TOPIC: Ellanse L or Ellanse M for touch-up?

Hey guys, I'm thinking about going back for my 4th session (a touch up of 4 cc's) to Avanti just to even things out. I'm super happy with the Girth, but wanted to even things out a bit more.

My last session (3rd) was abut a year ago with Ellanse L (3-years). And all of my sessions have been with Ellanse L. My question is, should I go with Ellanse M, which is the 2-year, due to my previous sessions being a year or more ago? That way things will dissolve hopefully more even?

Or should I stick with the same type of Ellanse L for my touch up? Not sure if there is much experience with mixing different versions of Ellanse together.

Any thoughts would be appreciated...

Anyone feel free to correct me if I am wrong, But Ellanse L is no longer available. So Ellanse S & M are your only options.

Avanti just told me they have some Ellanse L left for my touch up.

Nice. Then I would definitely go with the L

I would love to see a patient done with the 'shortest' lasting Ellanse and see if it lasts as long as the others. It is the collagen produced that gives the augmentation and that is the same for any version. But the reason we use Ellanse is the duration and the idea of using a shorter lasting product is a tough sell. I

I guess we should get Sinclair to provide free product for someone to try it. Then we just have to wait a few years...

Dear Dr. Oates can you say something about different ingredients and compositions in the different Versions? You state that collagen is collagen and doesnt differntiate depending on which Ellanse version it came from if I get you right. But isn't there any type of material in the filler which forces the collagen to grow, which itself resolves sooner in Version S then in Version L? Compared to PMMA where the plastics never disappear therefore the body always produces collagen?

Joytoy wrote: Dear Dr. Oates can you say something about different ingredients and compositions in the different Versions? You state that collagen is collagen and doesnt differntiate depending on which Ellanse version it came from if I get you right. But isn't there any type of material in the filler which forces the collagen to grow, which itself resolves sooner in Version S then in Version L? Compared to PMMA where the plastics never disappear therefore the body always produces collagen?

Hi Joytoy,
The PolyCaproLactone (PCL) microspheres are the stimulatory component. The Carbomethylcelulose (if I remember it correctly) is the carrier gel. Sinclair says they do something in the formulation to make each version last a relative amount of time and that was nominally 1,2,3,4 yrs. But their own studies showed the 1 year product still there at 2 yrs. We have not been able to get the 4 yr version for over a year - I believe they dont make it any more and this week got told there is no more 3 yr product due to a World wide shortage.
It is the collagen rather than the PCL that gives the fill.

From some somewhat limited research and calls that I have done looking for some ellanse for a top up that I wanted; i was told ( in Laymans terms ) that the biggest difference in the ellanse products is not just their proprietary differences but its actually the amount of the PCL in each one also.
When I heard this, I immediately said: OK, so then get a 1 year and then get more 1 year later to end up with more PCL . haha. But it just wouldn't work out that way.
Anyway, this isnt the best answer/update. but its something.

@Dr_Oates has been putting a ton of work in on: Not just many different PE chemicals and options but specifically Ellanse. He is getting to be more and more busy all time due to getting a few papers recently published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal and I think has a few more coming. He is one of the FIRST people I would call right now for info and consults due to his efforts and knowledge and responses here.
Ask him: I just spoke to him. lol.

Texas wrote: From some somewhat limited research and calls that I have done looking for some ellanse for a top up that I wanted; i was told ( in Laymans terms ) that the biggest difference in the ellanse products is not just their proprietary differences but its actually the amount of the PCL in each one also.
When I heard this, I immediately said: OK, so then get a 1 year and then get more 1 year later to end up with more PCL . haha. But it just wouldn't work out that way.
Anyway, this isnt the best answer/update. but its something.

@Dr_Oates has been putting a ton of work in on: Not just many different PE chemicals and options but specifically Ellanse. He is getting to be more and more busy all time due to getting a few papers recently published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal and I think has a few more coming. He is one of the FIRST people I would call right now for info and consults due to his efforts and knowledge and responses here.
Ask him: I just spoke to him. lol.

@Texas , what about your experience? If I remember correctly you’ve had 2-3 rounds of the 4 year version right?

When dis you have the the first round and have you seen any loss at all so far? I know previously you said that it has only increased over the years.

Moreover, looking at the different lengths of Ellanse which contains a different concentration of the PCL, one could assume that the body breaks down the PCL over longer time. The carrier is gone in 3 months but the inflammation process due to the different amount of PCL is present longer until your body breaks it down fully. This is just my hypothesis, maybe Dr.Oates could provide context here.

Thanks

Sinclair is not giving away the difference between formulations but it does not seem to the the amount of PCL as how they bond it together. 1 yr or 4 yr after 3 months they both seem to have produced the same amount of collagen. If the collagen lasts the same duration then does it matter if there is still PCL there at the 4 yr mark? Or does the collagen start degrading/disappearing as the PCL disappears so a longer lasting version will definitely have longer lasting result. I just dont think there are studies comparing results out many years for the 'short' duration vs long duration .