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Over time our
skin loses its elasticity and volume, sags
and develops wrinkles and folds. ArteFill®
is a simple one-step procedure for correcting
wrinkles and other skin depressions. An
inert implant, ArteFill® is injected
under the skin's surface and raises the
skin to its normal height. Eventually the
body permanently anchors the ArteFill®
for a long-lasting effect by creating a
scaffold for your own collagen.
Questions &
Answers
1. What is ArteFill®?
2. How does ArteFill® work?
3. When is the use of ArteFill®
appropriate?
4. How long does an ArteFill®
injection last?
5. What should I expect
during and after treatment?
6. Is an ArteFill® injection
painful?
7. How long has ArteFill®
been in use?
1. What is ArteFill®?
ArteFill® is composed of tiny microspheres
called polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) which
are suspended in a collagen solution with
lidocaine for the relief of mild post treatment
tenderness.
2. How does
ArteFill® work?
ArteFill® utilizes the body's natural ability
to encapsulate foreign bodies by stimulating
the growth of connective tissue and collagen
synthesis around the inert PMMA microspheres
injected beneath the skin. This process
is complete in about three months, and results
in increased soft tissue beneath the depression
of the skin.
3. When is the use of
ArteFill® appropriate?
ArteFill® can be used for men and women of
all ages to correct wrinkles and other skin
depressions. However, for elderly patients,
care should be taken to avoid very thin,
flaccid skin, which is inadvisable for ArteFill®
treatments. Common uses of ArteFill® include:
filling folds and wrinkles on the face,
primarily around the nose and mouth; augmenting
the lips, correcting irregularities of the
nose and diminishing acne scars.
4. How long does
an ArteFill® injection last?
Repeat treatments are not required, as with
many other injectables. However, depending
on the patient and the correction to be
made, a second or third injection may be
done if the degree of correction from the
first injection is not optimal. ArteFill®
is a long-lasting implant. The improved
results should be visible at least five
years or longer depending on the patient.
The implant remains for the life of the
patient. However, ArteFill® does not stop
time and the cosmetic effect of the implant
will gradually diminish over time as new
wrinkles may be formed.
5. What should I expect
during and after treatment?
Usually a simple one-step procedure, done
in the doctor's office. ArteFill® contains
an anesthetic which minimizes discomfort.
Slight itching at the implantation site
is a common symptom. There may be minor
swelling, redness, bruising or tenderness
that normally subside in one to two days.
ArteFill® has an excellent safety record
with less than 0.1% incidence of side effects
(mainly allergy and inflammation). It takes
about three months for the full effect of
the implant to be seen. After the swelling
has gone down, your wrinkles may temporarily
return after a few weeks. This is a normal
occurrence, and they will start to disappear
again over the next few months as the body
forms its own connective tissue.
6. Is an ArteFill®
injection painful?
No. A topical anesthetic is normally put
on the area to be treated one hour prior
to the procedure. Also, ArteFill® contains
lidocaine to minimize post-treatment tenderness.
The needle used for ArteFill® is very fine
and the injection is virtually painless.
7. How long has ArteFill®
been in use?
PMMA has been used since the early 1930's
in such common procedures as dental prostheses,
eye lenses, bone repair, orthopedics and
in pacemakers. These microspheres are well
tolerated by human tissue (there have been
no reports of rejection), and are only 4-5
times the size of a red blood cell. ArteFill®
has been used with more than 100,000 patients
over the last 10 years.
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Before &
After Photos
Male Brow: Prior to ArteFill®,
and After 4 Years.
Female Brow: Prior to ArteFill®, and After
18 Months.
Male Acne Scars: Prior to ArteFill®, at 4
Months, and After 1 Year.
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