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Soft Tissue Augmentation

Soft-Tissue Augmentation: Hyaluronic Acid (Restylane, Hylaform), Collagen, and Fat Transplantation

Many patients develop wrinkles that begin to be more noticeable over time. Specifically, the skin ages by losing its underlying supporting structure, known as soft tissue atrophy. Soft tissue atrophy is one of the most prominent signs of the aging face, and our surgeons are expert in the identification and treatment of this condition. There are a myriad of options available for the treatment of atrophy, and they are collectively referred to as soft tissue augmentation. The ideal products for soft tissue augmentation are natural feeling and long lasting. Our staff physicians offer a number of treatment options that are designed to afford our patients with a variety of choices to tailor treatment to their individual needs. The most common areas affected by soft tissue atrophy, and the resultant aging appearance, are the lips, chin, cheeks, under the eyes, corners of the mouth, and nasolabial folds (crease running between the nose and the side of the mouth).

Restylane and Hylaform

We now finally have a long lasting, safe way to improve wrinkles with minimal downtime. Restylane and Hylaform are natural occurring hyaluronic acid products that produce superb, reproducible results that last six to twelve months. They can be injected in a 15-30 minute session to erase wrinkles, eliminate some scars, and augment or contour the lips and cheeks.

Two major types of wrinkles can be treated with Restylane, Perlane and Hylaform: the “smile line” or dynamic wrinkle, and the static wrinkle, caused by aging, overexposure to the sun, and/or cigarette smoking. Restylane injections are most commonly used to treat the furrow that develop between the eyebrows (glabellar wrinkles), the wrinkles around the eyes (periorbital wrinkles), the lines that run from the nose to the corner of the mouth (nasolabial fold), and acne scars. It is also used to fill in and augment thin lips, subtle defects in the cheeks and chin, and to correct the sad expression that appears at the corners of the mouth with advanced age.

Occasionally, our physicians will use topical or local anesthesia to make the procedure more comfortable, especially when treating the lips. Restylane and Perlane are quite technique dependent, and the doctors at SkinCare Physicians are recognized around the world as skilled pioneers in the injection of these materials and continue to teach other physicians how to attain the most aesthetic results.

Collagen Injections

Collagen, a natural substance that is present in skin, can help eliminate or improve some of the facial wrinkles and lines that are an inevitable part of aging. SkinCare Physicians uses safe, purified collagen manufactured specifically for this purpose. A simple skin test may be done to determine whether someone is allergic to the collagen.

The procedure is safe, effective, and usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes. To maintain optimal results, repeat treatments are usually performed every 3 to 4 months.

Autologous Fat Transplantation

For patients who desire a permanent, natural appearing result, autologous fat transplantation is a superb treatment option. Autologous fat transplantation offers two advantages over other methods of erasing wrinkles. First, the fat we use is your own tissue eliminating the risk of allergic reactions. Second, most of the fat that is transplanted will remain permanently, resulting in fewer repeat treatments.

Fat transplants are used to fill in contour defects, such as the groove that runs from the nose to the corner of the mouth (nasolabial folds), cheeks, temples, jaw line and to improve the appearance around the corners of the mouth, which often begins to sag with age.

Before the Procedure

To obtain fat for transplantation, a small liposuction procedure is performed in which cells are harvested from the abdomen, buttocks, outer thighs or hips. Virtually painless, this procedure takes less than 30 minutes. Afterwards, the fat tissue is processed for implantation. A small portion of the harvested fat is used for immediate transplantation, and the remainder is processed and stored in our specially designed facility for future use.

The Procedure

After a small amount of local anesthesia is administered, the patient’s own tissue is inserted using special small instruments. Sutures are not required. Careful attention is paid to the fat insertion technique, ensuring that the results are both smooth and symmetrical. It is imperative that the surgeon have a keen eye for aesthetic contours, and use precisely controlled movements to create a wrinkle-free appearance. Fortunately, our surgeons have performed hundreds of fat transplants over the years, and have refined the skills needed to produce superb results on a daily basis.

Recovery

Post-operative care is minimal after this procedure and recovery is quick. Results can be seen within 24 to 48 hours after the swelling recedes and the newly transplanted tissue settles in place.

Bruising is uncommon, and is usually covered easily with makeup. If additional wrinkle correction is desired by the patient, a small touch-up procedure can be performed 2 to 4 months after the initial procedure.

Our physicians have pioneered novel techniques for fat transplantation, producing longer lasting, natural, beautiful results. It is an elegant procedure for those patients seeking to soften the signs of facial aging.

About SkinCare Physicians

SkinCare Physicians is a comprehensive state-of-the-art center for cosmetic and laser surgery, dermatology, dermatologic and skin cancer surgery, and medical aesthetics. The center’s founders and their associates are internationally renowned innovators and leaders in all of these fields. They are authors, or co-authors, of more than 700 articles in scientific publications, authors or editors of more than 50 books, editors of 18 medical journals and serve on editorial boards of 14 additional periodicals. Our physicians have been elected or appointed to senior leadership positions in dermatology, cosmetic surgery, laser medicine, and surgery organizations, and have been awarded honorary memberships in many national and international medical and scientific societies.

Our commitment to excellence, along with the credentials of our skilled physicians and staff, are what make SkinCare Physicians one of the most unique and progressive facilities of its kind in the world.

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