A new facial filler may become the way forward for anyone wanting a permanent anti-aging solution.  'Artefill' is the first ever permanent wrinkle filler to be approved for use in the United States by the FDA.

So what exactly is 'Artefill'?  Put simply, it's a mixture of microscophic spheres of a chemical binding agent and purified bovine collagen. The material is injected under the skin using a syringe into an area where wrinkles are present.  Studies have shown that the product stimulates the body to create its own collagen and this is how it works to eradicate wrinkles.
It is likely that the product would be particularly useful in filling in the nasolabial folds or laugh lines.

Approval in the United States has been a long time coming.  The FDA study has been in progress for eight years and permanent facial fillers have been in use in Europe for some time.  The FDA has its reasons for being careful - the product is meant to be a permanent solution to wrinkles so it could also potentially be a permanent problem.  The product depends for its success on its ability to make the body react - an estimated 80% of its efficacy comes from the stimulation of collagen production in the patient's body tissues after injection.  Anything which has this kind of impact on human beings on a permanent basis is justifiably treated with caution.

There are also potential side effects for users and these are similar to those seen with any facial line filler.  Patients can sometimes develop lumps and bumps where the filler is injected which then have to be treated with steroids or removed under anesthetic.  Despite this - and despite the fact the filler is based on bovine collagen - the manufacturers think there will be high demand for the product among consumers who are unhappy with the ongoing expense and discomfort which is a necessary with temporary wrinkle fillers.

We aren't so sure.  There is a big movement away from radical interventions of this sort with women and men increasingly wanting a more gentle approach to the challenges of skin aging.  Anything that combines material extracted from dead cows with a chemical binding agent which doesn't break down in the body may be a step too far. 

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