Skin Care - Non-Surgical Alternatives to Plastic Surgery
Almost all of them need constant attention, some
can be
harmful, and just about all are at high cumulative cost ... all except one.
Biotrex® Renew+™ Anti-Aging Skin Care Vitamins
Aging causes changes in collagen which is the major fibers of protein found in
connective tissue, cartilage and bone. Aging also causes changes in elastin, a
protein in the middle layer of the skin that helps maintain resilience and
elasticity. As your skin becomes less elastic, it tends to become drier and the
under laying fat begins to disappear. With the loss of support by connective
tissues and fat layer, the skin begins to droop and sag. The skin surface
appears less supple and wrinkles begin to form.
In developing a skin care
program, many people resort to plastic surgeons and aestheticians to help create the
illusion of youth when wrinkles appear. There are many procedures and more
methods are being developed every day. One thing is for certain – the vast
majority of these skin care methods are temporary and need constant intervention for you to
look your best. The costs may seem reasonable for the first procedure, but when
you consider that the results may last only 2-3 months, that skin care cost is multiplied
many times during the year and the years to come.
Let’s take a look at some of the
skin care methods available to you. Pay
particular attention to the results column.
Bovine
Collagen |
Human Derived Collagen
| Fat Injections | Botulinum
toxins
| Hyaluronic
Acid
| Semi-permanent
Fillers
| Silicone
| Microdermabrasion | Vitamin
Supplements
| Back to Top | Renew+
Women | Renew+ Men
Category
|
What it is
|
What it does
|
Side Effects
|
Results
|
|
Zyderm/ Zyplast
(Bovine-Based)
|
Injectable made from purified cow skin.
|
Fills wrinkles, lines and scars on face and
around lips.
|
May experience Allergic Reaction
|
Lasts up to 6 months
then you must do it again. Cost is high over time.
|
|
Bovine Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that supports various parts of the body
including skin, tendons and ligaments. Iinjectable collagen is made from purified cow skin and is used to fill wrinkles, lines and scars on the
face. The primary risk of injectable collagen is allergic reaction. Injectable collagen absorbs into the body and need to be repeated
approximately every 6 months.
|
|
Bovine
Collagen |
Human Derived Collagen
| Fat Injections | Botulinum
toxins
| Hyaluronic
Acid
| Semi-permanent
Fillers
| Silicone
| Microdermabrasion | Vitamin
Supplements
| Back to Top | Renew+ Women | Renew+ Men
|
Category
|
What it is
|
What it does
|
Side Effects
|
Results
|
|
Human-derived Collagen
|
|
Plasmagel
|
Plasma emulsion (protein) made from the
patient's own blood and Vitamin C complex.
|
Soft tissue filler to add volume to skin.
|
Bruising
|
Lasts up to 3 months
|
|
Fascian
|
Injectable derived from donor-fascia
(connective tissue made of collagen) of the thigh muscle.
|
Stimulates collagen formation, adds bulk to
skin.
|
Bruising
|
Lasts up to 6 months
|
|
Cymetra (Micronized Alloderm)
|
Injectable human tissue collagen matrix
derived from cadaver tissue, screened for contami-nation.
|
Filler for lips, nasilabial folds, deep
wrinkles and lines.
|
Bruising
|
Multiple treatments needed; lasts 2 months.
|
|
CosmoDerm used for superficial lines CosmoPlast used for
more defined wrinkles.
|
Derived from human tissue that has been
purified and grown in a laboratory. Doesn't need a skin test.
|
Approved for frown lines, crow's feet,
forehead lines, smile lines, vertical lip lines, marionette lines, lip
border and for certain scars on the skin.
|
Bruising
|
Immediate, results which can last up to six
months depending on the area worked on.
It must be repeated over time.
|
|
Autologen
|
Injectable collagen prepared from the
patient's own skin. Small pieces of skin are harvested from the patient,
processed and prepared for injection or frozen for later use.
|
An alternative to traditional collagen
injections
|
Bruising
|
2 or 3 treatments over a 6 to 8 week period to
produce collagen. It is not permanent making this an expensive procedure
over time.
|
|
Human-derived Collagen is created from tissues harvested using sterile techniques from
donors or grown in a laboratory.
|
|
Bovine
Collagen |
Human Derived Collagen
| Fat Injections
| Botulinum
toxins
| Hyaluronic
Acid
| Semi-permanent
Fillers
| Silicone
| Microdermabrasion | Vitamin
Supplements
| Back to Top | Renew+ Women | Renew+ Men
|
|
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 and reinjecting it
beneath the facial skin. Unlike bovine collagen, allergic reaction using
your own body fat isn't a factor.
