Entering the new age of aesthetic injectables

Are biostimulators better than fillers?

- SKINVESTING DR. KAYCEE REYES

For years, dermal fillers have been the trusty workhorses of medical aesthetics, smoothing wrinkles and plumping gaunt cheeks almost instantly. But a new class of injectables is making waves in clinics and medspas, promising not just to fill but to heal and renew the skin from within.

These are the biostimulators and their transformative rise is changing the landscape of aesthetic medicine. In Manila and around the world, patients and practitioners alike are buzzing about collagen-boosting injections that claim to rejuvenate in a more natural way.

How do they work?

Biostimulators are injectable substances that trigger your body’s own collagen and elastin production. Instead of acting like spackle to fill a crack, they act more like fertilizer for your skin’s garden, thus, encouraging growth and repair. Traditional fillers physically add something under the skin while biostimulators cause your skin to generate new tissue.

Biostimulators vs. traditional fillers: Competition or a perfect pair?

Are biostimulators poised to replace the dermal fillers in every cosmetic injector’s toolkit? Not exactly, or at least not yet. Traditional fillers, like those based on hyaluronic acid (HA), still excel at quickly lifting a crease or restoring a sunken area with precision. Sometimes you want that instant gratification and the ability to sculpt with artistic control. However, biostimulators offer a different philosophy of enhancement, one that is increasingly appealing to both doctors and patients looking for longer-term solutions. Here’s how they stack up on a few key points:

Mechanism: