Pleasingly Plumped

These furrow fixers marshal the skin's own moisture

Lasers...chemical peels...collagen shots...Botox. In the '90s, speedy face fixing concentrated on smoothing the skin's surface. But today, a new generation of wrinkle fillers goes deeper, plumping from within. Restylane and Hylaform, transparent gel-injectables, promise to replicate the fullness of a youthful complexion. Their chief use is minimizing furrows and deep wrinkles, not removing jowls or tightening sagging skin. Women from their 30s to 80s are trying them, even though full treatments start at around $400, and it's too soon to know long-term results.

Both Restylane and Hylaform received FDA approval in 2004 for use on moderate to severe wrinkles and folds, such as the nasolabial fold (from the nose to the corners of the mouth). Doctors agree that's the area where these filler materials work best, though they're also suitable--and being used off-label--for marionette lines (which run from the corners of the mouth down to the jawline), deep frown lines, the lips, the chin, the tip of the nose, and acne scars.