Wrinkle injection

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A wrinkle injection is an outpatient, non-surgical measure to reduce wrinkles on the face. For this purpose, substances are injected under the surface of the skin. Wrinkle injection, also called liquid lift , is an alternative to surgical wrinkle removal ( lifting or tightening) and is carried out for purely cosmetic reasons. As a rule, wrinkles on the nose, mouth and forehead are the treatment areas for wrinkle injections.

Active ingredients and mode of action

A wrinkle injection is possible with various substances, also called dermal fillers. A distinction is made between dissolvable (called resorbable) and permanent (non-resorbable) substances.

Absorbable substances

  • Hyaluronic acid is a substance that occurs naturally in the human body. For wrinkle treatment, biotechnologically produced hyaluronic acids are used, which are obtained from cocks' combs and have a strong water-binding effect when injected under the skin. How much water the injected hyaluron binds depends on the density of the substance. Hyaluronic acid comes in different densities. The fluid substance fills in fine wrinkles on the lips and eyes. A greater density is required when filling deep nasolabial folds, for injecting and contouring the lips and when lifting the hanging corners of the mouth. The structure must be even more dense to build volume on the cheeks, chin, décolleté and hands. Hyaluronic acid preparations from different manufacturers are used, which differ in terms of density and consistency as well as the duration of their effect. Hyaluronic acid is broken down by the body over a period of three to nine months and does not usually cause allergies. This substance should not be used only in the case of hypersensitivity to chicken protein.
  • Collagen is a substance that occurs naturally in the connective tissue of the human body. The bio-technically produced collagen for wrinkle treatments is obtained from cowhide, cleaned and processed. Collagen is used to fill in small wrinkles on the face and is broken down by the human body over three to nine months. This active ingredient is no longer available in the EU.
  • Poly-L- lactic acid is based on lactic acid that occurs naturally in the human body and is synthetically produced for cosmetic use. Like hyaluronic acid, poly-L-lactic acid binds water in the connective tissue over the long term, smoothing the surface of the skin and reducing wrinkles on the face. It is mainly used for filling large areas, for example with sunken cheeks and for removing misshapen facial contours. The effect of wrinkle treatment with polylactic acid can be seen for up to two years.
  • Wrinkle injection with the neurotoxin botulinum toxin is also a popular treatment method for facial wrinkles. It is used preferably against the mimic facial wrinkles in the upper half of the face. Botulinum toxin is a bacterial toxin , the injection target the muscles of facial expression (z. B. frown lines or crow's feet relaxed). Since the muscles can no longer contract after the wrinkle injection with botulinum toxin, the overlying skin relaxes. The wrinkle injection takes effect after 3–4 days and lasts for around 3–6 months.
  • In the case of wrinkle injection with autologous fat, the doctor extracts the fat from the patient's body by sucking it off and then processing it. Autologous fat is often used to fill medium to strong expression lines and sunken cheeks. The shelf life varies greatly from patient to patient and can range from several weeks to years.

Non-absorbable substances

  • Silicone is a synthetic substance that can be used to smooth out wrinkles around the mouth and forehead. Injected silicone oil is very difficult to remove from the tissue.
  • Aptos threads , also called "Russian threads", are made of polyurethane and are used to lift slack areas of the skin; to do this, these threads are pulled through the appropriate skin area with a needle, where the connective tissue envelops and plumps up the threads over time. With this method, hanging jaws and hanging corners of the mouth can be lifted.

Risks

While absorbable substances can trigger allergies , injecting wrinkles with non-absorbable substances is riskier: These permanent implants can slip, trigger allergies or lead to nodules. The Society for Aesthetic Surgery Germany also advises against the use of non-absorbable substances. In addition, the skin loses its elasticity with age and parts of the skin become increasingly slack. However, the permanent substances remain in their position and over time can protrude from the face and be perceived as unaesthetic.

Legal Regulations

Injections of wrinkles in the forehead, eye and neck area, for lip and wrinkle underfilling and for the therapy of migraine disease are permitted by licensed doctors and naturopaths , but dentists and other health care professionals and laypeople are prohibited.

literature

  • G. Lemperle, N. Gauthier-Hazan, M. Wolters: Complications after wrinkle injections and their treatment. In: Handchir Mikrochir plast Chir. 38 (6), 2006, pp. 354-369.

Individual evidence