Botox is an injectable that is commonly used in plastic surgery, a practice now being equally followed by both men and women. It helps to give a boost to their self-esteem. A botox injection is a safe method of treatment as it is proved that it has very few side effects. Moreover, the recovery time taken is also reduced. The drug is injected at the required site where wrinkles are reduced. This treatment however is not permanent. Botox injections have to be repeatedly administered over short durations of time. The main motive of using this is to impress people by looking younger and more attractive. It reduces signs of aging and makes the face look young and firm.

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Another anti-aging treatment is performed using a drug called Aquamid. It is a soft volume filler. It is injected to reduce wrinkles, heighten cheekbones, improve the contours of the face and make adjustments of the nose. Most people prefer this treatment as it is considered safer than surgery. Aquamid has been tested for many years and it is growing popular. It is not allergenic and biocompatible. It gives an almost natural feel to the patient. Since it consists of 97.5% water, it is safe. However, Aquamid is not approved by the FDA.

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Cosmetic surgery is being adapted not only by celebrities, but also common people. It is being less stigmatized these days. Mostly used to correct facial defects and reduce the signs of aging. Though it is a safe treatment, it is still an operation. So, consultation with a good doctor is a must, before it is performed. One common operation is the facial lift that tightens the skin on the face so as to reduce wrinkles. The results of this last longer than any other method. This kind of physical reshaping is commonly performed on the nose. Many people have nose-jobs done to look more attractive. Another surgery is slightly major, a tummy tuck. It is a major invasive procedure that causes pain and swelling. Yet another procedure is the Liposuction, which is performed to reduce the fat in certain regions of the body. Liquid fat is easier to remove from the site of incision. This process requires shorter recovery time compared to any other. And it can be performed at multiple parts of the body during the same sitting.

An excerpt from Elle Magazine:

“THE NEW LASER

Jenny Dickinson tests Advanced Laser Lipolysis at The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic.

The treatment:

Apparently, I’m an ideal candidate for this type of surgery as I exercise often but just can’t shift the pockets of fat on my flanks. Dr Kingdon, my surgeon, makes tiny incisions to introduce a saline solution and laser, which ‘melts’ my fat. He then sucks out the liquefied fat and uses the laser again to help my skin tighten. It’s not painful, but I can feel the heavy pushing and pulling and Dr Kingdon forces the tiny tubes underneath my skin. I leave two hours later, leaking saline and wrapped in a girdle.

The results:

when I remove the girdle, I can see that my shaped has changed: the deposits of fat are gone. But, for two weeks, I’m badly bruised and the swelling means I’m actually bigger than before. Plus, I have to keeo the girdle on. I’m not in pain, but I’m uncomfortable. After six weeks, the swelling has reduced but I’m still quite tender. Three months on, the tenderness has gone and my shape is transformed.”

Today, injectable fillers are still considered safe and also affordable anti-aging treatments for people who are looking to fix wrinkles, enhance lips, heighten cheekbones or balance their nose. A survey was recently completed of 800 women between the age of 35 and 69. They stated that they would choice a facial injectable treatment before a surgical one. The advantages that most women are consider include: no incisions, no time out for the recovery and immediate results.

Whether someone wants to enhance facial contours or rid the face of deep wrinkles or folds, Aquamid can help. This filler have been undergoing testing and trials for many years and is now beginning to appear in some cosmetic surgery centers and spas throughout the world. Dr. Alan Kingdon of London is just one Cosmetic Surgeon and medical specialist who has over 30 years of experience in cosmetic surgery.

Aquamid is a soft-volume filler that provides immediate results and, unlike other temporary fillers, the results do not fade or disappear over time. It is able to restore volume in the face that has been lost due to aging and creates a more youthful and refreshed look. Auqamid is both a non-allergenic and biocompatible product and because of the amount of water it contains it makes the area that has been treated look and feel natural and soft.

Aquamid is a hydrogel (watery gel), meaning that it contains 97.5% water and over 99% absorbent. It feels and acts like a natural part of the body. After it is in place, it continually exchanges the surrounding tissue with the hydrogel; it does not leave the area of the injection site. The volume that it provides stays in place under the skin in harmony with the body. The volume that is injected is equal to the final result and allows physicians to precisely correct a look.

With Aquamid, you get exactly what you see; it does not contain micro-particles. The effect of the filing is due only to the injected amount. Unlike other products that do contain fillers that are particle-based, the hydrogel in Aquamid does not rely on anything to achieve the wanted augmentation. The filling is predictable and does not cause fibrosis or hardening of the tissues.

Aquamid has proven its safety and satisfaction based on it years of experience and over 300,000 treatments. The great results can be achieved without the need surgery. The results are not only instant, but also long lasting. During a long-term trial, physicians looked at the aesthetic results at intervals of one, two and four years. They determined the results to be good or very good in over 90% of the patients. And furthermore, over 90% of the patients stated that they were either satisfied or very satisfied at these internal follow-ups. Data that has been collected after five years also shows very similar aesthetic results and satisfaction in patients.

The Aquamid product has been tested in both pre-clinical and clinical trials to great extent. The long term-term effects have also been studied by looking back at trials with an observation time of six years. Aquamid is a versatile filler and used for folds, contouring and augmenting. It is known to have specific advantage over other fillers that are used for aesthetic enhancement. One great disadvantage of other fillers is their short time of action and the need to repeat the injections. With Aquamid, there is no degrading; therefore, providing a long lasing augmentation from just one injection. Because of this, it is an option that is both preferred and cost-effective, making Aquamid the preferred injectable filler recommended by Dr. Alan Kingdon.

Aquamid is manufactured by a Danish pharmaceutical company. It is made of hydrophilic polyacrylamide and is found to be between 300 and 400 times its weight in water. This product has been used in drug delivery, medical applications, water purification, intraocular lenses and also agriculture for several years. It has been used in cosmetic application for more than 10 years. Aquamid is not available officially in the United States, but there have been some physicians who have brought it into the US and offered it to some of their patients. It does have CE marketing, is not approved by the FDA but is available and used in 40 different countries throughout Australia, Canada, Asia, Europe and Mexico.