When it comes to non-invasive facial rejuvenation, there’s a huge array of injectable options. Many people are understandably perplexed or even stymied by all the choices.
If you know the difference between how dermal fillers soften wrinkles and how Botox® injections work, that’s a step in the right direction. Maybe you’ve even heard of hyaluronic acid and you know some of the brand-name fillers that are based on it, like Restylane® and JuvedermTM. You may therefore indeed be more knowledgeable than the average consumer — but there’s still more to learn. A lot more.
Did you know that there are at least two other FDA-approved dermal fillers composed of ingredients quite different than hyaluronic acid? And are you aware that collagen injections are still in widespread use and favored by many medical professionals?
Then there are the semi-permanent options for filling wrinkles. On one hand, you might choose fat transfer, opting to use cells from your own body. Or you might be interested in finding out more about a synthetic product called ArteFill® that is nonabsorbable.
As challenging as it can be to deal with the options, it’s bound to get even more difficult as industry players continue to leap frog each other in the race to market new products. How can you possibly understand all your choices, let alone evaluate them properly?
The good news is there’s a new resource to help you sort all this out. It’s www.injectablesafety.org, and it’s a product of the Physicians Coalition for Injectable Safety. The PCIS membership consists of thousands of board-certified physicians across the U.S. and Canada, including the venerable American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and a few others with great credentials.
If you have a tendency to be cynical, you might say that it’s in the interest of these professionals that you learn about injectables and feel confident about trying them. And you’d be right. But it’s also very much in their interest that you’re safe and satisfied with your experience.
Check out this new Web site. It’s a good place to start.