SoftForm facial implants is a new type of sub-dermal (under the skin) implant which is valuable in the treatment of persistent deep furrows. Repeat treatments are not required. The SoftForm facial implant is composed of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene and comes in the shape of a tube. Like Gore-Tex it has a safety record in other areas of medicine. It has been used in over 2 million patients in vascular repair procedures. The purported benefit over Gore-Tex is that it is easier to implant, it does not slip out of place, and it is readily removed, if desired.

What is involved in implant therapy?
Test sites are important to the success of some implants, including Zyderm, Zyplast, Koken and Fibrel because they minimize the risk of an allergic reaction. Most physicians perform two tests at approximately one month intervals. A small amount of the implant material is injected into the second layer of the skin on the inside of the arm.

If the skin becomes inflamed and itchy at the test site then an allergic reaction has occurred. In this case, another type of implant material may be tried. If this is also unsuccessful then implant therapy as an option for the treatment of deep wrinkles may have to be abandoned.

Hylaform and Restylane do not require test sites as allergic reactions are very rare. Microlipid transfers do not require pre-implant tests, because the implant consists of fat from another area of the same body. Once it has been determined that an allergic reaction will not occur the physician can proceed with the implant therapy. The selected material is injected into the second layer of the skin along the wrinkle. Depending on how deep the crease is, a second layer of implant solution may be required.