Cheek Implants

[Guest guest]

I have received sculptra and Radiesse treatments over the past 3 years

or more. They do help my sunken cheeks, but only temporarily. I usually

have to go every 6 months or so. I pay about $800 per treatment from a

plastic surgeon in San Francisco. Insurance covers about 10% of it. I

tried Artefill, but it did little for me. My doc suggested I get cheek

implants for a permanent solution. Has anyone out there done this and

if so are you happy with the results? Thanks!

[Guest guest]

,I had cheek implants way back when there were no other options, (I think it was 2000) They have held up as the rest of my face melted away. I (like many others) opted for Bio-Alcamid, which by this point has been totally extracted since it migrated down my face. I've had one session of PMMA and need to get more done, but can not afford it at this time. It certainly is an option. Could you share who your doc is?Larry Cheek Implants

I have received sculptra and Radiesse treatments over the past 3 years or more. They do help my sunken cheeks, but only temporarily. I usually have to go every 6 months or so. I pay about $800 per treatment from a plastic surgeon in San Francisco. Insurance covers about 10% of it. I tried Artefill, but it did little for me. My doc suggested I get cheek implants for a permanent solution. Has anyone out there done this and if so are you happy with the results? Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Hello GroupIn regards to lipoatrophy in the face. Cheek implants vs. injections.I just returned from visiting Dr. Casavantes in Tijuana. He uses a product called PMMA and utilizes a method for inserting the microspheres into the face called BioPlasty. He uses a very tiny canula. He numbs the face with several injections of local anesthetic. He then makes 4 tiny incisions on each side of the face. He then inserts the canula in those incisions to inject the PMMA. You can read all about PMMA,but the short story is .... PMMA is a bio product the body does not reject, and does not cause any allergic reaction. It has been used in the United States for many years in the production of hip joint replacement products. PMMA is currently FDA approved here in the states ONLY for the labial

folds in the face. IT is not approved for facial lipoatropy. It is a safe product, it is way better than Sculptra and it is permanent.My understanding of PMMA is: it consist of microscopic spheres, as small as 10 microns (used for areas where the skin is thin, such as below the eyes) and as large as 50 or 60 microns for filling deep pockets where the fat has disappeared. The bodies natural collagen surrounds the beads and continues to grow and fill in the sunken areas that have been treated.I could continue, but I'll just give you the web site for Dr. Cassavantes. http://www.drcasavantes.com/I returned just today from my visit to his office on Thursday. I must say I am amazed at the results. However, the swelling will go down and my face will return almost to it's pre-treatment condition. BUT< over the next 6 weeks the collagen

is supposed to grow and build around the PMMA that has been injected to fill the face in. I do go back for a 2nd treatment after 6 weeks. I will keep the group posted on my progress.Don Kennedy

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Finally I found out a doc who uses PMMA in Portugal.

But after my first and only visit he told me that the procedure (bioplasty with PMMA) will only last about 2 years. it's not permanent.

What is the problem here? Is he not using real PMMA?

Can you clarify this for me because now i'm confuse.

I don't know if it's useful an intervention that lasts only 2 years and costs about 2.500 euros (at least for me that for this have to request credit).

be well

From: Don Kennedy <singerred@...> Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2008 8:22:30 AMSubject: Re: Cheek Implants

Hello GroupIn regards to lipoatrophy in the face. Cheek implants vs. injections.I just returned from visiting Dr. Casavantes in Tijuana. He uses a product called PMMA and utilizes a method for inserting the microspheres into the face called BioPlasty. He uses a very tiny canula. He numbs the face with several injections of local anesthetic. He then makes 4 tiny incisions on each side of the face. He then inserts the canula in those incisions to inject the PMMA. You can read all about PMMA,but the short story is .... PMMA is a bio product the body does not reject, and does not cause any allergic reaction. It has been used in the United States for many years in the production of hip joint replacement products. PMMA is currently FDA approved here in the states ONLY for the labial folds in the face. IT is not approved for facial lipoatropy. It is a

