As the natural aging process takes place, our face is one of the first places that begin to show the effects of gravity, sun exposure and years of facial movement, such as chewing, smiling and squinting. The tissues underlying our skin begin to break down and the youthful, plumped appearance begins to break down along with it. Laugh lines, smile lines, crow’s feet and facial creases result from this break down in the tissue.
Artecoll is a form of soft tissue augmentation designed to rejuvenate the facial skin. This injection removes wrinkles and indentations and creates fuller lips, restoring a smoother, more youthful looking appearance. Artecoll is a facial injection that is similar to collagen. However, the basic collagen injection is only temporary, usually only lasting from a few months to a maximum of a year. Artecoll combines different formulations, including collagen, to produce long-lasting results.

The Best Candidate

The best candidate for Artecoll injections is one who is unhappy with the overall appearance of the facial skin. This may include: horizontal forehead creases, scowl lines, crow’s feet (if the skin around the eye is thick enough), smile lines, lip augmentation, fine lines around the mouth, depressed corners of the mouth, horizontal chin and neck folds, nipple augmentation, acne scars, chicken pox scars or the skin’s overall texture.

Generally, those who get Artecoll injections are between 40 and 50 years old. Good candidates do not yet qualify for a facelift and do not have a lot of excess skin. As with any cosmetic procedure, the patient should be in good health and physical condition, stable psychological state, and have realistic expectations of the procedure. While this is not an invasive cosmetic surgery, it is still important to understand that the procedure will help to improve the overall appearance of the problem area(s), but it may not live up to your preconceived ideal. Be sure to fully discuss your expectations with Dr. Heddle, as well as your support network.

How Does Artecoll Work?

Artecoll is a white, toothpaste-like injectable gel made up of microscopic beads of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The beads of PMMA are wrapped in bovine collagen and also contain anesthetic lidocaine. PMMA is a decade-proven substance that is used in numerous other medical procedures, such as hip implants and ocular lenses.
As mentioned above, pure collagen injections are eventually absorbed by the body in a mere few months, revealing the wrinkles and creases that you were trying to improve the appearance of. The Artecoll injections remain in place inside the space of the wrinkle because of the microscopic beads of PMMA. This allows your own collagen tissue to form around the gel keeping it intact. Within two to four months, your body will have formed enough natural collagen around the Artecoll gel to create a permanent structure that will prop up the wrinkle or crease. Over time, as much as 75% of the injection will remain intact, keeping your wrinkle from reappearing.

The Office Visit

Your initial consultation with Dr. Heddle should take place about three to four weeks prior to the procedure date. During the consultation, Dr. Heddle will discuss with you your primary concerns and what areas of the face you would like to see improved. Communication with Dr. Heddle is key for obtaining the desired results, so please feel free to ask questions and raise any concerns that you may have.
Before the actual procedure takes place, Dr. Heddle will do a skin test (which is usually done during your first office visit) to determine if you are sensitive or allergic to the collagen or lidocaine in the Aretcoll injection. The test syringe contains a bovine collagen solution and lidocaine, and is injected into the skin on the inside of the forearm. The absence of an allergic reaction is highly indicative that Artecoll will be well tolerated in the body.

How the Procedure is Performed

The procedure is done in-office about one month after the skin test has shown that no allergies to collagen are present. A local or topical anesthetic is used at the point of injection to reduce the minimal amount of discomfort experienced. Artecoll is then precisely injected, just beneath the dermal layer, using a fine needle in a “fanning” motion.
Once the solution is deposited directly into the wrinkle or depression, Dr. Heddle will use his fingertips to evenly distribute the gel beneath the skin, covering the length and width of the wrinkle. Depending on where the point of injection is located, skin tape may be applied to protect the area while the product takes hold over two to three days.
Most patients will normally need more than one session for the wrinkle or depression to be filled adequately. One to three months after the initial procedure, a second session will be needed for particularly deep creases in the face.

After the Procedure

For the first few days after the procedure it is normal for redness, some swelling, slight bruising and moderate pain to occur. Another common side effect is itching at the implantation site since a foreign substance has been introduced to your body. These symptoms usually subside within a few days following the injection.
As with any injectable implant, other, more serious, side effects possibly may occur. The migration or dislocation of the implant, over-correction of the area or skin atrophy may require further treatment by Dr. Heddle in order to correct them.

While these side effects are a possibility, the large majority of patients are happy with the permanent results that Artecoll provides. The skin on the face will appear firmer and smoother. Wrinkles and depressions that weighed on your self-esteem will be filled in and nearly imperceptible. If you are not ready for a facelift, but still want to improve your overall appearance, Artecoll can help you create a more youthful, refreshed look.