Facial augmentation is a reconstructive procedure undertaken for cosmetic enhancements. It is undertaken to fill the void in the tissues caused by trauma (such as accidents or injury) or surgical procedure (major or minor), aging or acne scars. Since the face is the most visible area of a person, many people undergo facial reconstruction to remain attractive and young looking.
The face is susceptible to the formation of lines on several areas due to the normal facial expressions such as smiling or frowning that may make a person look older. Soft tissue implants can reconstruct facial features on the frown lines or glabellar lines, smoker’s lines or perioral lines, marionette lines also called oral commissures, the worry lines on the forehead, periorbital lines, deep smile lines on the nasolabial furrows, smile lines or nasolabial lines, indention on the cheek, lip (for enhancement), chin (for augmentation), and acne and other facial scars.
Tissue void filler can either be injectable or implantable. Researchers continually look for the best material suitable for soft tissue implants. An ideal implant should not be rejected by the body and can integrate naturally with the tissues, it will not create adverse side effects and complications, and implantation of the material is easy. The identified complications arising from soft tissue implants include allergic reaction to the material, bleeding or darkening of the skin, non-allergic irritation, lack of sensation on the implanted area, invasion of pathogenic microorganisms, displacement, and swelling. All the materials used for soft tissue implants have shown one type of complication or another.
Softform is classified as an alloplast. All alloplasts soft tissue implants are biocompatible and have undergone rigid laboratory and clinical testing. Although no reactive effect is expected from the implant, discomfort and allergy may result.
SoftForm™ is a synthetic facial implant that is soft and flexible suitable to fill the frown and cheek lines, as well as enhance the border of the lip. Once implanted, it can remain permanent unless the patient decided to have it removed. The hollow and tubular design (to facilitate the growth of the tissues) of the facial implant can be inserted in a 30-minute procedure under local anaesthesia.
The patient may experience discomfort, as well as contusion and blackening of the skin (which will vanish in a week’s time). The patient is expected to feel the implant underneath the skin but the facial implant will soften after some time. Total healing will be attained in about three to four months. The patient may experience any of the side effects mentioned above such as extrusion, movement or infection. In such a case, readjustment or removal of the soft tissue implant may be resorted to.
Softform facial implant is made of Gore-tex ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) and confirmed by studies to be medically safe to use. Being pliable and lightweight, the implant follows the contour of the face, thus, giving the patient the natural look and feeling. It can also be carved. Collagen Corporation is the manufacturer of the SoftForm facial implants.