How Do Aesthetic Surgery Products Work?

Aesthetic surgery products are indicated for mid-to-deep dermal implantation for the correction of moderate-to-severe facial wrinkles and folds (eg, nasolabial folds). They are also used in lip augmentation, mid-facial and back of hands volume loss and for the restoration of facial fat loss (lipoatrophy) in people with human immunodeficiency virus.

Aesthetic surgery products are synthetic dermal fillers made up of biodegradable, nonanimal stabilized products that provide a gradual and significant increase in skin thickness, improving the appearance of folds and sunken areas.

They help in treating submental fat to improve aesthetic appearance and reduce facial fullness by disrupting the cell membranes in adipocytes (a cell specialized for the storage of fat) and destroying fat cells in the tissues.

Aesthetic surgery products work in the following ways:

• They belong to a class of medications called “cytolytic medications” that work by breaking down cells in fatty tissue.
• They are biodegradable, a synthetic polymer that stimulates collagen production in the body and helps to improve skin quality, volume, and thickness.
• In addition, they integrate into dermal tissue and binds to water molecules to help maintain volume, thus maintaining the contour of the skin and providing a plumper effect.

Aesthetic surgery products are used in conditions such as:

• Nasolabial fold wrinkles
  • Autologous aesthetic cell therapy to improve the appearance of moderate-to-severe nasolabial fold wrinkles in adults
• Facial wrinkles and folds
  • Mid to deep dermal implantation for the correction of moderate-to-severe facial wrinkles and folds
• Submental fat reduction
  • For improvement in the appearance of moderate-to-severe convexity or fullness associated with submental fat (double chin) in adults
• Nasolabial fold contour deficiencies 
  • As a single regimen for correction of shallow to deep nasolabial fold contour deficiencies and other facial wrinkles
• Facial fat loss
  • For restoration and/or correction of the signs of facial fat loss (lipoatrophy) in people with HIV
• Hand augmentation
• Lip augmentation 
• Mid-facial volume loss
• Back of hands volume loss

Some of the common side effects include:

• Nausea
• Headache
• Acne
• Skin tightness
• Skin discoloration
• Redness/bruising/swelling/pain/hemorrhage at the injection site

Other rare side effects include:

• Face muscle weakness
• Rash/hives/itching
• Red, swollen, blisters on skin
• Peeling of skin with or without fever
• Facial or eyelid edema
• Hypersensitivity or decreased skin sensation at the injection site
• Injection-site ischemia (decreased blood supply)
• Herpes labialis (a type of infection by the herpes simplex virus that affects primarily the lip)
• Difficulty swallowing
• Nodules/papules/irritation of skin 
• Dermatitis (inflammation of the skin)
• Ecchymosis (an area of skin discoloration)
• Allergic reactions

Information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.

Generic and brand names of aesthetic surgery products include:

• Azficel-T
• Belotero balance
• Calcium hydroxylapatite
• Deoxycholic acid
• Hyaluronic acid, non-animal stabilized
• Juvederm ultra
• Juvederm ultra plus XC
• Juvederm ultra XC
• Juvederm voluma XC
• Kybella
• LaViv
• Perlane
• Poly-L-lactic acid/carboxymethylcellulose/mannitol
• Radiesse
• Restylane
• Restylane defyne
• Restylane lyft
• Restylane refyne
• Restylane silk
• Restylane-L
• Sculptra aesthetic