Aquamid London Clinic

Aquamid is a unique soft-volume filler with immediate results.  It is non-resorbable, non-toxic, non-allergenic and a long-lasting product for facial correction. Unlike temporary fillers; the results will last up to 5-15 years.

It is bio-compatible, non-allergenic and its high water content makes the treated area look and feel soft and natural, helping to contour the face naturally but in a way that lasts and it is designed to smooth out and soften deep lines and wrinkles, restore facial volume, crate higher cheekbones and treat facial scars.

Aquamid is a transparent, injectable implant in hydrogel form, which integrates naturally with the body’s own tissue. It is a bio-compatible, non-allergenic and non-absorbable hydro-gel consisting of 97.5% water and 2.5% cross-linked polyacrylamide.


Aquamid Suitability

Aquamid is suitable for both women and men. It can help with deep folds around the mouth and nose, sunken cheeks, facial scars, chin augmentation and deep wrinkles. It is ideal for long lasting line and wrinkle correction. It is also ideal to enhance cheek volume, restore facial contour and volume, correct facial laxity and improve the jaw line and other areas.

Some patients achieve a face lifting effect without the need for aggressive surgery, with the results lasting 5-15 years.

Polyacrylamide is the name for a large group of substances having the same basic synthesis materials but having different characteristics. Polyacrylamides vary substantially in their properties and hence, are not identical.

A large percentage of this dermal filler is water and the body accepts the gel as it will only form a thin membrane around the implant which forms to keep it in place. Once injected in the tissue, it continuously exchanges water between the hydrogel and the surrounding tissue. With time the gel becomes vascularised enabling access to the immune system.

The hydrogel is homogeneous and does not contain micro-particles. Therefore, it does not cause tissue hardening or granulomas.

If a patient has good general health with wrinkles, folds, and facial volume loss caused due to aging, this candidate is suitable for Aquamid treatment. However, Aquamid is not recommended for pregnant and lactating women. It is also not a good choice for women with active skin disease or those who have had cold sores in the past. If a patient has had any resorbable filler treatment earlier, one must wait until it disappears fully before having Aquamid treatment.


Aquamid Clinical Use

Aquamid allows the exchange of fluids with surrounding cells resembling normal tissue behaviour. It maintains its shape and does not migrate from the injection site. The hydrogel becomes totally integrated with the tissue. It follows the movements of the tissue, and hence, cannot be distinguished from tissue by touch and feel.

It can help with deep folds around the mouth and nose, sunken cheeks, facial scars and chin enhancement and augmentation of the nasal bridge.

In the 30s and 40s:  Aquamid is ideal for enhancing cheek volume.

In the 50s and onward:  Aquamid is ideal to restore facial contours and volume, correct facial laxity and improve the jaw line and other areas.

The volume injected is equivalent to the result and can be corrected with precision once injected as the gel is very elastic. It moves with all facial expressions.

The effect of the injection is nearly permanent. As the initial swelling subsides there will be some loss of volume, for this reason in some cases 2-3 treatments may be necessary to obtain an optimum result. The hydrogel cannot be removed completely; however it can be altered if desired.


The Treatment

The Aquamid treatment method entails the following steps:

  1. The patient is made to sit upright or semi-upright yet comfortably on the examination chair in order to allow the physician to see all essential facial details.
  2. The target area is prepared by cleaning it thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol and/or antibacterial cleansers.
  3. The physician administers local anaesthesia in order to minimize potential pain and discomfort.
  4. Finally, Aquamid is injected into the subcutaneous tissue by using thin sterile needle. For contouring and adding volume, techniques like cross-hatching and fanning are used.

There is no need for allergy tests. The treatment normally takes about 30 minutes. The patient resumes normal activities soon after the treatment. Results are immediate and natural looking.  Retreatment (if required) should be carried out at least after 2 weeks.


Post Treatment Care

The patient should not touch the treated area for at least 5-6 hours after the treatment. Redness, bruising, and slight swelling around the site of injection can occur which will usually disappear within a couple of days. If there is soreness, warmth, and/or a tingling sensation after a few days, there may be a local infection and it is important to contact the doctor and in some cases a course of antibiotics is needed.


