PERLANE'S INCREASED HYALURONIC ACID GEL PARTICLES LIFT AND VOLUMIZE FACIAL WRINKLES AND FOLDS FOR UP TO ONE YEAR

DR. JEFFREY RAVAL OFFERS PERLANE TO PATIENTS ON THE HEELS OF FDA APPROVAL

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the dermal filler Perlane® on May 2, 2007 as an injectable to correct moderate to severe facial folds and wrinkles, such as nasolabial folds. Jeffrey Raval, MD, FACS, triple-board certified facial plastic surgeon with offices in Denver and Lone Tree, Colorado, is among the first in Denver to offer the newest injectable to patients.

As the newest member of the Restylane® family of products, Perlane is comprised of biotechnologically engineered, non-immunogenic, stabilized hyaluronic acid gel particles. The primary difference between Restylane and Perlane is that the hyaluronic acid gel particles in Perlane are larger than those in Restylane. As such, Perlane is intended to be implanted into the deep dermis to superficial layer of the subcutis to add volume to restore surface contour in facial wrinkles and folds.

In both Restylane and Perland, the three-dimensional gel particles attract and bind to water molecules as they degrade, helping to maintain volume augmentation for about six months. Also distinct from other hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, Restylane and Perlane are what is called “minimally cross-linked,” making them similar to the natural hyaluronic acid found in the body.

With Perlane’s approval, physicians now have a new treatment option for their patients that is designed specifically to fill areas in the skin from the deep dermis to the superficial layer of the subcutis. Perlane’s larger gel particles offer enhanced volume and lifting power over even Restylane, enhancements that are ideal for wrinkle and fold correction in deeper layers of the skin. Like Restylane, Perlane also has a favorable patient safety profile.

Dr. Raval uses Perlane to revitalize the whole face including lips, folds and wrinkles.

The Restylane family of products, including Perlane, are marketed and sold in more than 70 countries outside the United States, where they have been used in more than seven million procedures. Since 1996, dermatologists and plastic surgeons outside the U.S. have used Restylane products to contour and restore volume to skin and temporarily eliminate wrinkles and facial folds. Perlane has been used safely by dermatologists and plastic surgeons since 2000 outside the U.S.

Perlane should only be administered under the supervision of a licensed practitioner. The product is marketed and sold by Medicis Aesthetics, Inc. Medicis is beginning to deliver Perlane within the month of May 2007 to surgeon’s offices.

Jeffrey Raval, MD is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School and did his residency and internship at the Department of Otolaryngology at Washington University Barnes Jewish Hospital. He completed his fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology, is triple board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. He is Section Head of Otolaryngology at Swedish Hospital in Englewood and is the Medical Director of Matrix Spa in Denver. His is a practicing partner at Associates of Otolaryngology with offices at Harvard Park Medical Center and in Lone Tree and volunteers at Denver Inner City Health. He can be reached at 303.744.1961.