Dr. Jeffrey Adelglass, M.D., F.A.C.S. of SKINTASTIC™ in Plano was one of first physicians in Texas to offer a new, unique, long-lasting solution to filler re-absorption: ArteFill® from Artes Medical. ArteFill® was FDA-approved in the U.S., for the correction of nasolabial folds, or smile lines, and is the first and only non-resorbable aesthetic injectable implant of its kind approved for use in the U.S.

Experience Enduring Beauty with the Longest-Lasting Wrinkle Solution!

If you know anything about what's going on in the world of facial plastic surgery and medical aesthetics, you probably know that cosmetic injectable dermal fillers are all the rage. As you age, your body's ability to produce collagen (a natural component of your skin that keeps your face smooth and wrinkle free) gradually declines. Dermal fillers were developed to fill in the 'tell-tale' wrinkles, creases, and folds that occur with aging and the slowdown of collagen production.

There are a variety of dermal filler options available, but most are temporary (lasting 6-9 months), so repeated injections are necessary to maintain results. These formulas were developed to be accepted by the body with a minimal chance of allergic reaction; the downside being that the body gradually absorbs these fillers as if they were a nourishing snack. A more permanent alternative, logically, then would be use of a synthetic filler that does not biodegrade over time. A suitable synthetic filler should have a very low risk of allergic reaction and should not migrate outside of the treatment area.

The long-lasting solution has finally arrived.

<sup>(Actual ArteFill Patient; Photos courtesy of Artes Medical)



(Actual ArteFill Patient; Photos courtesy of Artes Medical)</sup>

Artefill® consists of a combination of bovine collagen, 0.3% lidocaine (to lessen discomfort associated with injection), and smooth synthetic polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microspheres. PMMA is a very common synthetic implant material used in medicine. Three to six months following Artefill injection, the bovine collagen is gradually absorbed, replaced by the body's own newly-created collagen which forms to encapsulate the microspheres in a natural biologic process. ArteFill®'s microspheres provide a permanent support structure beneath the skin to fill out wrinkles and to prevent further wrinkling in the treated areas. The microspheres do not migrate nor are they degraded by the body. Therefore, they remain surrounded by your natural collagen, providing permanent volume to keep your skin smooth and wrinkle-free in the areas you were treated, presumably for the rest of your life.

Due to the fact that a certain percentage of people are allergic to bovine collagen or lidocaine, a preliminary ArteFill® allergy test is required a month before injection. There are no known allergies to the synthetic (PMMA) microsphere material. Artecoll, a predecessor of Artefill® has been administered to over 200,000 patients in over 50 countries over the past 10 years. ArteColl has been in cosmetic use since the late eighties (outside the U.S.), longer than any other synthetic filler.

Artefill® should only be injected by a qualified, highly-trained physician injector. Experience counts; skill and technique are critical. The optimal candidate is someone who has received filler treatments before and is sure that they're ready for a potentially permanent change. Also, ArteFill® can be used for men or women of all ages, but it is not advised for elderly patients with thin, flaccid skin.