By James Barber M.D.
"FILL'ER UP!" Historically, that statement would most likely be associated with
a person who was in the close proximity of a gas pump or a beer tap. More recently,
is has been shouted again and again at plastic surgeon's offices across the globe.
Injectable materials and fillers have been a staple in facial rejuvenation for years,
but a recent expansion of options has led to a boom in these procedures.
For years, the standard was bovine collagen known to doctors as Zyderm and Zyplast.
The material was easy to inject into small lines, but since it came from non-human
sources, a sensitivity test was required two to four weeks before the actual procedure
could take place. This was to minimize the risk of allergies or other reactions
to the collagen.
More recently, doctors have begun using Cosmoderm and Cosmoplast, human collagens
which are grown in laboratories. Like the bovine collagen, these materials last
for four to six months once placed. Their advantage lies in the fact that they need
not undergo any sensitivity testing before placement.
The newest injectable is Alloderm, a cadaver A-cellular dermal mix. No testing is
required for this soft material as its inflammatory response is minimal. Alloderm
has a natural feel once implanted, and early patient studies show that Alloderm
establishes more permanent results than bovine collagen.
More permanent fillers can be used in certain situations, but often the patient
must live with a less natural look or feel. Gortex, an expanded polytetraflouroethylene,
was approved in 1993 for facial aesthetic surgery. Gortex is fairly biocompatible
but has a somewhat unnatural feel. It has also shown a higher instance of infection
and extrusion than other fillers because of cell reactions around the Gortex strands.
Softform is a permanent solution for lip augmentation and generally feels more natural
than Gortex. Some patients, however, do report a cord-like feeling after surgery.
Finally, there is silicone. This injectable has been used to treat retinal detachment
and is currently in clinical trials for cosmetic uses. Silicone will deliver the
most natural feel of the permanent fillers, but it comes at a price. A single injection
will run $700 or more.
If you are tired of trying to hide lines, wrinkles, or scars and want to feel better
about the face you present to the world, fillers can be just the thing. They are
a fast, easy, and effective way to erase a few years of wear and tear.
Forever Facts:
- Studies from MIT show that a high-carb breakfast can leave your mid-morning tryptophan
levels 4 times higher than if you had eaten a mostly protein early-riser. Since
tryptophan is a known sleep-inducing compound, you might want to swap ham and eggs
for your cereal next time you have a busy day planned.
- Only 2.5 million people browsed onto doctor's websites in 2001. A year later these
same sites saw 7.3 million hits in only three months.
- Don't cut the crust off your kid's PB&J's. German scientists have found that
during baking, a powerful anti-oxidant known as pronyl-lysine is produced in bread.
The levels of this substance are 8 times greater in the crust.
Words of Wisdom:
"The best index to a person's character is (a) how he treats people who can't do
him any good, and (b) how he treats people who can't fight back." -Abigail
Van Buren