Artecoll™ For long-lasting correction of wrinkles, scars and
lip enhancement
 Take advantage of our ONLINE CONSULTATION to see if you're
a good candidate for Artecoll treatment. It's free and quick.
You can reverse time with Artecoll™
- A simple one-step procedure.
- Medically proven to be safe and effective.
- Artecoll™ has been
used with more than 100,000 patients over the last 10 years.
- Most
patients required only one (62%) or two (24%) applications.
- Nine
out of ten patients say they're satisfied with how they now look.
- Virtually
100% of patients had objective improvement upon post-operative review.
- Results
are considered permanent; there's no need to continually repeat treatment
as with some other procedures. This can
reduce your long-term
costs.
- Unlike collagen and hyaluronic acid, Artecoll™ maintains
its cosmetic results for years.
With Artecoll™,
there's more that you can do
- Fill folds and wrinkles on the face, primarily around the nose and
mouth (including depressed corners of the mouth), and fill in lines
and creases
on the forehead.
- Enhance and restore the fullness of your lips.
- Correct irregularities
of the nose.
- Correct scars caused by acne and other conditions.
Artecoll™ treatment
is simple, easy and virtually pain-free
- A series of tiny injections under the skin's surface.
- Artecoll™ fills
the gaps, raising the skin to its normal height.
- Some minor smoothing
may be done immediately after the injection.
- During the 3 or 4 months after
your Artecoll™ treatment, your body
will lay down its own natural collagen around the Artecoll™ particles,
producing the long-lasting correction you desire. You may
have another Artecoll™ treatment in the same area after
2-4 months if additional correction is desired.
What can Artecoll™ do
for you?
"Don't knock it until you try it - and that applies to the medical
professionals as well as to the people reticent to try Artecoll™.
I am a 58-year-old professional female continually in contact with people.
Considering the importance attributed to the "youthful look" so
much valued in our society today, I opted for two separate sessions of
Artecoll™injections. The difference in my appearance was subtle
enough that no one noticed a great difference in my looks, however, people
would continually comment: "you look so great! Whatever you are
doing, it works!"
1. What is Artecoll™?
Artecoll™ is an injectable implant used for the long-lasting correction
of wrinkles and other skin depressions. Artecoll™ is composed of
ultra fine particles of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) which are suspended
in a collagen solution. Artecoll™ will soon be marketed in the
United States under the trade name Artefill™.
PMMA has been used
by doctors for over 60 years in such common procedures as dental
prostheses, eye lenses, bone repair, orthopedics and in pacemakers.
PMMA is used because it is very safe and does not cause allergic reactions.
What
is the difference between Artecoll™ and Botox®?
Botox® relaxes
the muscles which cause many facial lines and unwanted facial expressions.
Fillers like Artecoll™, collagen (Zyplast™ and Zyderm™),
Perlane™, Restylane™ and other products fill creases, lips,
cheekbones, and also defects like acne scars. Sometimes Botox® is
used in combination with Artecoll™ when treating certain areas
where permanent deep lines have resulted from over activity of the
muscles, for example some frown lines on the lower forehead or wrinkles
around
the lips.
 2. How much does Artecoll™ cost?
In Canada, Artecoll™ is
not expensive; however there is a cost involved. Many cosmetic treatments
were once considered a luxury item
only for those who had a high disposable income. Artecoll™ is very
affordable even for those with modest incomes, but some people need to
budget for it just as they would for buying accessories like shoes and
having their hair styled.
“Having successful cosmetic treatments
for your face is not expensive, it is priceless.”
You might typically use a total of one or two syringes of Artecoll™ (perhaps
one to start with and maybe another in 3 or 4 months) to enhance your
lips, or to soften and fill in your nasolabial folds or forehead lines.
The improvement is gradual (allowing you to control the rate and degree
of correction) — and the cost is spread out over a long period
of time, so Artecoll™ treatment should be easy on you, and easy
on your budget! Because the improvement is not sudden, people are likely
to notice that you are looking better, but they will probably not know
WHY your appearance is improving as time goes on (unless you share your
secret with them!)
Artecoll™ treatments may be a tax deductible
medical expense (similar to dental, orthodontic and cosmetic surgery
bills), so save your receipts!
3. How does Artecoll™ work?
After Artecoll™ is injected;
the collagen in which the PMMA particles are suspended is absorbed by
your body over a period of about 4 weeks.
