ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., Nov. 17 / An FDA panel will consider two new, non surgical wrinkle fighters Friday, Nov. 21. Restylane and Hylaform are hyaluronic acid-based soft tissue fillers that have been approved in Canada and Europe.

A survey conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), reveals a not too distant future where injectable soft tissue fillers play a larger role in cosmetic plastic surgery and cosmetic enhancement.

A majority of ASPS members surveyed expect U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of injectables currently pending FDA review to be a springboard for increased patient demand, and subsequently represent a larger segment of a plastic surgeon's practice.

New substances will last longer, be safer and deliver superior results, according to ASPS members. The best assurance of a satisfactory outcome is to seek a board-certified plastic surgeon with the skill, technical ability and experience with injectable substances. As surgeons trained to reconstruct the face at all levels (bone, muscle and skin) plastic surgeons are most qualified to understand the anatomy as it relates to the use of injectables.

Survey Highlights

Injectables:

-- Today, the two most commonly used injectable substances are Botox(r) (70 percent) and collagen (22 percent).

-- Within two years, plastic surgeons surveyed expect the popularity of collagen to decline and hyaluronic acid products (Restylane and Hylaform(r)) to become the second most commonly used injectable after Botox.

-- Respondents said an imperfect outcome was the greatest risk posed by use of injectables (83 percent). Additional risks were allergic reaction (64 percent), misplaced injection (63 percent) and an equal division between over- and under-injection (53 percent).

-- Looking to the future, 82 percent said that injectables will be made to last longer, be safer (69 percent) and deliver better results (41 percent).

Wrinkle Prevention Stats:

-- 41 percent of ASPS members surveyed chose 31-35 years as the ideal age to begin wrinkle prevention.

-- 56 percent of those surveyed said that people between the ages of 41-50 benefit most from the use of injectables.

-- Of the areas where injectables are most commonly used, 31 percent of those surveyed said the forehead; 27 percent said nasolabial folds and 25 percent said around the mouth.

-- In areas other than the face ASPS respondents said injectables were most beneficial for skin depressions (64 percent), acne scars (53 percent) and surprisingly, hands (24 percent).

Impact on Plastic Surgery:

-- 68 percent of those surveyed said the injectables segment of their practice is growing.

-- When asked what injectables do best, 47 percent of those surveyed said that injectables enhance the results of facial surgery, while 43 percent responded that it "postponed" facial surgery.

On December 12, 2003, the FDA announced FINAL approval of Restylane and Hylaform as cosmetic fillers in the United States.