Skin Care Articles

7/1/2004

HYLAFORM: What's New and Exciting in the Battle Against Aging

In youth, an abundance of both collagen and hyaluronic acid keeps skin looking smooth and supple. With time, levels of both of these substances diminish, the skin loses structure and volume, and unwelcome lines and wrinkles appear. As new standards of care arise in wrinkle correction, an emerging trend is to temporarily replace this loss by using hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers to regain our youth.

Hylaform® lets the dermatologist replace the skin’s lost hyaluronic acid. It restores volume by mimicking the skin’s natural hyaluronic acid, a polysaccharide that attracts and binds more than 1000 times its weight in water, thus hydrating your skin. Used in international markets for nearly a decade, Hylaform® delivers immediate results and does not require a skin test. In the United States, Hylaform® gel is indicated for injection into the mid to deep dermis for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds (such as nasolabial folds), and is generally well tolerated. Like all dermal fillers, the most commonly reported side effects are temporary injection site redness, bruising, swelling, pain and itching. These reported side effects resolve spontaneously, within one to two days after injection into the skin, and within a week after injection into the lips. Exposure of the treated area to excessive sun, UV lamp, and extreme cold weather should be minimized until any injection swelling and redness has resolved. The duration of effect depends upon the degree of correction desired, your age, our lifestyle and if you smoke. Hylaform® typically lasts 9-12 months after injection.


HOW IS HYLAFORM® MADE?

Hylaform® is derived from an avian source (cockerel rooster combs), is highly purified and is subject to cross-linking, a process that slows down its degradation in biological structures. This allows it to persist for months in the skin. This is a controlled production process that has been used for over twenty years. It offers a high safety margin, with over 20 years of clinical experience on hyaluronic acid derived from rooster combs, confirming the reliability of this product.


WHO SHOULD NOT USE HYLAFORM®?

Hylaform® is an extremely safe gel product that has been specifically designed for use as dermal filler in certain areas of the face. However, individuals with a known hypersensitivity to hyaluronic acid, pregnant or breastfeeding females, patients with a history of autoimmune disease, patients with a tendency to develop hypertrophic scars and patients with known allergy to materials of avian origin (i.e. eggs) should not use this or most dermal filler products.


DOES THIS PRODUCT REPLACE BOTOX®?

Hylaform® and Botox® complement each other; they do not replace each other. They work wonderfully together. For patients who are cosmetically minded, they now have the opportunity, with both of these, to achieve results much quicker and safer. The two procedures may be performed on the same day, or at different times; that is up to the individual patient. Both of these procedures, in combination with an aggressive skincare program, can take years off your appearance with no down time!


WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY

Hylaform® gel adds volume to your skin by mimicking the hydrating effects of your skin’s hyaluronic acid. It is an immediate treatment with immediate results. It has a proven safety record with only mild, common side effects. So you can now replace the hyaluronic acid that time has taken away. For more information about this and other exciting new treatments for aging skin, please contact me at Hecker Dermatology Group. We are located in Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach. Call 954-783-2323 for an appointment or visit us on-line at: www.heckerderm.com.