VAVELTA®"Re-populate your skin with youthful cells"

Introduction

As we age, facial tissue loses volume and elasticity resulting in the ageing process we see. Gradually, our skin becomes duller and more irregular and we develop lines and wrinkles. Marks that previously did not matter such as acne scars and open pores become more apparent.

A healthy diet, regular exercise, good skin care, confidence and a positive outlook on life all help us to look good for our age. But, as the years pass, it may be that a little extra help is needed to restore vitality.

In addition to everyday skincare practice including cleansing and moisturising, other options are available to help maintain healthy looking skin. There are procedures that relax lines and wrinkles to help slow down formation of permanent marks, others that refill deeper lines and areas that have lost their fullness with time. Other techniques remove the dull outermost layers of skin to encourage new skin layers to develop. The modern approach is based on combining the best options for you as an individual to provide results that help you look and feel good

Skin acts as a tough protective barrier against infection and damage and it also forms a central aspect of our appearance. The strains placed on the skin as it performs its barrier function can eventually affect the living cellular elements of the skin which are responsible for maintaining this complex structure. The cells, called dermal fibroblasts, that make the structural matrix of skin by producing collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin become depleted and the remaining cells become less active. The result is that this broken down matrix is not replaced in sufficient quantity to maintain skin thickness and tone.

There are many skin products that aim to replace some of this lost matrix by injecting collagen or hyaluronic acid and these treatments are suitable for filling large specific lines or wrinkles and instant results are possible. But these corrections do not affect the micro-architecture of the dermis and do not affect the overall tone of the skin. Advances in science now make it possible to replace the lost dermal fibroblasts themselves by careful injection. This procedure is conducted by a specialised doctor skilled in this approach.

What is VAVELTA®?

VAVELTA® is based on many years of scientific research and the most up to date knowledge of ageing skin. VAVELTA® is a suspension of human dermal fibroblasts for injection, when injected into the skin they are intended to rejuvenate the structural matrix of the skin.

After being injected, the cells take their time to become established and results are expected to be gradual, subtle and targeted at general skin quality and rejuvenation. The matrix is expected to be produced in the same way that it is naturally produced in the skin and is not, therefore, manufactured or artificial. No other procedure is available that offers this approach of matching your skin's structure.

The Results

The results may take a number of weeks or even a few months to become apparent, but the beauty of this approach is that the skin should improve gradually as the new cells become integrated and established and have their effect on your own skin structure. The intention is to improve the texture, tone and elasticity of the skin to provide a more youthful appearance.

The fibroblasts used in VAVELTA® are young, high quality, healthy cells from a donor source. The use of new cells is expected to give your skin the best possible chance of rejuvenation. They are grown and extensively tested in a purpose built laboratory licensed by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK to manufacture investigational medicinal products for human use.

The manufacturer is Intercytex, a British company which specialises in skin and hair regeneration. This company is at the forefront of advances in research and product development for both medical and aesthetic applications. Experience and knowledge has shown us that fibroblasts do not appear to cause any immune response. More than 200,000 individuals have received donor or "allogeneic" fibroblasts for various medical conditions.

What does the procedure involve?

The procedure involves a local anaesthetic cream being applied to the identified areas of the face. The cells are then administered as a series of injections approximately one centimetre apart using a very fine needle. The injection is very shallow to place the cells just under the topmost layer of the skin where they would normally be found. There may be some mild discomfort which is quite usual. The procedure may take up to two hours and afterwards you may have some swelling or redness at the injection sites which will fade over the following days.

More than one treatment will probably be necessary to achieve and maintain the desired result. How long the effects last will depend on the condition of the skin and the way it changes over time as it continues to age.

Reassurance

We are proud to have been selected, because of Dr Xavier's experience in the field of medical aesthetics, to be one of the first of only a small number of centres in the UK where Vavelta®'s use is being used within a specialist physicians' group - our Dr Xavier is part of that group.



For advice on the number of treatments and the best areas for injection you should have a detailed discussion with Dr Xavier - our VAVELTA® approved specialist.