Fillers - Restylane - Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Advice
What to Expect from Injectable Fillers - Risks from
Artificial Fillers - Tissue Grafting - Patients Donate Their Own Cells - Cost
for tissue grafts
Fillers, Collagen & Other Stuff While Botox can do most
of the heavy lifting when it comes to removing or dissipating facial wrinkles,
the job may not be complete unless additional fillers are used. A product
called Restylane (or Perlane), which has become very popular around the world
as a filler for both wrinkles and lines. Functionally, these fillers act much
like collagen, yet is longer-lasting. However, FDA approvals are still required
before use will be permitted in the USA market. In Europe and Asia research has
identified the key properties of these fillers and how to best use them in
cosmetic surgery. Restylane itself is made of hyaluronic acid, a naturally
occurring molecule in the skin. Such molecules draws water to itself and allows
the skin to remain hydrated. The injectable form is created in the laboratory,
however is longer lasting than any other wrinkle fillers, up to perhaps one
year. Research findings indicate that there also are virtually no allergic
reactions to Restylane by patients, thus settling a possible basis for wide
spread acceptance both by regulatory authorities and consumers. Other wrinkle
fillers may reach the market shortly. One company is working on a product made
from human foreskin. Other researchers are developing fillers made from the placenta,
which is normally discarded after delivery. In contrast with purely cosmetic
surgery, the field of reconstructive surgery seeks to restore functionality to
damaged body areas. Equally so, reconstructive surgery repairs and in parallel
enhances a return to normalcy for the person injured or scarred from accidents
or birth defects.
Wrinkle Fillers For the Market A naturally occurring fluid
found in human joints and connective tissue is hyaluronic acid. Coincidentally,
researchers honed in on hyaluronic acid as a possible property to be used as
the basis for an injectible wrinkle treatment procedure and alternative to
bovine based collagen injections. These same researchers are interested in
compounds which can last 6 months or longer, thereby reducing
the need for the periodic treatments necessitated by Botox. Also, researchers
are attracted to naturally occurring compounds or their synthesized cousin
compounds which carry less risk of allergic reaction than does Botox, which is
essentially based on lower levels of poison being injected.
Companies Companies in this market segment such as Swedish
drug maker, Q-Med or the USA firm Medicis (MRX) project start up sales of over $50
million for such a product in its first year, to add to underlying revenues of $210
million.
While some of these leading edge companies and their
products offer potentially intriguing solutions for beauty-biased consumers,
the advocacy groups will continue to act as counter-weight to these market
entries. To eliminate wrinkles for some short-term period may be an acceptable
goal for some people. However, to accept a "permanent" solution that
converts into a "permanent" problem may cause consumers to
wait-and-see. Lumpiness and redness may be temporary issues which the attending
cosmetic surgeon can rectify with new procedures. After all, the polymers used
in this application are highly malleable, accordingly can be smoothened by the
physician.
Economically, these high-tech fillers may provide some
exciting short term stimulus to customer trials and orders. However, if the
sales claims of "permanent" turn out to be true, then the short-term
revenue gain for plastic surgeons may actually be a precursor to lowered future
revenues. At present, botox injections only last for about three to six months
before a re-injection is necessary. By contrast, the newly emerging
technologies create longer lasting effects, thus will require less repeat
procedures. Less repeat procedures means less revenue.
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