The Results

The effect of the injection is nearly permanent. The polyacrylamide forms long chains that cannot be split by the human body. No enzyme or bacterium can metabolise the polyacrylamide. This is the reason why the gel remains in place at the site of injection and remains as a part of that tissue.

Since the ageing of the skin continues, it may be necessary to carry out follow-up treatment after a certain period, depending on several factors such as age and skin structure.

The patient will be informed about indications, expected results, contraindications, precautions, warnings and potential adverse events at the consultation.


Aquamid Safety

Aquamid is MHRA approved in the UK and FDA approved in the USA for restoration and correction of the signs of facial fat loss and for treating facial lines and wrinkles.

Aquamid has a proven track record of safety and efficacy, which has been documented by more than 10 clinical studies conducted and 600,000 treatments administered worldwide until now. It is manufactured in compliance with the European Medical Devices Directive. In 2001, it got its approval in Europe for facial augmentation and minor body contouring. It is also approved in several other countries including Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.

It is a bio-compatible permanent dermal filler which is challenging to be removed once it becomes integrated within the tissue, however, initially the gel can be removed easily by aspiration through a minute puncture or incision. Over time as the filler becomes integrated within the tissue, it requires a surgical procedure or fracturing followed by a suction.

Aquamid has a proven track record for safety and lasting satisfaction, based on ten years of experience and more than 600,000 treatments administered. It is considered a safe treatment and there is no chance that patients will be allergic to it as it contains no proteins.

As with all filler injections, there is a small risk of mild irritation, redness, tenderness or transient swelling at the injection site. Typically, such reactions resolve within a couple of days.

In rare cases an infection can occur. The symptoms could be a tingling sensation in the treated area. If an infection is suspected, the injecting doctor should be contacted. The recommended treatment is with broad-spectra antibiotics.

Patients should note that they should avoid laser, peeling, skin resurfacing, pigmentation or aesthetic treatments in the area injected for at least six months before and after Aquamid injections.

During a long-term clinical trial, Doctors judged the aesthetic results at one, two, four and five years, rating the results as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ in more than 90% of the patients. Furthermore, more than 90% of the patients were either satisfied or very satisfied at the one, two, four and five year follow-up.


Aquamid Vs Traditional Dermal Fillers

Unlike other fillers, the full effect of the filler is obtained immediately. Results are predictable and natural looking. The volume obtained with the AQ product range is equal to the amount injected and the results last for three to five years after the first treatment session.

With hyaluronic acid and collagen fillers, wrinkle correction usually lasts for three to twelve months. Since AQ does not get absorbed in the body, the results last for many years, without the need for further treatments, however, every patient is different. It may be necessary for touch-up treatments to achieve the desired result.

Only fully trained and qualified facial plastic surgeons should perform the Aquamid procedure. It is very important for the surgeon to have a good understanding of the surgical anatomy of the face in order to know where to inject Aquamid.


Alternative Treatment Options

Dermal Fillers

Dermal Fillers are suitable for both woman and men of different ages and skin types. However, everyone’s skin ages differently and dermal fillers may be used to rejuvenate multiple problem areas. From smile lines to vertical lip lines, dermal fillers can smooth away unwanted wrinkles and restore natural contours.

Dermal fillers are a smooth consistency gel made of hyaluronic acid – a naturally occurring substance in the skin that helps to add volume and hydration.

There are different groups of dermal fillers. The most popular group is hyaluronic acid based, a fluid which occurs naturally in the eye tears and the skin, and therefore using hyaluronic acid allows the skin to retain a plump, full appearance over time, and restore skin to a firmer, more youthful natural appearance.

Injectable dermal fillers are safe, biodegradable products placed under the skin at various depths to turn back the clock by adding a youthful volume to the face. They are also used to sculpt the face addressing a variety of structural issues as well as softening wrinkles. Most patients need one treatment to achieve optimal wrinkle smoothing.

The procedure for dermal fillers is quick, often lasting just fifteen minutes. Many patients experience minimum discomfort or no pain at all. There is no recovery time needed so patients can resume their normal activities immediately after the treatment.

Dermal Fillers are gently injected into the required area. They hydrate the skin and have antioxidant qualities which provide instantly smoother skin. The results last 6-24 months.

