Mentor, a company best known for their outstanding breast implants, has recently released a new hyaluronic acid filler here in the United States. It's called Prevelle 'Silk,' and is the only hyaluronic acid filler available which also incorporates lidocaine (an anesthetic) into the product. The idea is that most patients who have it for enhancing the lips or filling in wrinkles do not need painful dental blocks to numb the area prior to injecting it. They also advertise that the product has little swelling and downtime, hence the slogan "Today for Tonight."
What's the drawback? Mainly the longevity of the product. Prevelle appears to last around 90 days or so, whereas the two most popular hyaluronic acid fillers (Restylane and Juvederm) can last 6 months or more. Prevelle is cheaper, however, and with the minimal discomfort associated with its injections, does seem to have a nice niche.
I would recommend it for people who want the following: Less reaction and swelling, less discomfort with injection, a cheaper price, and don't mind a shorter-lasting result.
To learn more about Prevelle, click here.
Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.:
"painful dental blocks"?? I thought one could have topical anesthetic, such as EMLA, slathered on for an hour before the injections...? (Worked great for me when I had some tiny capillaries lasered on my face.)
ReplyDeleteDo cosmetic surgeons ever consider NOT recommending injections of foreign substances into the flesh of humans??
ReplyDeleteHey, what do you think of this picture of Hayden Panettiere? It looks to me like she has had rhinoplasty.
ReplyDeleteThoughts?
Katie - Emla works for most areas, but the lips are too sensitive for most people to have them enhanced without actual injectable anesthetic.
ReplyDeleteLaura - I quite commonly turn people down when I think that a treatment will not benefit them. What do you do for a living?
Lucy - Tough to say without 'before' photos. I think she is a real beauty though. Love her in Heroes!
Dr. Tony,
ReplyDeleteI am a Quality Systems engineer for an aerospace manufacturer and a part time longshore worker. Why do you ask?
Just wondering....
ReplyDeleteLucy - I accidentally deleted your Hayden photos. Can you post it again?
ReplyDeleteWhy were you wondering?
ReplyDeleteI'm no crusader against cosmetic surgery. I'm just frustrated that people, mostly women, resort straight to surgical or other invasive measures to improve what they were given.
Humans are meant to age. Tough luck if genetics are not on your side or if you haven't taken care of your skin all your life!
It all goes back to what my mom used to say to me when I didn't finish my dinner. I think about all the time and money and effort that is wasted on such selfish pursuits and I wish more people did more for the environment or for the less fortunate and quit worrying about their appearance.