Soft tissue augmentation is designed to elevate and help “fill in” depression’s such as facial wrinkles and lines. The incisions and techniques vary according to each patient’s individual needs. The more commonly performed procedures are discussed below.
COLLAGEN REPLACEMENT THERAPY:
Collagen therapy is an excellent way to fill in fine wrinkles of the face, especially around the mouth, between the eyebrows and the line between the cheek and lip. After a small test dose is administered in the forearm, the purified bovine collagen is injected into the desired area. Two forms can be used, Zyderm or Zyplast, depending on the area and problem being treated. The results are immediate with virtually no recovery time needed.
Another form of collagen is available created from your own skin. Skin removed during surgery is sent to a lab where injectable collagen is created. It is mailed back to our office, and the same injection procedure is followed.
FASCIAL GRAFTING:
Fascia is the soft lining covering muscle and is an excellent soft tissue filler material. A small incision is made behind the hairline and a small thin fascial graft is excised. A pocket is then created under the area requiring augmentation by way of a small (1-2mm) incision on each end of the wrinkle or defect, and the fascia is carefully inserted into this pocket. The donor area, as well as the augmented area, are closed with fine, absorbable sutures. Recovery time is approximately three to five days. The result is usually a permanent lifting or filling in of the wrinkle or defect.
DERMAL GRAFTING:
Dermis is the second layer of the skin beneath the epidermis. Dermal grafts are often taken from behind the ear or other available skin, and the overlying epidermis is removed. The graft is fashioned to the appropriate shape and then placed into a pocket created under the area needing augmentation. The procedure is usually done under local or twilight anesthesia and the recovery time is approximately three to five days. The result is usually a permanent improvement of the area.
FAT INJECTIONS:
Fat is harvested from either the thigh or lower abdominal area by using a small syringe. The fat is then injected to the area needing augmentation. Because transplanted fat can undergo significant resorption, often two or three sessions are necessary to achieve the desired effect. Usually, this procedure is done under local or twilight anesthesia and recovery time is approximately three to five days.
OTHER FILLER MATERIALS:
There are several commercially available filler materials such as Gortex and Alloderm. These materials have been used successfully for soft tissue augmentation and have a good safety record. The advantages of these materials include the fact that there is no need for a second surgical site to obtain the grafting material, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes.