Fascian: A Natural Dermal Filler

Composed of human connective tissue, fascia, suspended in liquid collagen, and created by Fascia Biosystems, LLC, Fascian was originally designed for use in repairing skin defects resulting from medical or surgical conditions. Most effective for individuals who are looking to improve their appearance without undergoing major surgery or suffering significant downtime, the results of Fascian are visible immediately.

Made of particles of fascia that have been screened, irradiated, and highly purified according to the guidelines of the American Association of Tissue Banks, Fascian can be injected wherever soft-tissue augmentation is desired. This includes lip augmentation, scar revision, reduction of smile lines, and the filling of facial hollows. According to an article published by the University of Californa, Los Angeles, "the FDA classifies the material as a tissue product, so injections may be made anywhere in the human body at the physician's discretion."

Like other dermal fillers, treatment with Facian is an outpatient procedure. Before Fascian is injected, the patient's treatment area is numbed with an anesthetic gel. After treatment, there may be some bruising or discomfort, but most patients return to their normal activities the following day. Typically, patients receive three treatments over a six-month period, with touch-ups once or twice per year. Since Fascian is relatively thick, the body takes a long time to absorb it and eventually replaces some of it with natural collagen. Because Fascian promotes the growth of new collagen, many Fascian patients find that their results last for years. However, in some patients, Fascian breaks down and is absorbed by the body within six months at which point another treatment is necessary to maintain the results.

As with any cosmetic procedure, there are potential risks involved in treatment with Fascian. As stated on MSNBC, potential complications include "redness, bruising, swelling, infection, small risk of allergic reaction to trace proteins or antibiotics used in processing." Furthermore, "as with other injections into the face, there is a risk of operator error, with the substance accidentally being injected into a blood vessel." Lastly, although Fascian is subjected to a rigorous donor screening and processed according to specific FDA guidelines, according to LipAugmentation.com, an informational site focused on lip augmentation and dermal fillers, Fascian and other cadaver derived products " may have a very small risk of infectious disease, although extremely rare."

The cost of treatment with Fascian may vary due to the size of the area being treated and the severity of the problem among other factors. However, as quoted by Facial Plastic Surgery Network, a website devoted to educating cosmetic surgery consumers, the average cost of treatment with Fascian is $250 to $500 per cc.