Tomorrow’s Filler Options Are Here and Include Innovative Ways to Use Fat
By NewBeauty Editors |
We are filling so many things these days, it’s getting hard to keep track of all the things we can fill: cheeks, chins, earlobes, even divots in our butts. If there's an area on our bodies that lacks volume, doctors have found a way to fix it. Vero Beach, FL plastic surgeon Alan Durkin, MD at Ocean Drive Plastic Surgery says the way he is using long-term filler and fat at his practice today is indicative of how far we’ve come from the fillers of the past.
NewBeauty: What
long-lasting fillers are you using a lot of?
Dr. Durkin: Radiesse
and Radiesse Plus. They both use calcium hydroxyapatite microspheres to produce
long term volumization effects. This filler acts as a bioinduction agent,
meaning that it exerts its effect by stimulating the body's own ability to
create collagen. The body creates a response to the filler which specifically
produces type I collagen. This type of collagen is most associated with
youthful, elastic skin, which in my opinion gives Radiesse a huge advantage
over its competitors.
NB: How long does
this type of filler last?
Dr. Durkin: Patients
who receive Radiesse can expect the results to last from 15 months to upwards
of 24 months. My patients who have undergone multiple treatments always
show lasting signs of skin improvement, as the collagen effects of this filler
extend into the deeper dermis.
NB: What areas of the
body can you treat with Radiesse?
Dr. Durkin: The face,
hands and buttocks. Any of the common areas for on- and off-label filler uses.
NB: What other fillers
do you use to treat volume loss?
Dr. Durkin: Another
bioinduction agent I've been seeing great results with is Renuva, an alternative
to fat transfers using liposuction. This all-natural filler can be used to fill
in scars and dimples, plump the cheeks, or rejuvenate the hands.
NB: Is Renuva an
injectable dermal filler or injectable fat?
Dr. Durkin: Renuva
is an all-natural extracellular matrix rich with regenerative properties.
NB: Wow. That is a
mouthful. What does that mean in layman’s terms?
Dr. Durkin: Instead
of creating collagen, Renuva creates natural human fat. Many people do not
realize that we stop making fat cells after puberty. When we gain weight,
we only make our fat cells bigger, but we don't make more fat
cells. Renuva changes all of this. When injected into areas where
there is hollowness, it acts as a scaffold that allows the body to recruit new
fat cells to attach to it. Renuva contains the same collagen, growth factors
and proteins as your own fat. Because it is made from human allograft tissue,
Renuva is a safe and effective alternative to fat grafting to restore volume.
NB: Where does the fat
come from if it’s not from a patient’s own liposuction?
Dr. Durkin: Renuva
is human adipose tissue. For nearly one hundred years’ human tissue has been
used for reconstructive and other procedures, including skin grafting for burn
care, abdominal wall repair, and other surgical procedures. In this case,
donated tissue is screened extensively and processed for quality and
safety.
NB: How long does
Renuva last?
Dr. Durkin: Renuva
injections are usually done as a series of injections over six to eight weeks,
making it a very convenient, gradual volumizer. Preliminary studies have shown
that the results can last for more than five years. And unlike other long-term
filler options, it has not been associated with excess scarring, nodularity, or
granuloma formation. Also, Renuva has been approved by the FDA to be used
throughout the face and body.
NB: Where on the body
is it being used?
Dr. Durkin: It
is commonly used for nonsurgical butt lifts, as it is remarkably safer than
Brazilian Butt Lift surgery, requires zero downtime and creates fat without
mechanically transferring it surgically. It is also outstanding to use in
hands and as a complement to breast augmentation surgery. It can help to
fill in hollowness above the breast implant that can create a concave look in
the upper pole area of the breasts.
NB: All of this seems
so futuristic, but these procedures are currently trending at your practice.
What do you attribute that to?
Dr. Durkin: Natural-looking
results that are low maintenance. My patients like it because it fits in with
their lifestyles and gives them a youthful glow so they can continue to age
gracefully. This means fewer trips to the doctors and no awkward conversations
about what you had “done.”