ‘Belotero Balance’ or ‘Belotero Soft’ will give the better result. Your cosmetic improvement specialist can give you the right information.

WHAT SHOULD BELOTERO NOT BE USED FOR?

Belotero is the ideal filler for the superficial lines and wrinkles. For deeper lines and folds, there are more suitable fillers available, such as Restylane and Radiesse. It is not suitable for creating volume. In that case, you can better opt for Radiesse, Sculptra or Voluma.

Risks associated with the treatment

IS BELOTERO SAFE?

FDA logo

The FDA imposes strict requirements upon filler manufacturers

‘Belotero Balance’ and ‘Belotero Soft’ have been approved by the FDA. The American Food and Drug Administration protects public health by monitoring manufacturers of food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices etc. FDA approval means that the product satisfies extremely strict regulations. Clinical trials have shown that ‘Belotero Balance’ and ‘Belotero Soft’ are safe and effective. Hyaluronic acid-based fillers have been available for a long time.
They have been used in millions of treatments throughout the world.

WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF BELOTERO?

The most common local side effects are:

  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • Redness
  • Pain
  • Change in skin colour
  • Skin hardening
  • Itching

These side effects usually fade quickly after the treatment. If they have not gone after 7 days, you should consult your doctor. Rare side effects found in Belotero are:

  • Headache
  • Swelling on the side of the nose
  • Cold sores
  • Numbness of the lips
  • Dry lips

Side effects are mostly mild and usually have gone within 7 days.

AM I A SUITABLE CANDIDATE FOR BELOTERO?

You are a suitable candidate for ‘Belotero Balance’ and ‘Belotero Soft’ fillers if you want to treat superficial sharp lines in your face, neck and/or decolleté. It is not recommended to use Belotero in patients with a history of serious allergic reactions. It is not recommended to use Belotero in patients with allergic reactions to gram-positive proteins. It is assumed that ‘Belotero Balance’ and ‘Belotero Soft’ can be used safely if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, but this has not been studied.

SELECT YOUR DOCTOR WITH CARE

Belotero fillers must be injected by doctors who have been trained appropriately to inject dermal fillers.

Pre-treatment preparation

WHAT SHOULD I TELL MY DOCTOR?

Let your doctor know whether you are using any medication that may affect blood clotting, such as NSAIDs, aspirins or blood thinners. They may increase the risk of bruising or bleeding in the area treated. Also tell your doctor if you’ve ever had any skin reaction, such as cold sores, cysts, pimples, a rash or infection.
Postpone the Belotero treatment until the reaction has disappeared. Also tell your doctor if you use any medication affecting your immune system.

WHAT CAN I DO TO RECOVER MORE QUICKLY FROM A BELOTERO TREATMENT?

Until 24 hours after treatment, avoid:

  • Strenuous physical exercise
  • Excessive exposure to sunlight or UV light
  • Excessive exposure to heat or cold
  • Taking aspirins or NSAIDs (type of pain killer)
  • Drinking alcohol

Exposure to the foregoing may cause temporary redness, swelling and itching in the areas that have been injected. Wait some time before undergoing any laser treatment, chemical peeling or other skin treatment after you have been treated with Belotero. It will increase the risk of a reaction on the injection site.

WHAT CAN I DO TO GET A BETTER RESULT OUT OF A BELOTERO TREATMENT?

The ultimate result can be improved by properly following your doctor’s instructions. A healthy lifestyle will be beneficial to the Belotero treatment.

WHAT SHOULD I TELL MY FAMILY?

It is wise to be open to your family about your wish to undergo a treatment in which ‘Belotero Balance’ or ‘Belotero Soft’ is injected. If your next of kin do not know that you have been treated, they may be worried when you come home with bruises.

IMPORTANT
🡪BEFORE THE TREATMENT:
Before an injection is given, your doctor should discuss your medical history with you and you should get answers to all your questions. As is the case with any treatment involving fillers, it may feel uncomfortable and cause some pain. Discuss these concerns with your doctor, because there are effective ways to tackle them.
Your doctor can, for example:

  • numb your skin by injecting an analgesic.
  • apply an analgesic cream 5 to 10 minutes before the treatment.

There is no need for an allergy test.

🡪DURING THE TREATMENT:
The area to be treated will be cleaned, and your doctor will discuss with you whether you need any pain killers. The filler is injected into the skin, using a thin needle. After the treatment, you may be given an ice pack or moist gauzes to reduce or prevent any swelling. The treatment (excluding the consultation) usually takes approx. thirty minutes.

🡪AFTER THE TREATMENT:
Most patients are able to resume their normal activities after the treatment. About 24 hours after treatment, most swelling and redness should have gone. We recommend that you have a follow-up appointment after 4 weeks. A few days after the treatment, you may experience some swelling, because your body starts producing collagen. Sometimes, it may be necessary for your doctor to prescribe medication for one day.

WHEN WILL I SEE ANY RESULT?

Immediately after the treatment, you will see the result of Belotero in the superficial lines, such as the vertical lines around your mouth.

Before and after photographs

HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?

The effect of Belotero starts to wear off after some 6 months. Therefore, it is usually necessary to repeat the procedure within 9 to 12 months.

WILL IT MAKE ME HAPPY?

How happy the treatment will make you depends on the result and your expectations. So it is important that you discuss your expectations with your doctor.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

If you would like to obtain more information or have any questions, please use our contact page.