Collagen Stimulators & Skin Boosters

Ellansé is a unique injectable product with a dual action as a filler and skin stimulator. It can immediately correct wrinkles and folds within the skin, but also stimulate the body’s own natural collagen production to achieve a long-lasting, natural result. It is white in appearance within the syringe and consists of an aqueous gel made from carboxymethyl cellulose (70%) which contains microspheres of polycaprolactone (30%). Polycaprolactone is a biodegradable substance that has been used widely in other medical applications.

Ellansé is available as four different derivatives – S, M, L and E – which all have the same amount of carboxymethyl cellulose and polycaprolactone but differ by how long they last after treatment and the time it takes for the microspheres to degrade within the body. It is injected through a small needle or cannula which is placed under the skin.

After treatment, there will be an immediate improvement in volume and lift in the area caused by the carboxymethyl cellulose gel, which has a similar effect to hyaluronic acid-based fillers. The carboxymethyl cellulose is metabolised by the body after approximately 2-3 months, however, during that time, the polycaprolactone microspheres will embark on their bio-stimulating effect and the body will produce new collagen around the microspheres to create a longer-lasting, volumising effect in the area. Over time, the microspheres are broken down by the body.

Ellansé can be used to treat the face and the backs of hands, including nasolabial folds from the nose to the mouth, deeper lines at the corners of the mouth, oral commissures or marionette lines, the cheeks, chin, jawline, and jowls etc. However, it is not recommended to use Ellansé to treat the lips or the tear trough (under-eye area).

Radiesse is a semi-permanent dermal filler that has bio-stimulating properties, making it a dual action injectable product. It can immediately correct wrinkles and folds within the skin, but also boost the body’s own natural collagen production to achieve a long-lasting, natural result. Radiesse is injected through a small needle or cannula which is placed under the skin.

It is white in appearance within the syringe and consists of an aqueous gel made from carboxymethyl cellulose (70%) which contains microspheres of calcium hydroxyapatite (30%). Hydroxyapatite is a natural component within the human body, being found in tooth enamel and bones.

After treatment there will be an immediate improvement in volume and lift in the area injected caused by the carboxymethyl cellulose gel, that has a similar effect to hyaluronic acid-based fillers. The carboxymethyl cellulose is metabolised by the body after approximately 2-3 months, however, during that time, the calcium hydroxyapatite microspheres will embark on their bio-stimulating effect and the body will produce new collagen around the microspheres to create a longer-lasting, revolumising effect in the area. Over time, the microspheres are broken down by the body.

Radiesse can be used to treat the face and the backs of hands, including nasolabial folds from the nose to the mouth, deeper lines at the corners of the mouth, oral commissures or marionette lines, the cheeks, chin, jawline, and jowls etc. However, it is not recommended to use Radiesse to treat the lips or the tear trough (under eye area).

Sculptra is made from a biocompatible, biodegradable, synthetic material called Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA), which is gradually and naturally absorbed by the body and helps to rebuild lost collagen.

Standard filler products such as those based on hyaluronic acid have their place in producing immediate results, however, these only last for anywhere from 3, 6, 9 or 12 months at most, depending on the product type. Sculptra is completely different from traditional fillers in that it does not ‘fill’ tissue to augment or add immediate volume but helps to boost natural collagen production within the skin, improving skin health, and ultimately restoring your natural facial volume by revitalising your body’s healing responses, with gradual, long-lasting results.

Sculptra can be used to restore lost volume in the face, including treating deep lines and folds, hollow cheeks, and temples. It can also be used to reduce dark under-eye circles and bags; it helps thicken the delicate, thin skin under the eye.

Sculptra normally requires a series of 3 treatment sessions over the course of a few months. The number of injections at each session will vary, depending on the degree of volume and contour correction needed, and the treatment plan determined by you and our medical practitioner.

When we treat with Sculptra, it is very important to ensure that the product is evenly distributed within the skin to achieve the optimal outcomes; this is achieved through massage which will be done during your treatment. As part of your home care instructions, you will be asked to massage the treated area, 5 times daily for 5 minutes, for up to a week post-treatment. Initially, this can be uncomfortable. You may take ibuprofen for discomfort if needed.

