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Podcast may 11, 2006 update 10:30 am

Bio-Alcamid

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My name is Dr. David Ellis and I am going to share with you some information on Bio-Alcamid, a permanent large volume injectable filler. For the last several months, bioalcamid has been available to Canadians with a collapsed mid face. There are a three treatment concepts with the aging face: one is sag, 2 is volume loss or collapse usually in the mid face, and the third is wrinkling. Bio-alcamid is a large volume surgical injection that is done under local anesthetic and restores the bulk to the mid face. Prior to Bio-Alcamid, fat transfer techniques or the surgical procedure of midface implants were needed. Now Bio-Alcamid can replace these surgical procedures so that there is less downtime and the patient can return to normal activity quicker. Bio-alcamid, a polymer gel, remains soft very much like the cheek mound itself. Collapsed cheek mounds occurs as a result of the aging process, earlier in life with patients who do not have large cheek mounds, through trauma and through patients that are taking antiviral medication for the HIV virus. All these patients can be improved with bioalcamid injections. Other areas that can be filled are the drool grooves or marionette lines, the lip cheek grooves, and the pre-jowl sulcus just in front of the jowl.

The technique involves having the patient come to my office, Art of Facial Surgery in Toronto, taking the prescribed antibiotic a day before the injection is to be made. The antibiotic is then taken for five days following the injection. I will numb the face using local anesthetic using very tiny needles so that there is minimal discomfort. Once the face is numb, the injections are performed and are placed under the skin. Sometimes gentle massaging the area is necessary to make it more uniform. Results are instantaneous. Bruising and swelling is variable, but is minimal with most patients returning to work within 5 days.

Postoperatively, patients should avoid rubbing her face firmly especially when washing or applying creams and make up. Bouncing up and down or jogging should not be done for two weeks. Patients should avoid saunas or steam bath for two weeks. It is common to have one repeat injection 45 days after the first.

Serious complications from reaction to the bioalcamid have not been described in the three years it has been used in the world. The infection rate is less than 1% in a study of 2000 patients. Over correction can be improved by a simple injection of local anesthetic and then sucking out the extra using a syringe. If you want more information please call Helen or Barb at 416-229-1050 in Toronto.