The FDA has recently approved LaViv, an injectable filler that uses a patient’s own tissues. This product has several steps. A plastic surgeon first biopsies a small amount of tissue from behind a patient’s ear, sends it a special laboratory where the cells are multiplied for 3 months, then returned to the plastic surgeon to inject as a filler. The following are board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Pickart’s views on this treatment:
In effect, azficel-T will provide a true biological solution for deep folds and wrinkles. The results should be gradual and natural-looking.
My opinion is that this technology is certainly interesting, and I will definitely invest the time and effort to become proficient with azficel-T. However, I suspect that the product will not be revolutionary. I bet that the results will not be much better than the current crop of chemical fillers (such as Juvederm and Restylane) or the current biological/stimulatory fillers (such as Sculptra). Almost certainly, azficel-T will, however, appeal to a niche of patients who demand “natural” and who want to use their own cells (rather than a lab-produced product).
The big negative will be that patients will have to have a biopsy, wait 3 months before they get their injections, and then undergo a series of treatments (rather than just one session). A long, drawn-out process will not be appealing in our “fast-food culture.”
For the rest of Dr. Pickart’s article, click here.
