Soft tissue fillers are quite popularly used by both dermatologists and plastic surgeons as injections into the skin, to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, plump lips, fill hollow cheeks, repair various facial imperfections, improve scars, and elevate deep folds. The result is a smoother, more youthful appearance with minimal “downtime” and maximum safety.
There are a variety of soft tissue fillers, including human and bovine (cattle) collagen, hyaluronic acid, autologous fat (one’s own fat), and donor tissue. The growing number of available fillers has greatly expanded the anti-aging and skin-saving treatments, and since soft tissue filler substances do not involve major surgery and are generally cost-effective, men and women are using these youth-enhancing techniques more than ever.
One such filler that has acquired wide acceptance and usage is Restylane™ — a product containing hyaluronic acid.
It has been thought that Restylane’s physical volume caused the improvement in the appearance of one’s skin. In a study published in the journal/ Archives of Dermatology, it has been found that Restylane™ actually works by stretching fibroblasts — the cells in the skin that make collagen, in a way that causes the skin to create new collagen. This new, natural collagen would then contribute to the reduction of the appearance of creases and wrinkles. The study also shows that the product seems to inhibit the breakdown of existing collagen.
In young people, fibroblasts are stretched, and this produces enough collagen to make the skin appear relatively smooth. As people age, the fibroblasts become relaxed and do not stretch as easily, and therefore do not release as much collagen, causing creases and wrinkles to appear.
The findings of the study are based on injections in 11 volunteers, ages 64 to 84 years, and the subsequent analyses of their skin biopsies.
With the injection of Restylane™ in this study, the relaxed fibroblasts were re-stretched, says lead author Dr. Frank Wang, research fellow with the Department of Dermatology. In a sense, this stretching encourages the fibroblasts to behave in the way they do in younger skin and to release collagen.
Another factor is that in older skin, an enzyme called collagenase breaks down the collagen in the skin. The research found that injection of the dermal filler inhibits the breakdown of collagen by collagenase, which also helps with the appearance of one’s skin.
To see Before and After pictures using Restylane™, click here.