Protocol combines Sculptra and skinbooster for rejuvenation – 02/29/2024 – Balance

A new protocol to improve sagging and wrinkles in mature skin was created by Brazilian doctors and presented at the IMCAS World Congress 2024, the main dermatology and aesthetics congress in the world, held this year between the 1st and 3rd of February, in Paris.

The technique consists of applying a collagen bio-stimulator and a very thin type of hyaluronic acid, known as skinbooster, to areas of the face and body that have sagging skin and fine lines in the same session.

“This new practice arose from the need of women who are in the menopause or have already gone through menopause and face a decrease in hormones such as estrogen, antiprogesterone and testosterone. This hormonal drop causes more pronounced sagging and greater dryness of the skin”, he explains. dermatologist Maria Paula Del Nero, member of the SBCD (Brazilian Society of Dermatological Surgery) and one of the authors of the study presented at IMCAS.

“Many patients show up at the office complaining that their skin feels like it has melted overnight,” notes the doctor.

Plastic surgeon Fábio Saito, full member of SBCP (Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery), director of medical education at Galderma and also one of the authors of the study, says that the products used have been used for a long time by doctors for skin rejuvenation. , but the novelty of this new protocol is that their safety and effectiveness have been proven when applied in the same session.

“We associate Sculptra, which is a poly-L-lactic acid collagen biostimulator, with Restylane Skinboosters, which is a very light hyaluronic acid that does not promote volume. The protocol was named Firm & Refresh due to the capacity that these active ingredients they have to firm and invigorate the skin”, says the doctor.

How products act on the skin

Saito explains that the collagen biostimulator, when applied to tissues, generates subclinical inflammation that will stimulate collagen production in the region.

Skinbooster is super-hydrophilic and attracts water to the tissue, an action that will distend and activate fibroblasts, which are the cells responsible for synthesizing this protein. In addition to reducing wrinkles, it improves the radiance and quality of the skin.

“The two products act in different and complementary ways”, observes the plastic surgeon.

Dermatologist Maria Paula Del Nero highlights that in some areas of the face, such as the sides of the face, both substances can be applied. But in very delicate areas, such as the skin around the eyes and lips, it is only recommended to apply the skinbooster.

“We do not inject collagen biostimulator around the eyes or lips, as these are places with very thin skin and which we move with facial expressions all the time. There is a risk of nodules forming due to product accumulation. Skinbooster hyaluronic acid is more appropriate for these regions, with better results”, he states.

In addition to the face, the protocol with the combination of the two products can be applied to the neck, lap, hands, abdomen, arms and thighs.

A single session is capable of generating good results, but, depending on the patient’s degree of flaccidity, the doctor may recommend more than one application at least a month apart, says Del Nero.

Results and contraindications

Plastic surgeon Fábio Saito says that the skinbooster has the immediate effect of hyaluronic acid, so the patient leaves the office with smoother wrinkles right after the procedure. The result lasts up to 15 months.

The biostimulator, in turn, needs longer time to stimulate collagen. Results begin to appear between 30 days and three months and last up to two years.

The treatment is contraindicated for people who are allergic to the components, who have local infections and autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and vasculitis — in these cases, the condition must be controlled and the responsible doctor must release the patient to undergo the procedure.

When sagging is caused by excess skin, as can occur in people who have lost a lot of weight after bariatric surgery, plastic surgery may be necessary to remove the tissue. “The collagen biostimulator can be applied before and after surgery to obtain better results, but it is not capable of reducing excess skin”, highlights Saito.

The protocol requires the application of at least one bottle of collagen biostimulator, which costs an average of R$3,000, and a skinbooster syringe, which costs around R$1,000, with an estimated value starting at R$4,000. The number of units of each product depends on the patient’s needs and must be assessed by the doctor.

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