Regenerative Aesthetics: The Search for Longer Lasting and More Natural Results
I have witnessed many changes in my over 30 years’ experience in plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine. But one essential fundamental has never varied: the interest by nearly every patient in finding more long-lasting and natural appearing results. Although cosmetic medicine is often misunderstood and mischaracterized, the truth is that the most common and unchanging goal of every aesthetic procedure has always been, and should always be, obtaining safe, long lasting, and natural appearing outcomes that are consistent with each patient’s age, sex, features, and ethnicity.
The recent dramatic surge in demand for cosmetic products, services, and treatments, is due in large part to improvements in technology and research that have provided the aesthetic professional with more options and tools than ever before to potentially achieve the best results for each patient. One area that illustrates this priority most clearly is the growth of ‘rejuvenative aesthetics’ which refers to a multimodality approach which harnesses the body’s natural potential to repair, restore and revitalize aging or damaged tissues to a more youthful and healthier state. One specific area that exemplifies this exciting option is combining biostimulatory regenerative techniques with injectable dermal fillers.
Perhaps because volume loss is one of the fundamental changes with aging, the popularity of dermal fillers, or products that restore tissue volume, has grown significantly in the last 25 years. Currently more than three million patients received injectable filler treatments last year and that number continues to grow. The most common product in most dermal fillers is hyaluronic sugar which is a natural substance found in the body and particularly in the skin. Technological advancements have provided hyaluronic sugar that is nearly identical to that found in human tissues resulting in better results with very few unfavorable reactions. Results typically last for a period of 6 to 12 months and many patients will return for touchups or additional treatments once or twice a year.
A recent survey reports that 90% of regular dermal filler patients would be interested in an FDA-approved longer lasting treatments. At EVOLV Medical Aesthetics in Toledo, we have been combining research proven regenerative options with dermal filler injections and treatments in holistic aesthetic programs to obtain the synergistic benefits of immediate volume restoration with longer lasting and more natural results by stimulating the body’s natural rejuvenative mechanisms and potential.
Here are some of the more exciting options that we have been utilizing:
EZ PRF Autologous Blood Concentrate
Blood obtained from each patient can be uniquely processed without any additives or chemicals to obtain natural regenerative platelets and growth factors which have been shown to be more powerful and longer lasting those previous options such as PRP (platelet rich plasma). This ‘EZ PRF Gel ultimate blood concentrate’ can be used alone as a rejuvenative stimulant in aging skin or to reverse hair loss or combined with injectable fillers to provide a more comprehensive and longer lasting volume correction.
Actual EVOLV Patient
Bellafil
Currently Bellafil is the only FDA approved injectable filler that provides correction that lasts for up to 5 years. Bellafil uniquely stimulates the body’s own collagen and elastin production to restore and maintain a youthful appearance that has been shown in clinical studies to last as long as 5 years. When combined with blood concentrates such as EZPRF, the biorejuvenative effect global benefits are even more substantial.
Actual EVOLV Patient
Exosomes
Perhaps the most exciting emerging technology in regenerative aesthetics is the use and potential of stem cell generated exosomes. In simple terms, exosomes are tiny vesicles produced by stem cells that contain multiple stimulatory factors such as DNA/RNA, protein growth factors, lipids, vitamins and other signaling molecules that when released serve as powerful messengers to affect cell function. Stem cells are exclusive regenerative cells that are essential in nature and in our bodies as they can become any type of cell within the body and are designed to replace aging or damaged tissues. Exosomes can be harvested from stem cells and contain nearly three times the amount of growth factors and other biostimulatory molecules.
At EVOLV, we have been combining FDA approved exosome products in many of our aesthetic treatments (injectables, laser rejuvenation, hair loss therapy, chemical peels, energy micro needling, topical skin care programs, and many more) and are quite excited about the measurable improvement in results including reduced inflammation, more rapid healing, and especially more long-lasting results.
Combining regenerative techniques and products with aesthetic treatments is providing longer lasting and natural appearing outcomes for our nonsurgical as well as surgical patients here at EVOLV Plastic Surgery and Medical Aesthetics in Toledo. We are all excited about the growing possibilities in applying research based biostimulatory therapies to our aesthetic programs. In addition, using longer lasting options offers the advantage beyond extended results by enabling patients to enjoy natural appearing improvements gradually over time in a more subtle fashion. It is our belief and experience at EVOLV that the application of holistic aesthetic principles by combining a consistent and personalized medical skincare program along with healthy lifestyle changes can extend and improve the quality of results from all cosmetic treatments and services.
All of us at EVOLV are proud and so grateful to be on the forefront of these exciting possibilities in providing an improved quality of life and safety for our patients.
Frank Barone MD FACS