Alloderm grafts are a new procedure that provides permanent correction for small and large scars and deep lines. Made from a component of human skin, Alloderm is burrowed under each scar or line and becomes part of the patient’s own tissue. This eliminates the need for repeat treatment, as is necessary with other substances that break down and are reabsorbed into the patient’s system. Because it is a biologic product, there is no risk of allergic reaction. Some of the most promising uses for Alloderm is lip augmentation and correction of deep "marionette lines" that can develop around the sides of the mouth.
Autologen and Isologen also offer long-lasting correction for deeper lines and grooves. With these fillers, a small piece of the patient’s own skin is "harvested" in a lab to create a form of human collagen which is then injected into the depressed area. The collagen is made of the patient’s own tissue, so re-absorption back into the system is minimized and there is not potential for allergic reactions. A skin patch removed during another cosmetic surgery procedure such as a face-lift or tummy tuck is usually used.
Dermalogen, another human collagen, product is made from tissue donated to tissue banks. It is a safe and effective injection for wrinkle correction that does not require a patient to donate his or her own skin first. It appears to last up to 2 years in recent clinical trials.
Gortex is a synthetic material with a pliable, natural consistency that blends well with the patient’s own tissue. It will not reabsorb, so results appear to be permanent. Gortex works well for deeper depressed areas of for augmenting a higher-volume area such as the chin, which often recedes through aging. The strong but supple consistency of Gortex also works nicely for lip-line enhancement.
Collagen injections have a proven twenty-year track record and are still a choice treatment for eliminating fine, superficial lines and wrinkles. A good finishing touch when other fillers are used to correct deeper lines, collagen offers results that last nine months or longer, depending on the location. A newer type of collagen is Fibrel, which combines pig collagen with products from the patient’s own blood. Fibrel lasts slightly longer than other types of collagen and has a lower rate of allergic reaction (one drawback of collagen).
Fat transfer is another option for eliminating wrinkles and lines as well as plumping up fallen areas such as the chin or cheekbones, which tend to shrink with age. A small area of skin is numbed so that minimal volumes of the patient’s own fat can be removed. The fat is then processed and carefully transferred to the problem area. At first the body reabsorbs much of the fat, but enough remains to make a marked difference, and after a few additional treatments the area is filled in. Fat transfer presents no risk of allergic reaction and in most patients the results last for years.
Hyaline gel is not yet approved for use in the U.S., but should be available in the near future. Popular and well regarded in Europe, hyaline gel is ideal for smoothing out smaller-volume areas, fine lines and surface wrinkles. It is similar to traditional collagen and Fibrel, but there is virtually no potential for allergic reaction.