I will soon be among the first physicians in Los Angeles to offer a new, unique, and long term solution to filler re-absorption: ArteFill from Artes Medical. Long awaited ArteFill is finally FDA-approved in the U.S. for the correction of nasolabial folds, or smile lines. Artefill is the first and only non-resorbable aesthetic injectable implant of its kind FDA-approved for use in the U.S.

There are a variety of dermal filler options available, but most are temporary (lasting 6-9 months), so repeated injections are necessary to maintain results. These formulas were developed to be accepted by the body with a minimal chance of allergic reaction; the downside being that the body gradually absorbs these fillers as if they were a nourishing snack. A more long term alternative, logically, then would be use of a synthetic filler that does not biodegrade over time. A suitable synthetic filler should have a very low risk of allergic reaction, and should not migrate outside of the treatment area.

The solution may have finally arrived.

Artefill consists of a combination of ultra pure bovine collagen, mixed with a local anesthetic and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microspheres. PMMA is a very common synthetic implant material used in medicine since 1920. Three to six months following Artefill injection, the bovine collagen is gradually absorbed, replaced by the body’s own newly-created collagen. ArteFill microspheres provide a permanent support structure beneath the skin to fill out wrinkles and to prevent further wrinkling in the treated areas. The microspheres do not migrate nor are they degraded by the body.

A preliminary ArteFill allergy test is required a month before injection. There are no known allergies to the synthetic (PMMA) microsphere material.

Artefill should only be injected by a qualified, highly-trained physician.

I have been on the Scientific Advisory Board of Artes Medical for over two years and I am a national trainer for the company. I will be responsible for instructing physicians on injection techniques with Artefill. This product represents the second in a new generation of bio-active fillers, such as Sculptra, which are revolutionizing the world of soft tissue fillers.