Collagen Approved as Facial Filler
The FDA approved a new collagen-based facial filler for deep wrinkles and folds. The advanced collagen-based filler, EVOLENCE®, provides patients with immediate results that last up to 6 months. A treatment designed to last 12 months is still being tested by the FDA and has not yet been approved.
EVOLENCE® does not use chemicals for cross-linking like most facial fillers do, but instead uses the natural sugar D-Ribose to improve durability. Patients treated with the collagen-based facial filler are experiencing less bruising and swelling than the other dermal fillers that use hyaluronic acid which absorbs water to create their effect.
This new filler is the most advanced as it produces the most natural results. The porcine collagen used in EVOLENCE® closely resembles human collagen and therefore creates a very natural feel and look. The same collagen has been successfully used in other medical applications including heart valve replacement and this same technology for facial filler has been used in Canada, Europe, Israel and South Korea since 2004.
Researchers at the University of Michigan published a report in the current issue of Archives of Dermatology after researching the effectiveness of collagen-based anti-aging treatments. They report that the natural collapse of facial collagen can result in deep wrinkles and early signs of aging.
During their study, they researched several treatments that have been designed to help prevent the collapse of collagen, one of them being injections of cross-linked hyaluronic acid. The new collagen-based injection proves to be an advancement in the prevention of deep folds and wrinkles.
EVOLENCE® will be introduced in U.S. cosmetic clinics towards the end of the year. Physicians who plan to use the new method are required to take special training courses before they can offer the procedure in their clinics. This is to ensure the safety of all patients using the new technology.
While the side effects are more subtle than any existing dermal filler, some patients may still experience mild swelling, redness and soreness at the injection site. Another rare side effect that may occur upon injection is the development of small firm masses beneath the skin. Few patients, however, experience long lasting effects from the new filler.
EVOLENCE® was designed by ColBar LifeScience, Ltd., a biotechnology company specializing in reconstructive medicine and tissue engineering. ColBar LifeScience Ltd. is also subsidiary of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