Results are variable, but in some cases results can be permanent.
|
|
Bovine
Collagen |
Human Derived Collagen
| Fat Injections
| Botulinum
toxins
| Hyaluronic
Acid
| Semi-permanent
Fillers
| Silicone
| Microdermabrasion | Vitamin
Supplements
| Back to Top | Renew+ Women | Renew+ Men
|
|
|
What it is
|
What it does
|
Side Effects
|
Results
|
|
Botox - FDA approved
|
Botulinum toxin type A
|
Smoothes wrinkles, reduces hyperhydrosis
|
Bruising, numbness, droopy eyelids, body may
become immune
|
Can begin to take effect 5-7 days, maximum
effect in two weeks
|
|
Myobloc - In use outside U.S.
FDA approved only for cervical dystonias.
|
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.
|
Smoothes wrinkles
in the skin.
|
Bruising, numbness, droopy eyelids, body may
become immune
|
Can take effect in 4-6 hours, maximum effect
in 2 weeks
|
|
Dysport
|
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.
|
Smoothes wrinkles
in the skin
|
Bruising, numbness, droopy eyelids, body may
become immune
|
Can begin to take effect 5-7 days, maximum
effect in two weeks
|
|
Botulinum toxins have been used to help ease neck spasms, cranial nerve
disorders and eye spasms. With the recent FDA approval of Botox for
cosmetic, the drug is now used to smooth
wrinkles. When injected into facial muscles the toxins block nerve
impulses, temporarily paralyzing muscles and thereby smoothing wrinkles.
Currently Botox® is the only form of botulinum toxin
approved by the FDA for cosmetic purposes in the glabellar region
(wrinkles between the brows), but
two others, Myobloc™ and Dysport®
are under FDA review for cosmetic use. Botox is not permanent and it
must be done again and again. Over time. the body can become immune to
it. Mistakes have been made with strengths and facial
paralysis can result. Florida
has issued a ban on some products.
|
|
Bovine
Collagen |
Human Derived Collagen
| Fat Injections
| Botulinum
toxins
| Hyaluronic
Acid
| Semi-permanent
Fillers
| Silicone
| Microdermabrasion | Vitamin
Supplements
| Back to Top | Renew+ Women | Renew+ Men
|
|
|
What it is
|
What it does
|
Side Effects
|
Results
|
|
Restylane FDA approved for filling moderate to severe wrinkles around the
nose and mouth.
|
Non-animal derived hyaluronic acid.
|
Soft tissue filler that adds volume.
|
Redness, swelling, rare allergic reaction
|
Immediate, lasting up to 1 year
|
|
Restylane Fine-lines - Not FDA approved for any use in the U.S. it is in use outside
U.S.
|
Non-animal derived hyaluronic acid.
|
A dermal filler that restores volume to the
skin, giving a smoother, more youthful appearance.
|
Redness, swelling, tenderness, especially at
sight of injection; acne-like formations are rare
|
Immediate lasting up to 1 year
|
|
Perlane - In use outside U.S.
Not FDA approved for any use in the U.S.
|
Non-animal derived hyaluronic acid.
|
Soft tissue filler that adds volume.
|
Pain, redness, swelling, itching,
discoloration, and tenderness at the point of injection
|
Immediate lasting up to 1 year; subsequent
injections may require less Perlane
|
|
Hylaform - FDA approved for filling moderate to severe wrinkles around
the nose and mouth
|
Hylaform is a dermal filler extracted from
rooster combs that mimics the effects of natural hyaluronic acid.
|
When injected just below the surface of the
skin, Hylaform adds volume to the skin, smoothing unwanted lines and
wrinkles.
|
Redness, swelling, people with sensitivities
to avian products may have an allergic reaction
|
Vary, up to 6 months
|
|
Hyaluronic acid is a substance found in the
connective tissue of the body that cushions and lubricates. Hyaluronic
acid also creates volume in the face, giving it a healthy, youthful
appearance. 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. Hylaform is another
tissue filler composed of hyaluronic acid that is made from rooster combs.
