HOUSTON – There's some good news for those looking to erase smile lines and wrinkles. A new product could soon compete with the fillers we've all heard of -- Restylane, Radiesse and Juvederm.
This product is different because it uses our own cells to erase the pesky smile lines. It's called Laviv. The FDA-approved process uses your own collagen as a filler.
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Clinical trials show Laviv lasts at least as long as artificial fillers, about six months.
But doctors warn this is not a quick fix.
It takes three months for lab technicians to make the patient's personalized collagen concoction.
The cells are then injected over a series of three treatments about three to six weeks apart.
It then takes several weeks for nature to take its course and fill in the sagging skin.
The treatment is not cheap. The total cost is $3,500 to $4,500.
Some experts say Laviv works well when used off-label to treat acne scars and fill in smokers lines around the mouth. But so far, the product has not been approved for those uses.