During this time there may appear to be some loss of the correction in
the treated skin folds, wrinkles and scars.
The ultra fine particles of PMMA in Artecoll™ stimulate your skin
to produce its own natural collagen, which is laid down around the PMMA
particles during the 3 or 4 months after Artecoll™ is injected.
The long term correction volume is usually around 50% of the injected
volume. This produces the final permanent and natural correction which
you desire. While the effect is permanent, it will take a few months
before the full effect of a treatment is apparent, and usually several
treatments are required to obtain the final result you desire.
It’s important to remember that it takes 3 or 4 months for Artecoll™ to
fully settle in, so you should not judge the results too soon. You need
to allow time for your body to produce new collagen to anchor the PMMA
microspheres in place.
4. How long does the Artecoll™ implant last?
Unlike collagen (which lasts 3-6 months) or hyaluronic acid (which lasts
6-12 months), the benefits of Artecoll™ treatment should be visible
for at least five years or longer, depending on the location of the
treatment and the nature of your skin. The implant will remain for
the rest of your life.
Artecoll™ does not stop time. With sun damage and because of the
natural aging process new wrinkles may appear close to the site of the
original implant, or existing wrinkles may gradually become deeper as
time goes on. These wrinkles and skin folds can be treated with Artecoll™ if
you desire in the future.
In some areas (for example, the forehead and
upper lip) Botox® treatments
are often used to reduce unwanted muscle movement and in this way complement
the effect of the Artecoll™ treatment in those areas.
5. Is Artecoll™ safe?
Yes. Artecoll™ is extremely safe. More
than one hundred thousand men and women in all age groups around the
world have been successfully
treated with Artecoll™ since 1989. Studies show that the vast majority
of them were so happy with their results they would be willing to have
the treatment again.
There have been no reports of rejection of the PMMA microspheres. PMMA
has been used since the early 1930’s in dental prostheses, and
since 1947, when the first hip prosthesis was introduced. Many scientific
articles on bone repair have mentioned the chemical inertness and biocompatibility
of PMMA.
The collagen molecules have been specially processed to minimize the
risk of allergic reaction.
A skin test can be used to determine if the patient is sensitive or
allergic to the collagen or lidocaine in Artecoll™. A tiny amount
of the collagen/lidocaine solution is injected on the inside of the arm,
near the elbow. There are no PMMA microspheres in the test dose, so there
will be no long-lasting changes in the skin where the test dose is injected.
If there is no redness, tenderness itching or swelling in the test area
2-4 weeks after the test dose, we can be confident that there will be
no allergic reaction to Artecoll™. Less than one person in a thousand
has an allergic reaction to Artecoll™.
People who have had no problems
with collagen injections in the past do not need to have an Artecoll™ skin
test.
Rarely, if the injection is made near to the skin surface, the implant
may appear as a light colored area. If this color difference persists,
the Artecoll™ can be removed.
In less than one case in a thousand there can be excessive production
of collagen and connective tissue in the treated area. If this happens,
the involved area can be injected with the anti-inflammatory medication
Kenalog, or may be removed by excision.
Possible side effects include swelling, redness, slight bruising and
moderate discomfort for a few days after injection. Sometimes there can
be slight itching at the implantation site for several days.
6. What does
Artecoll™ treatment feel like?
The needle used for Artecoll™ is
very fine and many patients are very pleased by the minimal discomfort
of the Artecoll™ treatment.
Very sensitive areas (for example, the lips) are gently anesthetized
before Artecoll™ treatment to improve your comfort. In addition,
Artecoll™ contains lidocaine to minimize post-treatment tenderness.
Anesthetic cream may be applied to your skin for 30-60 minutes before
treatment to reduce discomfort. Some people find it helpful to take a
couple of plain Tylenol™ and/or Advil™ an hour or two before
treatment to reduce discomfort.
7. Who should not have Artecoll™ treatments?
- People with a positive reaction to skin test
- People who are
allergic to collagen or bovine products
- People who are genuinely
allergic to lidocaine (this is very rare)
- People who have severe
rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or dermatomyositis
- People who tend to
make enlarged scars (keloids)
- People who have thin, loose skin in
the area to be treated
- People who have unrealistic expectations (as
with any treatment, you need to have an accurate understanding of
the likely
benefits and risks
of Artecoll™ treatment.)
