Injectable Solutions
From wrinkle injections, to laser resurfacing, to the muscle-relaxing effects of Botox, experts say, a world of easy and affordable options awaits you.
Injectable: Zyderm / Zyplast
Description: Collagen injection made from purified cow skin.
Purpose: Fills wrinkles, lines and scars on face and around lips.
Possible Side Effects/Risks,Results: Allergic reaction. Requires skin test prior to procedure.
Results: Immediate, lasts up to 6 months.
Regulatory Status: FDA Approved.
Human Tissue Derived Collagen
A group of human-derived collagen products are currently available in the United States. The tissue, harvested using sterile techniques from donors or grown in a laboratory, are processed to form an injectable human collagen matrix.
Injectable: Cymetra (Micronized Alloderm)
Description: Injectable human tissue collagen matrix derived from cadaver tissue, screened for contami-nation.
Purpose: Filler for lips, nasolabial folds, deep wrinkles and lines.
Possible Side Effects / Risks: Bruising
Results: Multiple treatments needed; lasts 2 months
Regulatory Status: FDA Approved
Injectable: CosmoDerm / CosmoPlast
Description: Derived from human tissue that has been purified and grown in a laboratory. Doesn’t need a skin test.
Purpose: Approved for frown lines, crow’s feet, forehead lines, smile lines, vertical lip lines, marionette lines, lip border and for certain scars. Cosmoderm is used for superficial lines, while Cosmoplast is used for more pronounced wrinkles.
Possible Side Effects / Risks: Bruising.
Results: Immediate.
Regulatory Status:
Injectable: Fascian
Description: Injectable derived from donor-fascia (connective tissue made of collagen) of the thigh muscle.
Purpose: Stimulates collagen formation, adds bulk.
Possible Side Effects / Risks: Bruising.
Results: Lasts up to 6 months
Regulatory Status: FDA Approved
Injectable: Autologen
Description: Injectable collagen prepared from the patient’s skin. Small pieces of skin are harvested from the patient, processed and prepared for injection or frozen for later use.
Purpose: An alternative to traditional collagen injections.
Possible Side Effects / Risks: Bruising, time consuming and expensive
Results: 2 or 3 treatments over a 6 to 8 week period to produce collagen; not permanent
Regulatory Status: Not required.
Human Derived Product
Injectable: Plasmagel
Description: Plasma emulsion (protein) made of patient’s blood and Vitamin C complex.
Purpose: Soft tissue filler to add volume.
Possible Side Effects / Risks: Bruising.
Results: Lasts up to 3 months
Regulatory Status: Not required.
Fat
Fat injections have been used for years to add volume, fill wrinkles, lines and enhance the lips. Fat injections involve taking fat from one part of the patient’s body (abdomen, thighs or buttocks) and reinjecting it beneath the facial skin. Unlike bovine collagen, allergic reaction is not a factor as the fat is harvested from the patient’s own body. Results are variable, but can be permanent. More than 52,000 fat injection procedures were performed every year, according to the ASPS.
Botulinum toxins
First used to treat eye disorders, botulinum toxins have been used for neck spasms, cranial nerve disorders and eye spasms. For cosmetic purposes, the bacteria is used for the temporary improvement of moderate to severe wrinkles in the glabellar region. When injected into facial muscles, botulinum toxins block nerve impulses, temporarily paralyzing muscles and smoothing wrinkles. Currently Botox® is the only form of botulinum toxin approved by the FDA for cosmetic purposes in the glabellar region, but two others, MyoblocTM and Dysport®, are under FDA review for cosmetic use.
More than 4 million Botox® injections were performed every year, according to ASPS. Botox injections were the most popular minimally-invasive cosmetic procedure. Sixty-five percent of all Botox® procedures were performed on people between the ages of 30 –55.
Injectable: Botox
Description: Botulinum toxin type A
Purpose: Smoothes wrinkles, reduces hyperhydrosis
Possible Side Effects / Risks: Bruising, numbness, droopy eyelids, body may become immune
Results: Can begin to take effect 5-7 days, maximum effect in two to four weeks
Regulatory Status: FDA approved for use in the glabellar region.
All other use considered off label.
Injectable: Myobloc
Description: Botulinum toxin type B; Requires larger dose than Botox but takes effect more quickly. Myobloc has a longer shelf life than Botox. May serve as alternative to patients resistant to botulinum toxin type A.
Purpose: Smoothes wrinkles.
Possible Side Effects / Risks: Bruising, numbness, droopy eyelids, body may become immune.
Results: Can take effect in 4-6 hours, maximum effect in 2 weeks.
Regulatory Status:
In use outside U.S.
Injectable: Dysport
Description: Botulinum toxin type A; Requires larger dose than Botox but manufacturer claims injections are stronger and last longer with patients returning twice a year rather than four treatments with Botox.
Purpose: Smoothes wrinkles.
Possible Side Effects / Risks: Bruising, numbness, droopy eyelids, body may become immune.
Results: Can begin to take effect 5-7 days, maximum effect in two weeks
Regulatory Status: In use outside the U.S. FDA decision pending. FDA approved only for cervical dystonias.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid exists naturally in all living organisms and is a natural component of connective tissues, including the skin. Hyaluronic acid has been used to treat joint pain. Restylane® is a soft tissue filler made of hyaluronic acid, manufactured by recombinent technology which adds volume to minimize wrinkles and lines. As the substance naturally occurs in humans and all animals, allergic reactions are rare. According to the ASPS, more than 770,000 hyaluronic acid injection procedures were performed in 2006. Captique™ is another soft tissue filler made of hyaluronic acid which received FDA approval in 2004. Hylaform® and Hylaform Plus® are soft tissue fillers composed of hyaluronic acid extracted from rooster combs – both received FDA approval in 2004. Two additional tissue fillers composed of hyaluronic acid, Perlane® and Restylane® Fine Line, are used outside the United States but are not approved by the FDA.
