Bellafill provides immediate and long-lasting correction by stimulating your own natural collagen long-term.
Youthful skin is soft, supple, smooth, well hydrated, and rich with cells that renew relatively rapidly. As we age, we experience a loss of facial glands, which results in less oil produced, contributing to less moisture in the skin. We lose collagen and elastin, which can lead to the formation of dynamic wrinkles, like laugh lines, frown lines, and crow’s feet. Due to repeated facial movement, dynamic wrinkles eventually become static lines that are gradually etched into the skin over time. Additionally, sagging can occur because skin is no longer able to bounce back as it did in our youth.
Many factors impact the way our skin ages, including lifestyle choices and genetics.
Lifestyle choices, like sun exposure, smoking, alcohol use, diet, and stress, can cause brown spots, rough skin, and wrinkles, as well as the premature onset and progression of aging
Genetics affect all layers of the skin and contribute to thinning, dryness, and loss of elasticity of the skin during the aging process.
As we age, the cells within the skin diminish in their ability to produce collagen, resulting in skin that is weaker and thinner (less volume). Agents that stimulate the production of collagen replenish the skin and provide for a stronger and younger appearance.
In the first 20 or so years of life, facial volume is high in the cheeks and narrows down to the chin which creates an aesthetically pleasing heart shape. The skin is supple, taught, and hydrated with even color and texture.
20’s – we begin to see temporary, fine lines appear around areas with lots of expression like the eyes and lips.
30’s – collagen and elastin production sharply declines, which makes skin less resilient, causing fine lines to become more visible even at rest
40’s – skin elasticity continues to decline. Collagen and volume loss under the skin cause sagging and deeper folds and wrinkles to appear
50’s and beyond- fine lines and folds worsen. The once heart-shaped face has been flipped upside down creating jowls and sunken cheeks. Sun damaged skin develops age spots and mottled pigmentation. Oil-producing glands become less active and skin becomes dry and fragile.
Collagen is the main structural protein in the skin. Collagen makes up one-third of the protein in the human body and it gives the skin its elasticity and strength, contributing to a youthful appearance. You can find it in a number of products from serums and moisturizers to injections, waters, and even beers.
Bellafill is featured in the editorial titled, “All Your Questions About Collagen, Answered.” This editorial offers an in-depth look at collagen from Dr. Michelle Henry, a well-known dermatologist in New York and has a highlight of Bellafill as the only FDA-approved dermal filler that utilizes collagen for the use in both nasolabial folds and rolling acne scars.
Unlike temporary fillers, BELLAFILL® creates a lasting improvement in skin. Its tiny polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microspheres are suspended within a base of smooth collagen gel. BELLAFILL immediately adds volume below wrinkles or atrophic acne scars to lift them to the level of surrounding skin. The PMMA microspheres provide a “scaffold” that supports the body’s own natural collagen production, replacing the collagen gel as it develops over time.
More than 20 types of Collagen are found within the body and it’s the most abundant protein found in the skin. It provides tissue, support, strength and integrity. Collagen Types I and III are predominant forms found in the skin.
Bellafill stimulates both Type I and Type III collagen for long-lasting correction.
Collagen is the most abundant protein found in the skin.
Type I is expressed widely and responsible for most of the tissue strength and integrity.
Type III is predominantly expressed during wound repair, aiding in the process of healing.
When Bellafill is injected, the PMMA and collagen gel provide immediate correction.
Over time the collagen gel dissipates and fibroblasts migrate in and around the PMMA microspheres.
The PMMA microspheres act as a scaffold around which fibroblasts deposit the patient’s own collagen.
Patients are demanding a longer lasting filler because of “filler fatigue.” Filler Fatigue refers to the feeling of frustration as a result of having to come back frequently in order to maintain a youthful appearance. A recent Harris Poll Survey revealed that out of the 9 million dermal filler patients in the U.S, this phenomenon is affecting 8 million patients14. Many of these patients are impacted by the time, pain and cost of regular and on-going filler injections.
More than two in three users also claimed that their fillers don’t last as long as they used to. The top reason for not getting fillers as often as they would like is the cost of ongoing maintenance (56%).
Bellafill eliminates frequent injections, provides more value and saves time!
Bellafill® is approved by Health Canada and indicated for the correction of nasolabial folds. Patients who have had a positive reaction to the optional Bellafill Skin Test, have a history of severe allergies, have known bovine collagen allergies, are allergic to lidocaine, have bleeding disorders or are prone to thick scar formation and/or excessive scarring should not receive Bellafill. The safety of Bellafill for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or in patients under 21 has not been established. Following treatment of Bellafill you may experience temporary swelling, redness, pain, bruising, lumps/bumps, itching, and discoloration at the treatment site. These side effects are usually temporary and typically resolve within 1–7 days. You may experience lumps/bumps/papules that occur more than one month after injection and may persist. Less common side effects include rash and itching more than 48 hours after treatment, persistent swelling or redness, lumps/bumps, acne, and increased sensitivity at treatment sites. Very rarely, granulomas may occur and may be treated by your licensed physician provider. Be sure to call your licensed provider immediately if you notice any unusual skin reactions around the treatment area. Based upon the U.S. 5-year Post-Approval Study on nasolabial folds with 1,008 patients, long-term safety of Bellafill for up to 5 years has been established.
Gottfried Lemperle, et. al., ArteFill® Permanent Injectable for Soft Tissue Augmentation: I. Mechanism of Action and Injection Techniques., Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2010 Jun;34(3):264–72. 2. Bellafill® [Instructions for Use]. San Diego, CA: Suneva Medical, Inc.; 2015. 3. Jacob CI, Dover JS, Kaminer MS. Acne scarring: A classification system and review of treatment options. J Am Acad Dermatol; July 2001; 109-117. 4. Data on file. Suneva Medical, Inc. 5. Haneke et al. Polymethyl Methacrylate Microspheres in Collagen. Semin Cutan Med Surg 23:227-232,2004. 6. Cohen et al. Artecoll: A Long-Lasting Injectable Wrinkle Filler Material: Report of a Controlled, Randomized, Multicenter Clinical Trial of 251 Subjects. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 114: 964,2004. 7. American Academy of Dermatology, http://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/conditions/acne#.Uc2hG_nvt8F. 8. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, 2008, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1748681508003951. 9. Formula PR Independent Study, 2013. 10. Suneva Medical AAD Advisory Board, August 2015, data on file. 11. Keep in mind each patient is unique and your results may vary. 12. Cohen et al. Five-Year Safety and Satisfaction Study of PMMA-Collagen in the Correction of Nasolabial Folds. Dermatol Surg. 2015 Dec;41 Suppl 1:S302-13. 13. Karnik et al. A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of suspended polymethylmethacrylate microspheres for the correction of atrophic facial acne scars. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014 Jul;71(1):77-83.
Collagen & Filler Fatigue
Collagen stimulation addresses filler fatigue