8. Can a face-lift or
other surgery be performed after an Artecoll™ implantation?
Yes. A face-lift can be performed after an Artecoll™ implantation.
The skin on the face is thick enough to prevent the implants from becoming
visible after a face-lift. Artecoll™ should not be used in thin,
loose skin. It is possible that an implant in thin skin will be visible
after a face-lift. Artecoll™ treatments can sometimes reduce or
eliminate the need for a facelift or other surgery, or can delay the
need for repeated surgery.
9. Can Artecoll™ be used during pregnancy?
There is no technical or medical reason why Artecoll™ could not
be used during pregnancy, but because one’s appearance often changes
considerably during pregnancy it is generally better to wait until after
the baby is born before using products like Artecoll™ which are
intended to produce long-lasting improvement.
10. Who invented Artecoll™?
Professor Gottfried Lemperle of Germany invented Artecoll™ during
the 1980s. Professor Lemperle is a plastic surgeon who is now working
in the Division of Plastic Surgery, University of California, San Diego.
11. Am I “vain”?
Many people at some time before Artecoll™ treatment for wrinkles,
lip augmentation or scarring have fears and doubts. A common concern
is that they are being vain. My experience has been that just about all
patients who have Artecoll™, Perlane™, Restylane™,
laser hair removal, Botox® treatment, and other procedures to maintain
their appearance and comfort are no more vain than anyone else. What
does distinguish these individuals is a desire to get the most out of
life, and to look as good as they feel.
Looking after our appearance is not a fault. After all, would you leave
your house with broken gutters or peeling paint? Why do less for your
body? I think you should feel proud of yourself for having the will
and the ability to change something that you find unacceptable. I emphasize
that you should only have Artecoll™ and other treatments if it
is for you. It is a big mistake to do these things if it is just for
somebody else.
The same self-esteem that makes our patients successful in their chosen
fields, precise in their consultation questions, well groomed and dressed,
and often careful in their diet, exercise, and other aspects of health
maintenance leads many of our patients to seek help for their wrinkles
and frown lines. These individuals are normal healthy people, and the
same degree of self-interest that prompts them to exercise, be selective
in what they eat and drink, and protect themselves from sun damage
leads them to explore the benefits of Artecoll™. Our patients
simply want to look their best.
12. Pre-treatment instructions:
It is good to pamper yourself on treatment day! If you have a nice big
breakfast or lunch, and an extra glass of water, you will be more comfortable.
Many patients like to take a couple of plain Tylenol before treatment
(similar to what you might do before having a flu shot) to prevent
discomfort. As a practical matter, bruising is seldom a major problem
after Artecoll™ treatment. The chance of bruising can be reduced
by minimizing your consumption of ASA, alcohol and Vitamin E for 3
days before Artecoll™ treatment.
Please wear no makeup, or makeup that is easy to remove, so that the
area to be treated can be clearly seen. You can bring makeup with you,
and you may apply your makeup immediately after treatment.
13. Post-treatment instructions:
After Artecoll™ treatment, there is occasionally some pain, swelling,
itching or redness at the site of injection — similar to what you
could experience after any injection. You may take a couple of plain
Tylenol several times a day to reduce swelling and discomfort. ASA (Aspirin)
should be avoided as it may increase the chance of bruising around the
treated areas. Cold compresses or ice packs can also be used to reduce
any swelling, itching or discomfort. Redness may last for 1 — 2
days, occasionally longer in some patients. Until the initial swelling
and redness have resolved, do not expose the treated area to intense
heat (e.g. hot packs or sunbathing), or to intense cold.
In order to allow the implant to stabilize, try to avoid excessive movement
of your facial muscles in the treated areas for the next few days
and in particular during the first 12 hours after your Artecoll™ treatment.
The implant may feel somewhat firm at first; however, it will soften
over time as your body produces its own natural collagen and connective
tissue. As time goes on, you may be able to feel the Artecoll™ implant
under your skin because you know where to find it, but the only thing
other people should be aware of is the long-lasting improvement in
your appearance.
Artecoll™ For long-lasting correction of wrinkles and scars
If you have any questions, and to arrange for prompt, confidential
consultation and treatment.
No referral is needed. Just CALL us or fill
out the ONLINE CONSULTATION. 514 731 1545.
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