Restylane information

Restylane, a popular cosmetic treatment that temporarily plumps out wrinkles, may actually make the skin produce more collagen, a natural substance that makes skin look young. That means the product, which millions of people have had injected around their lips, cheeks and foreheads, has effects beyond even what its manufacturers claim. The researchers tested Restylane, marketed by Q-Med AB of Uppsala, Sweden and Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp.

Restylane is a transparent hyaluronic acid gel that is injected into the face to smooth deep wrinkles and folds. Hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally produced in the body, temporarily adds volume to facial tissue for about 6 months. Dermatologist Dr. John Voorhees led the study. That could mean regular injections could have long-lasting effects. Voorhees and colleagues report that Restylane's plumping action stretches the fibroblasts, the cells in the skin that make collagen, and prompts them to make more. It also may interfere with the breakdown of existing collagen.

Rival Allergan Inc. makes a similar dermal filler called Juvederm and privately held BioForm Medical Inc. makes one called Radiesse.

Voorhees' team injected Restylane into the arms of 11 volunteers who had sun damage and were aged 64 to 84. They then cut out little plugs of skin to analyze them. "A fibroblast is normally spindle-shaped with arms that stretch out. When attached to collagen the way it is supposed to be, it is a stretched fibroblast, and this is what you see in young people," Voorhees said. Healthy, stretched fibroblasts also make lots of collagen, which gives young skin its firm appearance. "In both photoaging (caused by the sun) and natural aging the fibroblasts are basically collapsed and sitting in a sea of broken collagen. We said to ourselves maybe if we could figure out a way to re-stretch those collapsed fibroblasts, maybe we could find a way to make those cells act young again."

The looked at Restylane, which had been used safely for years, and found what they were looking for when they looked at the plugs of skin taken from the volunteers. They made a lot more collagen and the fibroblasts were stretched,.

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