Injectable Fillers Make the “Top Ten” As Most Popular Cosmetic Procedures of 2005

The Skin Center Medical Spa offers the latest advancements in injectable wrinkle fillers

(Pittsburgh, PA) March 8, 2006 — Slowing the aging process to maintain a fresher, more youthful appearance no longer means costly and invasive cosmetic procedures and lengthy recovery periods. Today, injectable wrinkle fillers are filling in the gap for those consumers interested in a fast and effective fix to facial aging.

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), injectable wrinkle fillers were among the top ten in surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures performed in 2005, an increase of 35 percent over the previous year. “The popularity of injectable fillers is not surprising,” said Dominic Brandy, M.D., board-certified cosmetic surgeon and founding medical director of The Skin Center Medical Spa. “Injectable fillers offer people a quick and extremely effective solution to facial aging. These products allow us to fill in fine lines, wrinkles and depressed areas of the face with immediate, visible results. Generally speaking, most people can walk out of our office and go on with their daily routines uninterrupted.”

In recent years the popularity of injectable fillers has skyrocketed, due in large to the latest generation of fillers to hit the market. These new fillers are biocompatible to the human body, essentially eliminating the risk of an allergic reaction and allowing for immediate treatment and same-day results.

Among the most popular types of injectable fillers are hyaluronic acid and collagen; both of which are found naturally in the human body. Hyaluronic acid fillers are made from non-animal-based hyaluronic acid, and these new products, marketed under the names Restylane® and Captique®, are used to correct mild to moderate facial wrinkles and folds. When injected just below the surface of the skin, these products add immediate volume and smoothness to the injected site. Each treatment may last four to six months or longer, depending on how quickly a person’s skin absorbs the hyaluronic acid. If repeat treatments are not performed, the treated area will appear as it did before the initial injection.

Cosmoderm® and CosmoPlast®, the latest injectable collagen products, is manufactured with purified human skin tissue, eliminating the risk of an adverse reaction. These products are injected just below the surface of the skin, filling in unwanted lines and wrinkles. Generally, each treatment lasts three to six months and without repeat injections the area will return to its original appearance.

As the trend towards maintaining a more youthful appearance continues to grow, so will the need to develop longer-lasting and more effective injectable fillers. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery, “The future of injectable fillers remains bright as new products enter the market and become available to those interested in cosmetic and plastic surgery. These new substances will be longer lasting, safer and deliver superior results.”

Dominic Brandy, MD, is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon with 25 years experience performing various aesthetic procedures. Dr. Brandy is an instructor in the fellowship program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Department of Dermatology and serves as medical director for The Skin Center Medical Spa with locations in Pittsburgh and Columbus, Ohio.

The Skin Center Medical Spa is the region’s premier, full-service medical spa offering the latest advancements in surgical and non-surgical facial rejuvenation. Our medical staff provides prescription-grade skin care, physician-directed laser treatments and cosmetic plastic surgery procedures. The Skin Center Medical Spa was founded in 1981 in Pittsburgh, PA, by Dominic Brandy, MD, a board certified cosmetic surgeon and serves as an instructor in the fellowship program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology. For more information about The Skin Center Medical Spa with locations in Pennsylvania and Ohio, contact 1(800) 429-1151 or visit www.theskincentermd.com.