LaViv is a new facial filler that uses a small amount of your own skin cells to grow a natural filler material in a laboratory.  The substance grown from your own cells is then injected to reduce wrinkles in the skin. It has been reported to last approximately 6 months.  The main feature of LaViv is the manner in which it is created from your own body, reducing any chance of an adverse reaction.

RealSelf describes the filler on their site, with a reference to one of Dr. Kotlus' patients who underwent Perlane treatment for nasolabial and marionette lines: http://www.realself.com/blog/laviv-own-skin-repair-wrinkles

In this month's Plastic Surgery Practice Magazine, Dr. Kotlus defines the "tear trough", a groove under the eyes that appears as a dark circle.  He approaches the tear trough with a combination of therapies, laser resurfacing (seen above), injectable fillers, and possible eyelid lifting surgery. Because everyone has different anatomy, a customized treatment plan is needed in most cases. 

Fillers for the tear trough are most commonly composed of hyaluronic acid, a soft gel.  When used under the eyelid, the results can last longer than a year. There may be limited swelling or bruising after the procedure, but downtime is often minimal. 

Laser resurfacing can have downtime lasting for days, but the outstanding improvement in fine lines and skin texture are often worth the recovery investment. 

Dermal fillers have been growing in popularity in recent years because they effectively soften wrinkles and replace volume lost from aging in a safe and reliable manner. The most popular fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally found in the skin.  Once a treatment is administered, the filler is gradually broken down by enzymes in the body, over a period of months.  How many months?  This can vary depending on the specific filler used.  The most widespread hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers include Restylane, Perlane, and Juvederm.  Each has its own special qualities.  

Dr. Kotlus recently presented his research on filler longevity at national medical meetings.  He used the the Vectra 3-D imaging system (also used for cosmetic surgery simulations) and he monitored the volume of filler (Perlane) in the months after administration.   Perlane was still creating a volume effect 10 months after the initial treatment.  But during this time, the filler was being broken down in a linear fashion:

So Perlane, which can restore youthfulness by creating fullness, can last for 10 months.  Repeat treatment before the filler is gone, possibly at 6-8 months after the initial treatment, can help to sustain the effects for much longer.