Injectable: Juvederm (24HV, 30, 30HV)
Description: Hyaluronic acid gel
Purpose: Temporarily corrects moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds
Possible Side Effects / Risks: Temporary redness, pain/tenderness, firmness, swelling, and bruising at injection site; should not be used in patients with severe allergies, particularly allergies to bacterial proteins
Results: Immediate; corrects facial wrinkles of folds for up to six months or longer
Regulatory Status: FDA approved
Injectable: Restylane Fine-lines
Description: Non-animal derived hyaluronic acid.
Purpose: Soft tissue filler that adds volume to wrinkles around the nose and mouth.
Possible Side Effects / Risks: Redness, swelling, tenderness, especially at sight of injection; acne-like formations are rare
Results: Immediate, may last up to 1 year
Regulatory Status: In use outside U.S.
Not FDA approved for any use in the U.S.
Injectable: Perlane
Description: Non-animal derived hyaluronic acid.
Purpose: Soft tissue filler that adds volume to wrinkles and folds in deep layers of skin.
Possible Side Effects / Risks: Pain, redness, swelling, itching, discoloration, and tenderness at the point of injection
Results: Immediate; lasts six months to one year; subsequent injections may require less Perlane
Regulatory Status: FDA approved for the correction of moderate to severe facial folds and wrinkles.
Injectable: Captique
Description: Non-animal derived hyaluronic acid.
Purpose: Soft tissue filler that adds volume.
Possible Side Effects / Risks: Bruising, swelling, rare allergic reaction
Results: Immediate, may last up to 1 year
Regulatory Status: FDA approved for filling moderate to sever facial wrinkles and folds around the nose and mouth
Injectable: Hylaform
Description: Hyaluronic acid extracted from rooster combs.
Purpose: Soft tissue filler that adds volume.
Possible Side Effects / Risks: Redness, swelling, people with sensitivities to avian products may have an allergic reaction
Results: Vary, may last up to 6 months
Regulatory Status: FDA approved for filling moderate to severe wrinkles around the nose and mouth.
Injectable: Hylaform Plus
Description: Hyaluronic acid extracted from rooster combs. Contains large hyaluronic gel acid particles.
Purpose: Soft tissue filler that adds volume.
Possible Side Effects / Risks: Redness, swelling, people with sensitivities to avian products may have an allergic reaction
Results: Vary, may last longer than 4-6 months
Regulatory Status: FDA approved for filling moderate to severe wrinkles around the nose and mouth.
Semi-permanent Fillers
Two additional soft tissue fillers being used for their wrinkle reducing and volume-adding qualities are Sculptra® and Radiesse® (formerly RadianceTM). Radiesse® – received FDA approval for cosmetic applications in Decemeber 2006 – is composed of calcium hydroxylapatite, which has been used in the body for multiple applications including cheek and chin implants. Radiesse® is injected into the face adding volume through microspheres that are suspended in polysaccharide carriers until encapsulation occurs. Sculptra®, which is made of synthetic polylactic acid contained in microspheres, is approved by the FDA for restoration and/or correction of the signs of facial fat loss (lipoatrophy) in people with human immunodeficiency virus. Any other use is considered off-label.
Injectable: Radiesse (Bioform)
Description: Microspheres of calcium hydro-xylapatite suspended in an aqueous gel carrier.
Purpose: Reported to last 1-2 years. The body forms collagen around the micro-spheres that adds bulk.
Possible Side Effects / Risks: According to manu-facturer, clumping, lumping, and nodules can appear when injected into the lips. Little risk of allergic reaction.
Results: Immediate, according to the manu-facturer.
Regulatory Status: FDA approved for correction of moderate to severe wrinkles and folds.
Injectable: Sculptra
Description: Synthetic polylactic acid contained in micro-spheres.
Purpose: Restores lost facial volume in people with HIV. The body forms collagen around the micro-spheres.
Possible Side Effects / Risks: Redness, bruising, lumping and granulomas
Results: Immediate, and typically last two years according to manu-facturer.
Regulatory Status: Approved by FDA for restoration and/or correction of lipoatrophy in HIV patients.
In use outside the U.S. as New Fill, to fill wrinkles. Non-resorbable/”Permanent” Filler
Injectable: ArteFill
Description: Contains 20% tiny, round, non resorbable, smooth particles (polymethyl methacrylate microspheres) and 80% purified bovine collagen gel with 0.3% lidocaine. Microspheres not absorbed by the body; provide support for wrinkle correction
Purpose: Indicated for the correction of nasolabial folds (a.k.a. smile lines)
Possible Side Effects / Risks: Skin test required
Results: Unlike other dermal fillers that eventually become absorbed by the body, ArteFill® is the first injectable to provide a permanent support solution to fill wrinkles and prevent further wrinkling.
Regulatory Status:
Disclaimer.Disclaimer.Disclaimer. Information on this web site was gathered from many sources in public domain such as published books, articles, studies and web sites. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. Please discuss your health conditions and treatments with your personal physician.