Ellanse

Ellanse is the first and only dermal filler which acts as a biostimulator of collagen with the results lasting up to two to five years.

Ellanse developed by AQTIS Medica is the first dermal filler which offers a safe unique tenable longevity, specifically designed for the field of aesthetic medicine and surgery with the results lasting from two to five years.

Ellanse is a non-animal, non-bacterial and non-human derived product. It is a natural bio-simulator, since it stimulates the creation of the patients own new collagen. Ellanse is made of Poly-Caprolactone and is a well-known totally bioresorbable soft medical polymer. ELLANSE offers the maximum potential for moulding due to the combination of optimum viscosity, unique elasticity and uniform homogeneity. The Ellanse family can be used in a variety of beautifying indications:

  • Correcting wrinkles and folds
  • Volumizing
  • Contouring
  • Sculpting

The procedure for Ellanse injection is very quick, often lasting just ten to fifteen minutes. Many patients experience no pain at all or minimum discomfort. There is no recovery time needed and patients can resume their normal activities immediately after the treatment.

Immediate side effects are very rare and may include injection-related events at the site of injection, such as redness, slight tenderness or discomfort, bruising or swelling.

Delayed appearance of small bumps under the skin in the treated area could rarely occur. Generally, these bumps are not visible and may only be noticed when pressing on the treated area. All these side effects usually last only a day or two.

The specifically designed microsphere characteristics provide a safe and long-lasting high-quality scaffold for tissue infiltration.

Sculptra – Collagen Stimulation  

Sculptra is a long lasting, clinically proven, non-invasive, stimulating injectable treatment that is designed to smooth out and soften lines and wrinkles, restore facial volume and contour the face in a natural way.

Sculptra works differently from traditional dermal fillers. It’s a unique collagen replenishing treatment that helps to gradually and subtly reduce lines, wrinkles and folds. By helping to replenish the body’s own facial collagen and restore lost volume, it can give a fuller, more natural look that can last for 3-5 years.

Poly-L-lactic acid, the main ingredient of Sculptra has been used successfully in surgical procedures for more than 50 years, among others for bioresorbable sutures, in bone plates and screws, and as a medium for medication.

There are four main indications where Sculptra can be used:

  1. Sculptra for Facial Volumization
  2. Sculptra for Scar Treatment
  3. Sculptra for Facial Asymmetry
  4. Buttock Enhancement

It can be used for loss of fat and soft tissue in the face, premature ageing of the face, hollow cheeks and temples, nose to mouth folds, deep folds and wrinkles, marionette lines, sagging jowls, wrinkly chest / décolletage, wrinkly hands, deep acne scars and traumatic scarring.

Sculptra is used on most parts of the face (except on the forehead and above the lips). Common areas of use include cheeks, temples, chin, prejowl sulcus, and marionette lines.

It differs from traditional, static dermal fillers such as hyaluronic acid and collagen, as it is a stimulatory product and therefore causes the growth of fibrous tissue or collagen within the body, which then results in volume restoration gradually.

Sculptra works within the deep dermis, the skin’s structure is reinforced as Sculptra helps to replace lost collagen. This reinforced collagen structure provides a foundation that gradually restores the look of fullness of shallow to deep facial wrinkles and folds that have depleted over time.

The science behind Sculptra involves more than 50 years of use in human medical applications. From absorbable sutures to resorbable screws, it has proven to be biocompatible, well tolerated, and effective.

Sculptra is officially approved by MHRA in the UK and the FDA in the USA and for restoration and/or correction of the signs of facial fat loss (lipoatrophy) and is used for treating facial lines and wrinkles.

Immediate side effects may include injection-related events at the site of injection, such as redness, slight tenderness or discomfort, bruising and swelling. All these immediate side effects usually last only five- seven days.

A delayed appearance of small bumps under the skin in the treated area could rarely occur. Generally, these bumps are not visible and may only be noticed when pressing on the treated area. This rare side effect is usually an effect of the product being injected too superficially causing a lump of product or collagen to form, but vigorous massage usually prevents this.

Medical Disclaimer: The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only.

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CQC Registration No: 1-67658846
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