|
Injectable Fillers in Plastic
Surgery
Are
injectables right for you
Knowing your
options
What to expect
The
treatments
Improving Skin Texture
If you're considering injectables...
As we age, our faces begin to show the effects of
gravity, sun exposure and years of facial muscle
movement, such as smiling, chewing and squinting.
The underlying tissues that keep our skin looking
youthful and plumped up begin to break down, often
leaving laugh lines, smile lines, crow's feet or
facial creases over the areas where this muscle
movement occurs.
Soft-tissue fillers, most commonly injectable
collagen or Cymetra®, can help
fill in these lines and creases, temporarily
restoring a smoother, more youthful-looking
appearance. When injected beneath the skin, these
fillers plump up creased and sunken areas of the
face. They can also add fullness to the lips and
cheeks. Injectable fillers may be used alone or in
conjunction with a resurfacing procedure, such as a
laser treatment, or a recontouring procedure, such
as a facelift.
If you're considering a facial-rejuvenation
treatment with collagen or fat, this brochure will
give you a basic understanding of the procedure -
when injectables can help, how the procedure is
performed, and what results you can expect. It may
not answer all of your questions, since a lot
depends on your individual circumstances. Please ask
your doctor if there is anything about the procedure
you don't understand.
^UP
Knowing your options
Injected collagen and fat are primarily used to
improve the appearance of the skin's texture. They
can help fill out deep facial wrinkles, creases and
furrows, "sunken" cheeks, skin depressions and some
types of scars. They can also be used to add a
fuller, more sensuous look to the lips.
Injectables are usually not sufficient for severe
surface wrinkles on the face, such as multiple
vertical "lipstick lines" that sometimes form around
the mouth. Instead, your plastic surgeon may suggest
a resurfacing technique, such as chemical peel,
dermabrasion or laser treatments. Rather than
filling in facial lines, resurfacing methods strip
away the outer layers of the skin to produce a
smoother appearance.
Deep folds in the face or brow caused by overactive
muscles or by loose skin may be more effectively
treated with cosmetic surgery, such as a facelift or
browlift. Injectables are sometimes used in
conjunction with facial surgery procedures; however,
injectables alone cannot change facial contour the
way surgery can.
Keep in mind that a plastic surgeon is a specialist
that can offer you the full gamut of the most
advanced treatments ranging from cosmetic surgery,
refinishing techniques, laser therapy, injectables
and the use of other fillers. You and your surgeon
may determine that a single procedure or a
combination of procedures is the best choice for
you.
ASPS brochures are available on chemical peel,
dermabrasion, laser treatments, facelift and
browlift. If you and your doctor think that one of
these other procedures might be more appropriate for
you, ask your plastic surgeon to provide you with a
copy.
 Injectable collagen or fat can help
improve the skin's texture by filling
in the laugh lines and facial creases
that often occur with aging.
A word about other types of fillers
This brochure deals with the two most commonly used
types of injectable fillers, collagen and fat.
However, to a lesser extent, a number of other
filler materials are also being used for
facial-rejuvenation purposes. They include: Fibril,
a gelatin powder compound that's mixed with a
patient's own blood and is injected to plump up the
skin (similar to injectable collagen); and Gortex, a
thread-like material that is implanted beneath the
skin to add soft-tissue support.
Each of these options has its own set of risks and
benefits. If you're considering any of these
alternative filler treatments, tell your doctor.
^UP
What to expect from treatment
The most important fact to remember about injectable
fillers is that the results are not permanent.
Injected material is eventually metabolized by the
body. You should not expect the same long-lasting
results that may be gained from cosmetic surgery.
In some individuals, the results may last only a few
weeks; in others, the results may be maintained
indefinitely. Researchers believe that age, genetic
background, skin quality and lifestyle as well as
the injected body site may all play a role in the
injected material's "staying power." However, the
precise reason for the variation of results among
patients has yet to be identified.
If you've had short-lived results from fat
injections, you shouldn't necessarily assume that
collagen injections will work better for you. And,
conversely, if you've had disappointing results from
collagen, don't assume that injected fat is the
answer. Although it's true that some individuals'
bodies are more receptive to one substance than the
other, others may find that neither substance
produces long-lasting results. Sometimes one
substance may work better than the other for a
specific problem.
Risks related to injectables
When injectables are administered by a qualified
plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and
usually minor in nature. Still, individuals vary
greatly in their anatomy, their physical reactions
and their healing abilities. The outcome of
treatment with injectables is never completely
predictable.
Collagen: Allergic reaction is the primary
risk of collagen. To help determine if you are
allergic to the substance, your surgeon will perform
an allergy skin test about a month before the
procedure. After the test is performed, the test
site should be watched carefully for three or four
weeks, or as long as your surgeon advises. Any sign
of redness, itching, swelling or other occurrences
at the test site should be reported to your surgeon.
Risks not necessarily related to allergies include
infection, abscesses, open sores, skin peeling,
scarring and lumpiness, which may persist over the
treated area. Reports of these problems are very
rare.
