Goodbye to excessive fillers, invasive techniques, and unnatural results. Since regenerative medicine entered the field of aesthetics, the goal is no longer to rejuvenate at any cost (even if it means not recognizing oneself in the mirror), but to "prevent aging in a more physiological and natural way; without resorting to external substances that alter the anatomy of patients, but stimulating the body's own cells to repair tissues and improve their quality," explains Dr. Gema Pérez Sevilla, an expert in aesthetic medicine and maxillofacial surgery and collaborator of Croma.
As the name suggests, "regenerative aesthetic medicine is based on the body's natural ability to regenerate and repair tissues. This approach uses techniques to stimulate the production of new cells and repair damaged ones, promoting repair from within. Unlike conventional treatments, which usually focus on filling wrinkles or temporarily tightening the skin, regenerative aesthetics addresses aging from a deeper and more lasting perspective."
According to Dr. Pérez Sevilla, "the 'boom' of this type of medicine is due to the great interest from patients in preventing aging with a safe therapy, whose results are gradual, natural, and involve less risks compared to other types of aesthetic medicine treatments."
Patients, she assures, "like to know that their own body is performing its own restoration; it is a concept similar to diet or physical exercise, which falls within the ranges of natural self-care."
However, she clarifies, "although having more resources to restore our cells is wonderful, there are still not enough therapies to abandon traditional aesthetic medicine treatments - such as botulinum toxin or fillers - which are the only option to control certain signs of aging due to muscle strength or volume loss. Therefore, despite the fact that the trend is great, we must be realistic and understand that we are at the beginning of its development and that, for the time being, both medicines will coexist, with regenerative medicine supporting traditional medicine."
Who is regenerative medicine indicated for? "For those who want to slow down skin and internal facial fascia deterioration and aging, to prepare the skin before surgeries and maintain results after them. And for those who want to take care of their face without adding volume or using products that persist in the body and for the regeneration of skin damaged by the sun, tobacco, stress, or poor diet."
What treatments are regenerative? Gema Pérez Sevilla explains starting with redensification: "It consists of injecting non-crosslinked free hyaluronic acid in high concentration (not volumizer) and antioxidants, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins, all present in the skin and formulated for its regeneration, reversing the effects of chronological and solar aging.
Platelet-rich plasma is "a natural treatment that uses the growth factors present in the patient's blood to stimulate tissue regeneration. It is done by extracting a small amount of blood from the patient and then subjecting it to centrifugation to separate the platelet-rich plasma and growth factors, which are applied by injection. It improves microcirculation and extracellular substance production, regenerating the dermis."
Through radiofrequency with electrostimulation: "heat is applied with a multipolar thermal system that activates deep facial muscles, stimulates collagen production, and promotes lymphatic drainage and muscle oxygenation. It treats the face superficially and deeply, rejuvenating the dermis structure and providing tension, luminosity, and smoothness to the skin."
Fractional radiofrequency "is applied through intradermal micro-needles and works by contracting the deep layers of the skin and retracting it while stimulating the production of substances for firmer, smoother skin with reduced wrinkles. Its application with micro-needles allows the energy to be delivered at the right depth and intensity for each type of tissue in a personalized manner."
With Co2 Light Peel laser, "the skin is treated with non-ablative parameters (i.e., without peeling or browning post-treatment), to achieve micro-renewal of the epidermis with skin regeneration and deep collagen stimulation in the dermis. It improves skin quality, provides elasticity, and reduces sagging."
The ND-YAg and QSwitched lasers are based "on the application of a laser light system that interacts with the skin to cause heating that promotes collagen regeneration and the elimination of toxins in the deep skin layers, thickening the dermis and improving texture."
Non-invasive andpainless treatment, HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound) "works by applying a beam of high-frequency ultrasound that works in the deepest layers of the skin. It stimulates collagen and elastin production, promoting firmness, texture, and elasticity. It redefines the facial contour and reduces fine lines."
Among all these techniques, Pérez Sevilla focuses on polynucleotides, of which the Croma laboratory is a pioneer. They are highly purified DNA components extracted from the gonads of salmon trout (not salmon, as commonly said), through a very strict process approved by the MDR (new European regulation that guarantees product quality, safety, and efficacy). When injected into the skin, they have the ability to increase the viability and number of fibroblasts, which are the cells responsible for the synthesis of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. They are anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, in addition to having a moisturizing effect and restoring the balance of melanocytes (skin pigment cells)."
Considered one of the beauty secrets of Jennifer Aniston and Kim Kardashian, as they themselves have confessed, polynucleotides, Dr. Pérez Sevilla continues, "improve skin quality and small wrinkles, especially the finest and most superficial ones. They are usually done in three annual sessions, although treatments depend on the skin deterioration to be treated and must be personalized. They come in preloaded 2 ml syringes and are injected with techniques similar to mesotherapy with extremely fine needles causing minimal discomfort," she concludes.