Harvesting cells could spell end of Botox days
There is a lot of talk about Botox, fillers, and ‘Zoom face’ right now as the last 12+ months has taken its toll on us all. While some will favour tightening and lifting treatments using ultrasound or radiofrequency going forward, there are other options available. One of the most interesting is Uvence, a system whereby a person’s own cells are harvested in a minimally-invasive way to re-inject into the face to smooth lines and wrinkles.
These cells are commonly removed from the abdominal area for use on the face, but the body can be treated too. Leading Consultant and co-founder of Uvence, Dr. Olivier Amar, explained to Magazine how the treatment works, and, more importantly, how one cell sample can last for five years of treatment.
Dr. Amar says the current trends in non-invasive treatments stems from the pandemic months. He explains saying, ‘The Zoom boom during lockdown has meant that we’ve become hyper aware of our faces, especially when it comes to the finer details of our complexions. The skin around the eyes is one of the most common areas of concern amongst patients, which many people are wanting to address through cosmetic treatments as we exit lockdown.’
With Uvence, the process is, he says, fairly straightforward. He says, ‘The treatment can be used on any areas of skin on the face or body that the patient wants to rejuvenate, but is most commonly used on the face, neck, hands, and decolletage. The patient’s cells are harvested by initial micro or mini liposuction, then transported to a laboratory to undergo purification. The extracted tissue from these cells is cryogenically stored and then transported to the patient’s cosmetic doctor on demand, to then be re-injected into the patient,’ he adds. ‘The treatment is minimally invasive, naturally based, and bespoke.’
The extracted fat is referred to as Super Enriched Tissue, and what happens to this tissue is an interesting part of the process. Dr Amar says: ‘After the patient’s cells have been harvested and purified, the super enriched tissue can be stored for up to five years. This gives patients the option to have multiple treatments from a single extraction over many years whenever they wish.’
Using one’s own fat cells for facial rejuvenation is an interesting concept that avoids the use of artificial fillers or Botox. The cost depends on each individual patient and their needs.
Uvence is currently only available in the UK but to see more of what’s involved go to www.uvence.co.