safe product, it is way better than Sculptra and it is permanent.My understanding of PMMA is: it consist of microscopic spheres, as small as 10 microns (used for areas where the skin is thin, such as below the eyes) and as large as 50 or 60 microns for filling deep pockets where the fat has disappeared. The bodies natural collagen surrounds the beads and continues to grow and fill in the sunken areas that have been treated.I could continue, but I'll just give you the web site for Dr. Cassavantes. http://www.drcasava ntes.com/I returned just today from my visit to his office on Thursday. I must say I am amazed at the results. However, the swelling will go down and my face will return almost to it's pre-treatment condition. BUT< over the next 6 weeks the collagen is supposed to grow and build around the PMMA that has

been injected to fill the face in. I do go back for a 2nd treatment after 6 weeks. I will keep the group posted on my progress.Don Kennedy

[Guest guest]

yes everthing I read too means PMMA is permanent. What I would like to understand is why this Dr. Marcio Baretto said it was not permanent.

i really would like to engage in this intervention in portugal (travel abroad seems to be more expensive to me). but now I am full of doubts. Can I trust this doc?

From: Don Kennedy <singerred@...>ziggy indigo <indigoziggy@...>Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2008 2:58:56 AMSubject: Re: Re: Cheek Implants

everything I have read says PMMA is permanent. http://www.thebody.com/content/art47318.htmlCheck out Dr. Serras web site. http://www.clinicamarcioserra.com.br/index.html He is a world renowned doctor in Rio de Jinero Brazil.Here is the announcement about the next group trip to Rio for the procedure with Dr. Serra. You can email Philip for info about PMMA and Dr. Serra.

Group trip to Rio de Janeiro for PMMA

Posted by: "Philip" p461nyc@... philipargentina

Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:20 am (PST) Hello everybody! We are doing another group trip to Rio to see Dr.Marcio Serra on January 26th - 30th. Anyone interested please contactme ASAP. For those of you who don't know me, I live in Argentina anddo this as a volunteer. I can coordinate everything except your planetickets. The best news is that the dollar is currently back to 2005levels against the Real meaning that treatment in now MUCH lessexpensive than the past few years. With any luck this will hold tilJanuary. Please write with any questions. You can see some of Dr.Serra's work at his web site www.clinicamarciose rra.com.brAll the best to everybody!philipargentina@...Here is a link to an article by Albert Benson. It goes into great detail about all kinds of fillers. You can skip through all of them and go to closer to

the end of the article to read about PMMA. Albert is very informed about this product. http://facialwasting.org/buttock_wasting.htmAlso check out this article from Ford Warrick who has been to Dr. Serra. It is a very long article but includes info about Ford's trip to Dr. Serra and about PMMA.Don Kennedy

[Guest guest]

Could someone please give us an idea of the cost of PMMA treatment for

the buttocks? It doesn't need

to be exact - just an idea.

[Guest guest]

The cost of PMMA depends on the amount you need. Most people need more than 200 cc's and that can be expensive in Brazil or Mexico. If you are only having some PMMA injected around the anal area to treat what I call "the lipoatrophy anal triangle" then, that would probably cost around 2000 dollars

A flight from Houston to Rio is about $1000. Hotel is around 200 dollars a night. You need to stay around 4 nights

May be can actually tell the list what the costs are. I would really like for people in this list to start sharing cost information about Mexico, Canada, Brazil, etc

Regards, Vergelpowerusa.org

In a message dated 11/19/2008 12:52:28 P.M. Central Standard Time, pozbod@... writes:

Butt PMMA cost me about $2000. It should be less, now, as the Brazilian Real has plumeted during the financial crisis.JBOne site has it all. Your email accounts, your social networks, and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com today!

