Evolysse Hyaluronic Acid Filler Review

Cosmopolitan

5 days ago

It's not every day a new injectable hits the beauty market, so when I first heard about Evolysse, a new type of filler from Evolus (the makers of Jeuveau, a popular type of Botox), my ears immediately perked up...and then my skin perked up, itching to give it a try. Yes, Evolysse is a filler. The dreaded f-word. But it promises to lead the way in rebranding the way social media has conditioned us to view filler in recent months (that it's bad, unnatural, and that it will leave your face looking puffy if overdone in just the slightest) thanks to a new technology that preserves the molecular structure of hyaluronic acid so it looks smooth and natural once injected.
Intrigued? I was too—and was fortunate enough to get an early sneak peek of the newest FDA-approved injectable to see how it compares to the tried-and-true injectables currently on the market. I'm here to give my honest thoughts after trying it, and help set the record straight on where this injectable fits into your cosmetic treatment routine.
Evolysse is a hyaluronic acid injectable. Hyaluronic acid is a molecule that's naturally occurring in our bodies that, when injected underneath the skin, can smooth out imperfections, add volume to areas of the face, and augment features such as the lips, chin, and jawline. You know how your hyaluronic acid serum makes your skin all plump, bouncy, and firm? When injected properly, hyaluronic fillers basically create that same effect but for the long term.
Hyaluronic acid fillers have been around since the early aughts, but Evolysse is the first real technological innovation in the space in the last decade, says Julie K. Karen, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, NY. "It's a new group of hyaluronic acid fillers that seeks to restore volume and smooth out the lower face in a very natural and smooth way because of the innovative technology by which they're developed,' explains Dr. Karen. Said innovative technology is called Cold-X Technology. It's what sets Evolysse apart from other hyaluronic acid-injectables on the market, and it helps protect the natural structure of the hyaluronic acid molecule.
I'm going to get a little sciencey here, but the gist is that hyaluronic acid molecules are sensitive to warmer temperatures when manufactured for aesthetic use, though all current ones on the market are produced in this manner. When hyaluronic acid-injectables are made at very warm temperatures, it 'denatures the hyaluronic acid,' effectively causing it to break down into shorter fragments, which are then crosslinked to reconnect them for use. 'By processing the Evolysse line at cold, near-freezing temperatures, they preserve the natural structure of hyaluronic acid. This leads to a more natural-looking result, mimicking the actual existence of hyaluronic acid in the skin,' says Dr. Karen. This process also leads to more natural tissue integration and less swelling when the product is injected into the skin.
Right now, Evolysse is FDA-approved to smooth dynamic smile lines and laugh lines in the lower face, though, depending on your provider's expertise, it can be injected off-label into other areas to volumize, smooth, or augment. Currently, the Evolysse line has two different types of filler in the U.S. market: Form and Smooth. 'Evolysse Smooth is softer and more pliable, making it suitable for more superficial lines like those around the mouth, like perioral lines, marionette lines, nasolabial folds,' says Connie Yang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, NY. 'I have injected Smooth in the lips and seen a beautiful, soft result,' says Dr. Yang. Evolysse Form, on the other hand, is firmer, more robust, and gel-like, making it 'suitable for deeper folds and areas needing more volume (like cheeks, jawline, etc.). It provides more structure and contour, which is great for areas that need more volume restoration and support,' she further explains. This all being said, Dr. Yang says the family of injectables 'are quite versatile and can be used at different depths to address a wide variety of concerns on the face.'
Aside from the fact that it smooths dynamic smile lines and laugh lines, augments, and restores volume to areas of the face, Evolysse doesn't cause the lumps and bumps that can potentially form post-injection. 'One of the adverse effects of hyaluronic acid fillers is sometimes delayed onset of nodules, the little lumps, bumps, or granulomas around where the filler is placed,' explains Dr. Karen. By using Cold-X Technology and maintaining the natural form of hyaluronic acid by not having to crosslink it as much, 'they are finding both in the initial pivotal study, and then in practice, there is basically a nonexistent rate of nodules. That's not to say it can't happen, but in their initial study, no delayed onset nodules formed,' Dr. Karen adds.
As of now, according to that same study, Evolysse is shown to last for one year. It's important to note that the length of the study lasted only for 12 months, and that it's been reported that fillers can remain detectable in the face years longer than initially thought, so it's reasonable to infer that Evolysse lasts just as long as other hyaluronic acid-based injectables on the market in the long term.
Anyone experiencing volume loss, particularly around the lower face, and who wants a natural look is a great candidate. Dr. Karen says both Smooth and Form are great for a highly mobile area, such as the mouth (you're chewing, talking, smiling, etc), because of how natural and delicate the product is. 'If you put something that is too lumpy or clumpy in that area, it may not give you the best result,' she says. Dr. Karen adds that there's really no one who isn't a good candidate, unless someone has major volume loss where their end-game aesthetics goals are not realistic from the use of injectables.
As a beauty editor and self-proclaimed aesthetics guinea pig, I wanted to try Evolysse to fill in some areas of slight volume loss around my mouth that were bugging me. I visited Dr. Karen's office for my Evolysse treatment. After having numbing cream applied to my areas of concern in my lower face and sitting with it for about 10 minutes, Dr. Karen assessed my face, choosing to use Evolysse Form on me. She injected a little bit of Evolysse Form between my upper lip and cheek, the nasolabial fold, and the melolabial fold, or what people call the marionette. She also placed a little in the pre-jowl sulcus, which is that slight divot that people get at the lateral aspect of their chin, along the jawline.
Thanks to the numbing cream, the experience was only very mildly uncomfortable. The whole thing took less than thirty minutes, and I saw the results of the product immediately. Though very subtle, the skin around my lower face looked smoother and slightly plumper.
The immediate results are what Dr. Yang loves about the injectable. 'What's unique about Evolysse is that you can treat to correction, meaning what you see after injection is about what you can expect in the long run. With Cold-X Technology, these fillers do not swell as much as other HAs on the market, which can be a good thing depending on your treatment goals."
Depending on your location, provider, and number of syringes needed, the cost may vary, but the price of Evolysse is comparable to other brands of hyaluronic acid-injectables. You can expect to pay around $900 to $1,500 for a syringe, but even this range may vary. For reference, Dr. Karen does not usually inject more than a syringe or two at a time during an appointment.
While I certainly love the results from my Evolysse appointment and find them to be super natural, it ultimately does not look like I've had filler, which is arguably the whole point. Provided you go to an experienced injector, you Evolysse can definitely refresh your face without making you look overfilled or puffy. I also loved that the effects were instant—so when I left my appointment, I immediately felt good about my results. All in all, Evolysse is another great option to choose from if you're interested in fillers.
Taryn is a beauty writer and editor in digital media with more than 10 years of experience. She has covered the newest and most innovative skincare and beauty products, aesthetic treatments, and plastic surgery trends. Her stories touch on everything from the best products to treat hyperpigmentation to why fat grafting is the better alternative to filler. In addition to Cosmopolitan, she currently contributes to Allure, InStyle, PS (formerly POPSUGAR), Marie Claire, The Zoe Report, and Bustle. In addition to her writing, Taryn directs, produces, and writes short films that have appeared at numerous film festivals around the country. Whenever she has a free moment, you can find her hopping around New York City with her Maltese pup, Bryn, and probably daydreaming about being at the beach. Follow her on Instagram for the latest.