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New Injection Technique Approved by FDA for Popular Dermal Filler

The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of the popular dermal filler, Restylane® Lyft with a microcannula. This is great news to fans of Restylane® Lyft, who appreciate its value for cheek augmentation and the correction of age-related, mid-face loss of volume. This new technique may reduce bruising, improve skin recovery time, and reduce the risk of minor complications that have been associated with needles.

How does Restylane® placement via Cannula work?

Restylane® Lyft placed with a less invasive microcannula is highly effective at:

• Replacing lost volume in the back of the hands
• Augmenting cheeks to their youthful volume
• Correcting facial loss of volume due to natural aging (midface contour deficiency)
• Treating moderate-to-severe facial folds such as smile lines

Typically, dermal fillers are injected using very fine needles with a minimum of discomfort. Although this is generally very safe, minor bruising can occur. A microcannula is very similar to a fine needle, but with a blunt, rounded tip that accurately places Restylane® Lyft safely into areas of the face and hands. Because the tip is not sharp, there is less potential for bruising that is associated with a more traditional needle injection. Microcannulas also reduce the risk of other injection-related complications, increasing patient safety. Additionally, there is typically only one or two insertion sites used, resulting in a more comfortable patient experience.

Larger cannulas have long been used for fat transfer procedures in the US and are well suited for subcutaneous injections. Smaller microcannulas have been in use for years in Europe and became available in the United States in 2011. In 2012, a consensus panel of dermatologists and plastic surgeons published recommendations for the use of microcannulas for dermal fillers treatments. Subsequently, the Global Aesthetics Consensus panel recommended microcannulas for filler treatment in certain facial areas to reduce bruising and reduce potential complications in 2016.

Restylane® Lyft joins Restylane® Silk as the only two filler products on the market that are FDA-approved for use via cannula. Read more about Restylane and how dermal fillers work here.

Our Approach to Restylane® Treatments

As your aesthetic provider, Jennifer Fick FNP-C, CANS will perform a thorough analysis of the natural balance and proportions of your face to develop a plan that addresses specific concerns, while preserving your own unique facial characteristics. This initial consultation will be the basis of your personalized plan of care that reflects the final outcome you desire, and your time frame and budget.

Dermal filler treatment is very personal depending on your comfort level. Some patients want a more dramatic change in appearance, while others may prefer a more subtle look. And unlike other injectable treatments, hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers are also reversible, which adds to their appeal for first-time patients.

Read more about Restylane treatments here.

Our 5 Most Popular Non-Invasive ‘Facelift’ Treatments

A ‘non-surgical facelift’ is technically not really a facelift at all, but rather a range of non-invasive facial rejuvenation procedures that, if implemented correctly, can have a similar level of aesthetic transformation as a surgical facelift.

In consultation with your provider, one or more of the following procedures may be recommended to reduce signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, uneven or rough skin texture, sunken cheeks or hollowed out areas under the eyes.

The non-surgical facelift procedures that are most suitable for you will be determined by your desired level of rejuvenation and the condition of your skin:

We offer the following non-surgical, non-invasive facial rejuvenation treatments:

1. Botox® and Dysport® Injections
2. Dermal Fillers (Restylane®)
3. Fat Transfer (Fat Grafting)
4. Platelet Rich Plasma treatment (AKA PRP or “Vampire Facelift”)
5. Kybella® for “Double Chin” Reduction

1. Botox® and Dysport® Injections

Botox® and Dysport® are very similar products, both designed to diminish the most apparent signs of aging: fine lines and wrinkles. Using a very fine needle, these injectable treatments are relatively painless, very safe, and very popular because they are incredibly efficient at smoothening the skin to produce a more youthful appearance. A significant benefit is that repeated treatments may reverse somewhat the appearance of etched lines, and also may prevent the formation of new lines and wrinkles.

Read more about Botox® and Dysport® here.

2. Dermal Fillers (Restylane®)

To improve the appearance of many areas of the face, dermal fillers such as Restylane® are injected to replace lost volume and to fill in crevices and lines associated with aging. Dermal fillers are frequently used for:

• Increasing volume to the cheeks, chin contours, forehead, and nose
• Improving the appearance of hollows under the eyes
• Augmenting and contouring the lips and the perioral area
• Reducing oral commissure creases (“sad mouth” syndrome)
• Rejuvenating hands by restoring volume and a more youthful appearance

Fillers placed in the lips usually last about an average of 6 months. Fiiller placed in the hands, under eye area or temple region can last up to a year or more. Once a full correction in the desired treatment area is obtained, the results are very easy to maintain.

Read more about Dermal Fillers here.

3. Fat Transfer (Fat Grafting)

Another tactic for filling in areas of the face that have lost volume with time is fat transfer–the process of moving fat cells from one part of the body into another. Commonly performed to increase volume in the mid face, temple region, under the eyes, lips, chin, or the cheeks, a fat transfer results in a more naturally youthful rejuvenated appearance.

Human fat transfers have other benefits compared to synthetic fillers. They last longer, look and feel natural, and are your own fat cells. The process is minimally invasive and the transferred fat is not visible under the skin.

Additionally, it is possible to achieve even better results by extracting and concentrating the patient’s own stem cells from regular fat cells before replacing them in the body. Stem cells are self-renewing cells that can transform themselves into natural restorers that rejuvenate the skin. This procedure is sometimes referred to as a “stem cell facelift.”

Read more about Fat Transfer here.

4. Platelet Rich Plasma treatment (AKA “Vampire Facelift”)

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment uses your own body’s blood plasma to rejuvenate the facial skin. PRP is the perfect non-invasive facial treatment because PRP therapy is autologous — meaning it comes from your own body. PRP uses plasma that has been enriched with platelets – blood cells whose function is to stop bleeding, promote faster healing with less swelling and bruising. Combined with Micro Needling, PRP is ideal for treating:

• Wrinkles, fine lines, or scars on the face, neck, and hands
• Crepey or ‘sagging’ skin due to natural aging
• Crow’s feet and dark circles around the eyes
• Dull, rough, or sallow skin tone and texture
• Sun damaged skin or sun spots
• Acne scarring
• Hair restoration

Read more about PRP treatments here.

5. Kybella® for “Double Chin” Reduction

If you are in your 20’s, 30’s or early 40’s and have submental fullness — fat beneath the chin — then you may be an ideal candidate for Kybella® treatment. The active ingredient in Kybella® is a synthetic version of a naturally-occurring molecule called deoxycholic acid – a molecule that aids in the breakdown of fat. Kybella® is injected into the fat pocket below the chin where it destroys fat cells and essentially “melts” away the excess fat that produces a “double chin”. A relatively painless, non-surgical treatment, you may need at least 3 treatments to see significant results.

Read more about Kybella® here.

You’ve probably heard of Botox®, so what is Dysport®?

Dysport® is a newer competitor of Botox®, distributed by McKesson – the same company that distributes the popular dermal filler Restylane®. Dysport® was approved for use by the FDA in 2009, however, it has been available in Europe and other countries since 1990. Dysport® is very similar to Botox® but there are some slight differences that may make it a preferred choice in the reduction and elimination of facial wrinkles.

Dysport® is administered in exactly the same way as Botox® – via injection with a very fine needle into facial muscles. However, as with all injectables, the injection technique and skill level of the provider is as critical as the product itself to ensure the best final result. Your provider must also be aware of the subtle differences between the two products to ensure they use correct injection technique. For example, Botox® and Dysport® are not dose-equivalent products and require the provider to understand the standard dosing equivalent ratio to ensure a correct and safe dose of each product is used.

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