Fat: Allergic reaction is not a factor for
fat because it's harvested from a patient's own
body. However, there is still a small risk of
infection and other infrequent complications.
Planning for treatment
Facial rejuvenation is very individualized. That's
why it's important to discuss your hopes and
expectations with a board-certified plastic surgeon
who has experience with many different types of
surgical and non-surgical facial procedures.
In your initial consultation, your plastic surgeon
will evaluate your face - the skin, the muscles and
the underlying bone - and discuss your goals for the
surgery. Your doctor will help you select a
treatment option based on your goals and concerns,
your anatomy and your lifestyle.
Your surgeon will ask you about your medical
history, drug allergies, and check for conditions
that could cause problems, such as active skin
infections or non-healed sores from injuries.
Collagen injections are generally off limits for
pregnant women, individuals who are allergic to beef
or bovine products, patients who suffer from
autoimmune diseases, and those who are allergic to
lidocaine (the anesthetic agent contained in the
syringe with the collagen material). For more
specific information about the contraindications and
risks of collagen use, ask your doctor for the
manufacturer's brochure for patients.
Insurance usually doesn't cover cosmetic procedures.
However, if your injectable treatment is being
performed to treat a scar or indentation from an
accident or injury, you may be reimbursed for a
portion of the cost. Check with your insurance
carrier to be sure.
Where your treatment will be performed
Injectables are usually administered in a surgeon's
office-based facility. If, however, you are being
hospitalized for a facelift, necklift, browlift, or
any other procedure, your injections may be
administered in the hospital as well.
Types of anesthesia
Collagen: Because the anesthetic agent
lidocaine is mixed in with collagen, additional
anesthetic is usually not used. However, if you are
especially sensitive to pain, your doctor may use a
topical cream anesthetic or a freon spray to numb
the injected area. Or, you may elect to have an
injected local anesthetic or sedative drugs.
Fat: Both the donor and recipient sites are
numbed with local anesthesia. Sedation can be used
as well. If you elect to use sedation, be sure to
arrange for a ride home after your treatment.
^UP
The Treatments
Collagen
Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that
provides support to various parts of the human body:
the skin, the joints, the bones and the ligaments.
Injectable collagen, patented by the Collagen
Corporation under the trade names Zyderm and
Zyplast, is derived from purified bovine collagen.
The purification process creates a product similar
to human collagen. Injectable collagen received
approval from the Food and Drug Administration
in1981. It is produced in various thicknesses to
meet individual patient needs.
Collagen is used primarily to fill wrinkles, lines
and scars on the face and sometimes the neck, back
and chest.
The procedure: Treatment with collagen can
begin after a skin test determines that you're not
allergic to the subsstance. The collagen is injected
using a fine needle inserted at several points along
the edge of the treatment site. If a local
anesthesia has not been used, you may feel some
minor stinging or burning as the injections are
administered.
Since part of the substance is salt water that
will be absorbed by the body within a few days, your
doctor will slightly overfill the area. You may be
asked to hold a hand mirror during the procedure to
help your doctor decide when you've had enough.
After treatment: Immediately following
treatment, you may notice some minor discomfort,
stinging or throbbing in the injected area.
Occasionally some bruising or swelling will occur,
but it is usually minor. Any redness that appears in
the injected site usually disappears within 24
hours. However, in some individuals, particularly
fair-skinned patients, this redness may persist for
a week or more. Tiny scabs may also form over the
needle-stick areas; these generally heal quickly.
No bandaging is needed and you are free to eat,
drink, and wear makeup with sunblock protection
shortly thereafter. There may be some temporary
swelling and redness in the treated area which
should dissipate within a few days. If these
symptoms persist, contact your surgeon.
Results: As stated earlier, the duration
of results from collagen injections is variable.
Collagen's longevity depends on the patient's
lifestyle and physical characteristics as well as
the part of the body treated. In general, the
injected material is likely to disappear faster in
areas that are more affected by muscle movement.
Your doctor can help you determine how long you can
go between treatments to best maintain your results.
 Collagen Areas - Lips, lines and creases
that form around the mouth. After injection
you will be swollen for a few hours. Patients
are instructed to use ice to minimize the
swelling.
The lower face appears firmer and
smoother after treatment with injectables.
Lines around the mouth are filled in and
nearly imperceptible.
 Results: The duration of the fat injections
varies significantly from patient to patient. Though
some patients have reported results lasting a year
or more, the majority of patients find that at least
half of the injected fullness disappears within 3-6
months. Therefore, repeated injections may be
necessary. Your doctor will advise you on how to
maintain your results with repeat treatments.
 Your new look
If you're like most patients, you'll be very
satisfied with the results of your injectable
treatments. You may be surprised at the pleasing
results that can be gained from this procedure.
With regular follow-up treatments,
your refreshed look can be easily
maintained.
^UP
For
more information, contact us at
262-691-7546
info@cosmeticplasticsurgeon.net |
