Isolagen ™

The Isolagen process in detail.

Isolagen's patented autologous (a patient's own cells) living cell therapy, or ACS, begins with the injection of a local anesthetic to numb a small section of skin behind the ear. This area was chosen because of its vascularity, lack of sun exposure, and the invisibility of any scarring.

A simple punch biopsy is used to obtain a small 3 mm piece of skin tissue, which is packed in an appropriate container and shipped overnight to the Isolagen laboratories. The minimal incision is closed with an adhesive or single absorbable suture.

At Isolagen, the tissue is cultured utilizing Isolagen's patented ACS process. This process separates collagen-producing cells, called fibroblasts, from the rest of the tissue then stimulates them to multiply into tens of millions of new cells.

After approximately six weeks, 1 to 1.5 ml of cultured fibroblasts are sent back to the doctor for injection into the patient's wrinkles, lines, and scars.

Generally three sets of injections will be performed, about two weeks apart, with tens of millions of collagen-producing cells being injected during each visit.

Within the patient's skin, it is believed that the injected fibroblasts will continue to multiply and create new collagen that may fill dermal imperfections and wrinkles, and may reduce the signs of aging.
 

Cryogenic storage of cultured cells may also permit patients to receive future treatments with cells that were harvested when the patient was younger. It is unknown at this time whether this would represent a benefit to patients.

Isolagen - Benefits of facial rejuvenation

Since the Isolagen Process is an autologous system (exclusively using a patient's own cells), it is anticipated that there may be a substantially reduced possibility of allergic reaction as compared to bovine collagen and other non-natural fillers.

Isolagen hopes to demonstrate that the use of autologous cells will result in prolonged beneficial effects, as the immune system should not reabsorb or reject them as it might with foreign materials and proteins. Patients may experience gradual and continued improvement as a result of the natural activity of the re-introduced cell structure.

Considering that the standard until recently has been bovine collagen, the three potential benefits below may represent substantial advances in facial rejuvenation.

1. Bovine collagen, a foreign protein derived from cows, is generally fully reabsorbed by a patient's body within a few months after application, leaving the patient with no visible signs of correction.
2. As additional treatments with bovine collagen are performed, there is a gradual build-up of the body's antibodies and the development of enzymes that compromise the treatment's effectiveness.
3. Combined with the expense and the continued intrusiveness of ongoing treatments, the value and benefit of bovine collagen injections is ultimately diminished.

Isolagen ™ Frequent Asked Questions

What is collagen?
Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that constitutes one of the primary components of the dermis, or second layer of the skin. Collagen forms a network of fibers that gives the skin structure and support. The specialized cells in the skin responsible for forming collagen are called fibroblasts.

Isolagen ™ - Why do lines occur?
The appearance of lines is primarily caused by a reduction in the number of active fibroblast cells in the dermis. As these collagen-forming cells gradually diminish, the skin's support system is weakened and the signs of aging begin to appear.

Isolagen ™ - What does the treatment involve?
The Isolagen treatment starts with a simple biopsy procedure to take a small 3mm piece of skin tissue from behind the ear. A local anesthetic is given (such as might be administered at the dentist's) and then the tissue is quickly removed and a single absorbable suture or adhesive dressing is used to close the wound. The skin tissue is then sent to Isolagen where our patented cell expansion process is used to stimulate the cells to reproduce into tens of millions of new fibroblasts. After about 8 weeks, the cells will be sent back to the treating physician's office where the patient will receive a series of therapeutic injections with a very small needle. Two additional treatments are generally administered, about two weeks apart, which will also utilize cells that have been grown from the culture system initiated by the originally removed tissue. There is no need for further biopsies.

Isolagen ™ - Is the process painful?
The procedure is well tolerated and very similar to a typical injection. Should discomfort be anticipated, the surgeon can apply a topical anesthetic cream that will reduce the sensation of the needle. In very sensitive areas, such as around the lips, a local anesthetic can also be given by injection.

Isolagen ™ - Are there any side effects?
Patients may experience some reddening and soreness around the injection sites, which usually fades after about a day. In over 1200 patients treated, there have been only a few cases of slight hypersensitivity to the injection.

Are the effects immediate and how long does treatment last?
It is expected that patients will see a continuous gradual improvement over about a year, but this has not yet been proven.

Isolagen ™ - How many repeat injections are needed?
This has not yet been scientifically established. Isolagen anticipates that a course of three injections will be adequate, however in cases where the wrinkles are very deep, extra sessions may be required. Further stimulation with micro-dermabrasion, lasers, chemical peels, and ultrasonic facials may be helpful in maximizing the results. Irrespective of the number of injections, only one sample of tissue usually needs to be taken, as the cultured cells can be stored cryogenically for future treatments.

Isolagen ™ - Are additional treatments possible?
No patients have received more that one course of treatments with the Isolagen ACS system, so no scientific data is currently available, however there is no reason to believe that repeat treatments will not be possible.

Isolagen ™ - Can cells be stored for future use?
The potential for cryogenic preservation of cultured cells is one of the advantages of the Isolagen process. Once tissue has been cultured in the laboratory it can be stimulated repeatedly to produce millions of new cells. These cells can be stored for prolonged periods for future use.

Can the Isolagen treatment be used with other laser therapies like non-ablative lasers, Cooltouch and Enlight?
Isolagen intends to investigate this in the future.