Before You Get Filler: The Guide to HA, Sculptra, Skinvive & What They Actually Do

Sara Tan (0:01)

G-L-A-M, Gloss Angeles.

Kirbie Johnson (0:14)

It's been a minute since we've done a Glossary episode.

Sara Tan (0:18)

Like years.

Kirbie Johnson (0:19)

Years. And this particular episode was prompted because Sara went and got Skinvive, and I said to one self and also out loud, is that not just filler? I am having a hard time wrapping my head around Skinvive marketing itself as not being a filler. When it's made by Juvederm.

Sara Tan (0:38)

And it's hyaluronic acid.

Kirbie Johnson (0:39)

It's hyaluronic acid. It might be thinner, but it's still doing something there to fill. And the amount of people in our comment section stating, no, it's not filler because of this, or yes, it's filler because of this. It was equally divided.

Sara Tan (0:57)

Yeah.

Kirbie Johnson (0:57)

There was not one true answer.

Sara Tan (0:59)

Yep.

Kirbie Johnson (1:00)

And this happened right before I went on a trip to Montana with Allergan, and I learned a little bit more about Botox.

Sara Tan (1:11)

They make Skinvive.

Kirbie Johnson (1:13)

Yes. And so I had the opportunity to ask some people that know what's up. And I said, you need to tell me what Skinvive is, because on your website, it says that it's a hyaluronic acid filler.

Sara Tan (1:24)

But when you speak to any person, they, Derm, esthetician, they're like, no, it's totally different.

Kirbie Johnson (1:32)

Right. However, I got some answers. Okay.

And it's a little bit of the in-between.

Sara Tan (1:37)

Yes.

Kirbie Johnson (1:38)

So then this, all that to say, yes, this is a very confusing space. This is because Sara and I often get messages from people going, I want to get my skin in the best shape. I want to get tweakments. I want to get injectables. I heard of something called Sculptra. Should I get it? And I'm like, well, why do you want Sculptra?

Well, I don't know. I don't even know what Sculptra does. Okay. We have a problem.

Sara Tan (2:02)

Houston, we have a problem. Or they're literally like, should I get Botox or filler?

Kirbie Johnson (2:08)

Right. Or on that note, they'll be like, I think I want filler because I have these lines around my eyes and I'm like, that's not filler. That's a neuromodulator like Botox.

Sara Tan (2:20)

Yes.

Kirbie Johnson (2:21)

So we said, okay, let's go back to the drawing board. Let's kind of dissect the different types of fillers out there. Let's explain what a filler even is. This may be something that a lot of you listening know, but perhaps you were curious and then just happened to find this podcast and then listen to this episode and you might learn something here. Sara and I are both journalists for those that might be new. We have been covering beauty for upwards of two decades at this point, which is a little crazy to think about. We've been doing this podcast for seven years and we have access to all of the biggest beauty companies, executives. We know a lot about the industry, both front-facing and behind the scenes.

We figured, let's share the information that we know to be true, fact-based, not an opinion, and just roll with it.

Sara Tan (3:13)

Yeah. I think too, for me, this was good just personally because both of us, I got Skinvive for the first time, but we don't get Filler. No. We're just as confused as you are.

Kirbie Johnson (3:28)

Yeah.

Sara Tan (3:28)

And there's just so many new technologies, inventions, terms, so it can be extremely confusing. So we are breaking this down for both you and I.

Kirbie Johnson (3:41)

And full disclosure, I have had Filler in the past.

Sara Tan (3:44)

Yes.

Kirbie Johnson (3:45)

I don't want to make a claim, and then people will be like, I remember you did this. I definitely have had Filler in the past.

Sara Tan (3:50)

But it's been a while.

Kirbie Johnson (3:51)

I don't remember the last time I had Filler, maybe pre-pandemic. Let's dive into it. So not all fillers work the same way. Some restore volume, some improve your skin quality. I think that's where a lot of confusion happens, pointing to myself.

Sara Tan (4:05)

Same.

Kirbie Johnson (4:06)

Some trigger your body to do the work itself. And there are three different categories that we think help kind of lump everything into their nice little rose.

Sara Tan (4:16)

Yes. Okay. First we need to clear the air and state what fillers are not. Yes.

Kirbie Johnson (4:22)

Sara, what aren't fillers?

Sara Tan (4:24)

So, filler as a term gets thrown around frequently, but people often conflate what they're actually referring to, like we said earlier. So, fillers add volume. They do not freeze your muscles. Those are neuromodulators like Botox, Dysport, Daxivy, Xiamen, Givaux.