[Guest guest]

i decided to do it. it's 1200 euros just for PMMA (4-5). the rest its for peeling and botox so the sum is 2500 euros for a renewal face.

this doctor seems to be good and honest. and yesterday the day of my intervention wth PMMA it was filmed for the programme of João Kléber (with him interviewing this doctor). today i feel a bit sore. but ok. ill keep in touch about the developing of this intervention.

im sure is cheaper in brazil but ive to travel and here i can contact the doc e-time i need...

let's see...

all the best

From: Barrow <pozbod@...> Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 3:59:42 AMSubject: Re: Cheek Implants

Butt PMMA cost me about $2000. It should be less, now, as the Brazilian Real has plumeted during the financial crisis.JB

[Guest guest]

The cost of PMMA, hotels, and travel all depend on the value of the Real and Mexican Peso, both of which have swooned in the current debt crisis.When I got my PMMA, the real was at about 1.5 to the dollar, it is now 2.4.This should help with all costs, although it is still not an inexpensive proposition.On Nov 19, 2008, at 9:53 PM, PoWeRTX@... wrote: The cost of PMMA depends on the amount you need. Most people need more than 200 cc's and that can be expensive in Brazil or Mexico. If you are only having some PMMA injected around the anal area to treat what I call "the lipoatrophy anal triangle" then, that would probably cost around 2000 dollars A flight from Houston to Rio is about $1000. Hotel is around 200 dollars a night. You need to stay around 4 nights May be can actually tell the list what the costs are. I would really like for people in this list to start sharing cost information about Mexico, Canada, Brazil, etc Regards, Vergelpowerusa.org In a message dated 11/19/2008 12:52:28 P.M. Central Standard Time, pozbod@... writes: Butt PMMA cost me about $2000. It should be less, now, as the Brazilian Real has plumeted during the financial crisis.JBOne site has it all. Your email accounts, your social networks, and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com today!

[Guest guest]

that is a good idea - try to understand how much are the costs around the world for the treatments of lipoatrophy.

but get acknolwedge about results too. you know about dr. serra and the clinica estetica the results are good and is confortable to know there is doctors we can trust. i will follow up about my intervention.

From: Barrow <pozbod@...>PoWeRTX@...Cc: Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 5:17:27 AMSubject: Re: Re: Cheek Implants

The cost of PMMA, hotels, and travel all depend on the value of the Real and Mexican Peso, both of which have swooned in the current debt crisis.

When I got my PMMA, the real was at about 1.5 to the dollar, it is now 2.4.

This should help with all costs, although it is still not an inexpensive proposition.

On Nov 19, 2008, at 9:53 PM, PoWeRTXaol (DOT) com wrote:

The cost of PMMA depends on the amount you need. Most people need more than 200 cc's and that can be expensive in Brazil or Mexico. If you are only having some PMMA injected around the anal area to treat what I call "the lipoatrophy anal triangle" then, that would probably cost around 2000 dollars

A flight from Houston to Rio is about $1000. Hotel is around 200 dollars a night. You need to stay around 4 nights

May be can actually tell the list what the costs are. I would really like for people in this list to start sharing cost information about Mexico, Canada, Brazil, etc

Regards, Vergelpowerusa.org

In a message dated 11/19/2008 12:52:28 P.M. Central Standard Time, pozbodearthlink (DOT) net writes:

Butt PMMA cost me about $2000. It should be less, now, as the Brazilian Real has plumeted during the financial crisis.JB

One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social networks, and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com today!

[Guest guest]

Hi The cost for my trip to Tijuana last week to see Dr. Cassavantes for PMMA treatment broke down as follows:Treatment for my face: $1500 (this was under the patient assistance program)Hotel: 2 nights $179Meals: about $100 ( I splurged, you can get by for 2 days on less.)Transporation from San Diego to Tijuana and back to airport: $100Airfare: $359Results: priceless HAHA... just had to add that.Total: $2238The cost for the treatment itself includes a follow up with Dr. Cassavantes if I feel I need it. He said that I WILL want a follow up.I'm only one week out now from having had the PMMA. My face is still "full". There's puffiness under my eyes today. I'm told that over the next several weeks, this "fullness" will decrease, however, in the meantime, my

collagen is surrounding the PMMA spheres, and is growing, and will over the next 2 to 3 months create the natural fullness where my face was sunken.I'm still VERY happy I did it.Don Kennedy