Artecoll® and Dermalive® are injectable implants which, in contrast to conventional materials like collagen or hyaluronic acid, offer the great advantage of permanent results.

Repetitive injections to ensure a satisfying aesthetic outcome are usually not necessary. But even more than with collagen it is indispensible to use these products with great care and only for specific indications to avoid unwanted and unnecessary side effects like uneven contours or palpable spots. Used with the appropriate caution and expertise one can achieve very aesthetic and permanent results with Artecoll® and Dermalive®.

Indication
Artecoll® and Dermalive® represent sophisticated devices to efficiently solve certain cosmetic problems. Especially facial wrinkles and scars (e.g. marked naso-labial-folds, deep frown lines; inverted scars) can be permanently erased and particular areas such as atrophic or small lips can be augmented to get a more pronounced contour.

Treatment
Although these implants don't require anaesthesia whilst application is actually much more comfortable for the patient to administer a local anaesthetic (EMLA® cream) some time prior to the treatment. After the injections some cool pack should be used to sooth the area if necessary. Artecoll® is injected into the specific region through an ultrafine needle. About 4 weeks before that it is necessary to have a small test to exclude hypersensitivities due to the collagen layer of Artecoll®, which has been reported in very few patients. When using Dermalive® this precautionary measure is not required.

After the treatment
In the first couple of hours after the injections no make-up should be used to avoid irritation of the injection sites. Sometimes the result is not immediately visible due to localized swelling after application of Artecoll®. This may last up to 1-2 days rarely accompanied with some reddening. Depending on the region the implants may not be permanently embedded into the treated tissue which will require some fixation by means of adhesive strips or headband and controlled rest of the sites for a couple of days.

Results
Wrinkles treated with Artecoll® or Dermalive® are permantently elevated, they are less deep, contours or the volume of lips are pronounced. Repetitive applications are usually not necessary except for treating newly occurred changes due to natural ageing of the skin.