Skin boosters are a class of injectable products that are designed to deliver hydration to the skin. This is done via hyaluronic acid-based products, but unlike in dermal fillers where the hyaluronic acid (HA) is cross-linked to create a thick gel, skin boosters usually use non-cross-linked HA that produces a lightweight HA gel that quickly hydrates the skin layers, rather than adding significant volume or contouring structure. The products may also contain other active ingredients.

The trick with skin boosters is present in how and where they are injected which can cause another advantage over simple hydration. Skin boosters are injected into a layer of the skin or dermis called the papillary dermis, which is the thin, top layer of skin where all the collagen resides. The effects of skin boosters injected into this layer of the skin, not only hydrate the skin but also encourage the skin cells or fibroblasts to boost collagen and elastin to improve skin regeneration and bring back plump, glowing skin.

We use a variety of skin booster products at Blemish Clinic including the RRS range and Belotero Revive. Skin boosters can also be combined with a Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment to further boost stimulation within the skin.

Skin stimulator products and skin boosters are suitable for all skin types and for both men and women, therefore there are very few reasons why an otherwise healthy individual would not be suitable for treatment.

A full medical history will be taken during your consultation, prior to treatment to establish if there are any underlying medical conditions, medicines, or allergies that may make you unsuitable for treatment with either skin stimulators or skin boosters, such as a known sensitivity, allergy, or risk of anaphylaxis.

If you have broken skin or an open wound, an active infection in the area to be treated – bacterial, fungal, viral etc. – such as an outbreak of cold sores (herpes simplex virus), or are feeling unwell, then you will not be suitable for treatment and will need to wait until that is healed and resolved.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you will not be suitable for treatment and will need to wait until after this time.

The comfort of our patients in very important to us at Blemish Clinic, thus we offer numbing cream (topical anaesthesia) when required before treatments. Some of the skin-boosting treatments use thin needles and are not injected very deeply so you may not require any additional numbing cream as the discomfort is minimal.

Other deeper injections with collagen-stimulating products will be combined with the use of a local anaesthetic (lidocaine), either within the original syringe (Radiesse), or added to it (Sculptra and Ellansé) to reduce any discomfort as the product is injected into the skin layers where the expansion of the tissue or the acidity of the product can cause a stinging sensation.

All injectable treatments carry the risk of some potential side effects, all of which will be discussed with you during your consultation.

All the products we use at Blemish Clinic have excellent safety records, significant clinical study data and reports into their effectiveness, and our medical practitioners have undergone approved training in the use of each of the skin stimulators that we use in clinic.

You can expect some pain, tenderness, swelling, redness, and possibly bruising at the injection sites after treatment, which will naturally resolve in 24-72 hours. This should not impact your ability to reduce your day-to-day normal activities with immediate effect.

The duration of your Ellansé treatment will vary depending on the product derivative(s) chosen for treatment, with expectations as follows, S (1 year), M (2 years), L (3 years) and E (4 years).

The natural results from Radiesse have been shown to last a year or more in many patients, making the treatment results both immediate and long-lasting, depending on each individual patient.

Sculptra will last approximately 2-3 years once the series of treatments are completed.

It may seem a bit more costly than standard filler products, however, our patients are happy spending a little more initially for the extended time in which they can enjoy the results because many dermal fillers only last up to a year at the most, thus Sculptra is a great investment.

Polynucleotides are the latest in regenerative medicine, made from the gonads of salmon and trout, offering a more comprehensive method of anti-ageing by encouraging healing, moisturization, and the natural production of collagen and elastin by stimulating our own cells. The outcome is quicker healing, improved skin texture, and a more enduring revitalized appearance of the skin

Polynucleotides can be used for all skin types and can address issues such as fine lines and wrinkles, acne scarring, dark under-eye circles, skin laxity, and poor tone and texture by regenerating skin cells. Additionally, these products can revitalize the scalp, neck, décolletage, inner arms, thighs, knees, and intimate area.

We believe in being transparent with our prices and want you to be fully aware and comfortable with the cost of your treatment. A full list of our prices can be found here. We will always agree a final price with you though before treatment commences.