|
These options are of your own body. This means there is no chance of
rejection and you have your own storage bank of options. Be advised that
natural "fillers" can be absorbed by your body resulting in
decreased augmentation down the road. Some surgeons incorporate newer
techniques to increase the longevity but it is not an exact science
although every body is different. Return
to the Injectable Fillers Index Autologen:
(technically: Autologous
human collagen) This injectable collagen is derived from the patient's own
skin which is removed at the time of a facelift, abdominoplasty, breast
reduction, breast lift or other type of procedure involving tissue excision.
Your tissue was packaged in sterile solution and put on ice and sent to
Collagenesis of Beverly, Massachusetts. However,
I believe this company has gone out of business. Collagenesis filed
Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Boston (#19656). The
lab once processed the tissue, extracting the collagen, preserved it and kept
it frozen in the special cryo-freezers at the lab. Whenever you made an
appt for a touch up, it was sent to your doctor's office whenever needed.
It is a rather expensive and time-consuming (4 to 6 weeks) process but there
was no risk of rejection as it is your own collagen and less likely to
reabsorb. It was reported to be well tolerated when re-injected into the
body. Dermis
Grafts: This
procedure involves excising tissue, like after a face lift, abdominoplasty,
breast reduction or lift, deepithelializing the graft by removing the epidermis,
cleaning it, then rolling up and inserting it. Some surgeons suture the
ends of the graft so that it cannot unroll during insertion. Dermis
Fat Grafts: This
procedure involves excising tissue, like after a face lift, abdominoplasty,
breast reduction or lift, deepithelializing the graft by removing the epidermis
but leaving the fatty layer. The graft is then cleaned and inserted.
This is more risky as I know of patients who have had fatty cysts afterwards and
had to be aspirated, or excised and given a course of antibiotics. Also
the graft may twist and contract, distorting the lips. Fascia
Grafts: This
procedure is performed by removing fascia, which is the thick white covering
over muscles and some organs which keeps them compact and protected, usually
from temporalis muscle. Fat grafting, transfer or transplanting: This procedure is carried out by aspiration or manual excision, processed in-office and reinjected into your body. The pluses? It is your own fat and doesn't get rejected. The drawbacks are that many of the fat cells do not survive the procedure and die off being absorbed into the body if not performed correctly or if your metabolism is very high and the fact that your body does not normally store its excess fat in the lips. Some surgeons advise
that 30% to 50%
augmentation remains on average after 1 year due to the movement of the lips and
if proper vascularization was not met. Another downfall is that some
surgeons may severely overcorrect the area with fat cells to compensate for the
fat cell necrosis. Unfortunately, over injection may actually kill
the fat cells instead of helping them. Other surgeons irrigate the fat
cells with a serum of oxygenated saline laced with vitamins and/or your own
plasma, or albumin and then fat is injected in intervals instead of all in one
lump sum. The fat cell survival rate may be better. The
technique of micro-droplets and using your body's plasma is proving to further
the longevity of the injected fats. Either micro-droplets are injected
within 2 to 3 visits or a tube of your own blood is drawn right before the
procedure where it will be spun in a special machine that is used to separate
the plasma and this is injected along with your fat which has also been removed
with a special cannula resulting in whole, less damaged fat cells. This
may give your treatment area a head start in creating new vascularity (new
vessels) around and through the newly injected fat. Isolagen: (technically: cultured human fibroblasts) Isolagen can be considered a self-derived catalyst so it falls under two categories, autologous and Bio-catalyst. Reportedly, Isolagen is presently being run through the required clinical trials in the US. Isolagen is comprised primarily of cultured human fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are connective-tissue cells of mesenchymal origin that secrete proteins; especially molecular collagen from which the extracellular fibrillar matrix of connective tissue forms. Mesenchymal means: loosely organized undifferentiated mostly messodermal cells that give rise to such structures as connective tissues, blood, lymphatics, bone and cartilage. Messoderm (as in Messodermal) is the middle of the three primary germ layers of an embryo and is the source of many bodily tissues and structures.Broadly, tissues derived from this germ layer are considered Messodermic. Basically, Isolagen
is an injectable cultured (grown in a petri dish, in a lab, from skin taken from
YOUR body) product that, when injected into the body, encourages tissue growth
for an undetermined amount of time. The human fibroblasts are said not to
cause any negative reaction and is extremely tolerated, rather, accepted
wholeheartedly, by your body. In addition to sparking actual tissue growth
from the live fibroblast injection, the plus is that it is of your own body.
Scar
Tissue Grafting: This
procedure requires the presence of a scar you would like removed. A thicker,
ropey scar is best. In this procedure, the scar is removed, cleansed,
and re-implanted in your lips. Of course if you don't have a large
enough scar, you can't get this. The bonus is that you get scar revision
surgery and bigger lips. Tendon
Grafting: (technically: palmaris
longis graft) This procedure is one of those I consider a little
excessive. It is performed by first removing a small tendon, called the palmaris
longis tendon. This tendon is located on the inside of your lower
forearm, near the wrist. Now, this tendon is not very deep within your
arm and removing it will not interfere with the mobility or function of your
hand or wrist. However, this particular tendon is utilized in the
restoration of the hand should you injure your hand to a point of limited
mobility. It's kind of like an extra. So, if you can stand to part with
this tendon and you are quite sure you will never need it then this is for you
(I suggest using the tendon from your weaker arm as the probability of
injuring your stronger arm is greater). The standard tunnel is created
within the lip and the tendon is then inserted and positioned and the
incisions are sutured. There is no chance of rejection as this is your
tissue and it is considered natural and softer than synthetic implants or even
AlloDerm. I find this next part bizarre but get this... Obviously some of us
are evolving because quite a number of people are born without this particular
tendon! Go figure! I would rather be without wisdom teeth or something.
This is a rare procedure as not all surgeons are willing to remove this
tendon. You do have to harvest this tendon and deal with the removal
site healing as well. Besides what if it is resorbed?? All of that for
nothing.
Return to the Injectable Fillers Index home
| facial procedures | body
procedures | surgeon info
| consultation info | surgery
preparation Are you lost? View Site Index
Yes
They're Fake! Cosmetic Plastic Surgery & Beauty Network Please read Usage Agreement This page was last updated: 03/23/2006
|