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.
|
|
Bovine
Collagen |
Human Derived Collagen
| Fat Injections
| Botulinum
toxins
| Hyaluronic
Acid
| Semi-permanent
Fillers
| Silicone
| Microdermabrasion | Vitamin
Supplements
| Back to Top | Renew+ Women | Renew+ Men
|
|
|
What it is
|
What it does
|
Side Effects
|
Results
|
|
Artecoll
|
75% percent bovine collagen and 25%
polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres (non-silicone, carbon–based
polymers).
|
Artecoll's manufacturer claims the injectable
is permanent, as the microspheres do not absorb into the body. The body
forms collagen around the microspheres that adds bulk.
|
Lumping, granulomas (localized skin reactions
to foreign bodies, which can appear as hardness or a rash),
micro-spheres can possibly move to other areas of the body
|
Immediate, need to wait 3 months between
injections.
If the microspheres move and clump, removal, if possible, is difficult,
painful and costly.
|
|
Radiance (Bioform) - FDA approved only for vocal cord
paralysis and urinary incontinence.
|
Calcium hydroxyla-patite (a substance found in
bone and teeth, made into an injectable paste)
|
Reported to last 2-5 years. Little risk of
allergic reaction. The body forms collagen around the microspheres that
adds bulk
|
Clumping, lumping, granulomas, micro-spheres
may move to other areas of the body. If injected next to bone, formation
of bone can occur.
|
Immediate according to manufacturer. If the microspheres move and clump, removal, if possible,
is difficult, painful and costly.
|
|
Sculptra - Approved by FDA with condition that it be used to reconstruct
HIV patients suffering from facial lipoatrophy.
|
Synthetic polylactic acid contained in
micro-spheres
|
Restores lost facial volume in people with
HIV. The body forms collagen around the micro-spheres
|
Redness, bruising, lumping and granulomas
|
Immediate, and typically last two years
according to manufacturer. If the microspheres move and clump, removal, if possible,
is difficult, painful and costly.
|
|
Artecoll® is a permanent “micro-implant” to fill facial wrinkles and
lines, which is currently used in Europe, Canada and Mexico. Radiance™
is composed of calcium hydroxylapatite, which has been used in
the body for multiple applications including cheek and chin implants.
Radiance is injected into the face adding volume through microspheres
that are suspended in polysaccharide carriers until encapsulation
occurs. Another filler, Sculptra, which is made of
synthetic polylactic acid contained in microspheres, can be used to
restore volume to the face of HIV patients suffering from facial
lipoatrophy.
|
|
Bovine
Collagen |
Human Derived Collagen
| Fat Injections
| Botulinum
toxins
| Hyaluronic
Acid
| Semi-permanent
Fillers
| Silicone
| Microdermabrasion | Vitamin
Supplements
| Back to Top | Renew+ Women | Renew+ Men
|
|
Injectable Silicone is not approved for cosmetic use in the United States because it
tends to harden, move out of position or migrate, causes inflammation
and skin necrosis. In 1991 the FDA banned its use for the treatment of
wrinkles and facial defects.
|
|
Bovine
Collagen |
Human Derived Collagen
| Fat Injections
| Botulinum
toxins
| Hyaluronic
Acid
| Semi-permanent
Fillers
| Silicone
| Microdermabrasion | Vitamin
Supplements
| Back to Top | Renew+ Women | Renew+
Men
|
|
Microdermabrasion is a technique
generally using aluminum oxide crystals which are blown against the skin
and removed, to eliminate the outer layer of the skin and stimulate
growth factors. It is helpful in diminishing fine lines and very useful
in removing acne scarring. Procedures
are expensive but can yield good results over time. The results can be permanent.
|
|
Bovine
Collagen |
Human Derived Collagen
| Fat Injections
| Botulinum
toxins
| Hyaluronic
Acid
| Semi-permanent
Fillers
| Silicone
| Microdermabrasion | Vitamin
Supplements
| Back to Top | Renew+ Women | Renew+ Men
|
|
