Permanent filler, Artefill, now FDA approved. Want to turn back the clock on the aging face without surgery? Check the web for Artefill, Artesense, Dermadeep or Dermalive. They are permanent fillers for facial lines and scars. The last 3 are not available in the U.S., but now you don't have to go to Canada, or any of 15-20 other countries where they have be available for about 8 years, to get them because Artefill is now FDA approved. It's not cheap, about $4000 for one treatment. These fillers are made from acrylic hydrogel and hyluronic acid, ground up ocular lens implant material. The web sites for these products will give you all the details, so I won't put them here. I have not tried these products. You get a skin test for allergic reaction 4 weeks before any treatments. Artefill comes with local anesthetic.

Recently I talked to an experienced and respected cosmetic surgeon about permanent fillers. His opinion was negative. He didn't want the ethical responsibility of a permanent relationship with a patient and cited reports of bacterial infections which start years after the filler is placed in the person's face. That scared me out of trying it. I'll go with temporary, if any, fillers. They can last up to 18 months, if a second treatment is done 5-6 months after the initial injections. The cost to fill the marionette lines is about $700-800. There is a rebate program, Dec. 2009 to ____when I don't know, for one brand.

Matrixyl 3000 actually works, in liquid or cream form, to reduce wrinkles over 3-4 months. I've used it with good results for lines between the eyebrows. It completely eliminated some small frown lines there with 3 months treatment. The lines have not returned for a year since I stopped using it. You want at least a 5% solution. You can get in on E-bay for a good price in a formulation with other ingredients that reduce wrinkles and hydrate the skin.

Your feedback is what I'm looking for. What are real people's experiences with these treatments? The web sites for these products have testimonials and before and after pictures, but you must always consider who benefits from information, as part of your evaluation. I have no connection to any of these products. I just like sharing information.