Before and after photos of Radiesse patient (Courtesy of www.radiesse.com)

The latest issue of Dermatology Times reports on the changing U.S. injectables market, given that most collagen fillers will be gone from the market at year’s end.

In late 2009, Johnson & Johnson announced that it was discontinuing its collagen filler Evolence. As covered previously in Dr. Lo’s blog, patients who have received treatment with Evolence will continue to receive support regarding medical inquiries and reporting of adverse reactions. Despite the discontinuation, the company maintains that Evolence offers effective results and a “favorable safety profile.”

Then, in January 2010, Allergan announced it would be discontinuing its collagen line of fillers at the end of the year. The company stopped production of the products in 2009, but manufactured sufficient inventory to meet estimated market demand through the end of 2010, according to Kelly Lao, manager of corporate communications.

“The discontinuation of the sale of our collagen products … is in response to declined market interest … since the introduction of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers like Juvéderm have become more popular,” Ms. Lao says.

“There is an overwhelming popularity of the new kid on the block: the hyaluronic acids. They have been embraced universally, and suddenly collagens aren’t as popular,” says Dr. Seth Matarasso, clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco.

The popularity of hyaluronic acid products, including Restylane, Perlane, Juvéderm, Radiesse, and Sculptra, is due to several factors:

• Longer-lasting results
• Appear to give a better fill
• Some contain lidocaine for less painful injections

Dermatology Times reports that future improvements of hyaluronic acids will provide more volume and contour-changing ability, as well as the ability to fill deeper lines.

The full story is available online at Modern Medicine. About Faces Cosmetic Surgery in Tucson, Arizona offers patients three hyaluronic acids fillers: Restylane, Juvéderm, and Radiesse.