Bone Types

Bone is living tissue that makes up the body’s skeleton. Bone is a connective tissue largely composed of an organic protein; collagen and the inorganic mineral hydroxyapatite. Bones are rigid organs that form part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. Bones function to move, support, and protect the body, produce red and white blood cells and store minerals. Bones come in a variety of shapes and have a complex internal and external structure, allowing them to be lightweight yet strong and hard, while fulfilling their many other functions. One of the types of tissues that makes up bones is the mineralized osseous tissue. Minéralisés bones also drew the bone, which gives the bones of their rigidity and honeycomb-type three-dimensional internal structure. Other types of tissue in the bone marrow particular, the periosteum, nerves, blood vessels and cartilage. The main bone tissue, bone tissue is relatively hard and lightweight composite material, formed mainly of calcium phosphate in the arrangement chemical called calcium hydroxylapatite (bone tissue that gives the bones of their rigidity ). It is relatively high, but compressive strength poor tensile strength, meaning it resists forces grow well, but not the thrust levels.There are five types of bones in the human body long, short, flat, irregular and sesamoid. Long Bones are longer than wide, they are composed of a long handle (the diaphysis) plus two articular (joint) surface, called epiphyses. They are comprised mostly of bone, but are generally thick enough to hold considerable and spongy bone marrow hollow in the center (the medullary cavity). Short bones are roughly cube-shaped, and have only a thin layer of compact bone surrounding a spongy interior. Flat bones are thin and generally curved, with two parallel layers of compact bones sandwiching a layer of spongy bone. Flat bones are thin and generally curved, with two parallel layers of compact bones sandwiching a layer of spongy bone. Most of the bones of the skull are flat bones, as is the sternum. Irregular bones do not fit into the above categories. They consist of thin layers of compact bone surrounding a spongy interior. As implied by the name, their shapes are irregular and complicated. The bones of the spine and hips are irregular bones. Sesamoid bones are bones embedded in tendons. Since they act to hold the tendon further away from the joint, the angle of the tendon is increased and thus the force of the muscle is increased.

Aging is an inevitable part of life and the biggest beauty concerns pertaining to aging are wrinkles. Wrinkles are lines that occur on the face, and are caused by the loosening of the skin due to lack of elasticity. Cells on the skin are not able to regenerate and renew as fast as before due to slow down of body processes. Thus wrinkles and creases develop.

Aside from the natural aging process, studies show how prolonged exposure to the sun can also cause wrinkles. Unhealthy eating and daily habits, such as lack of sleep or exercise, also leads to weakening of the skin, causing wrinkles and other skin problems.

The cosmetic industry has developed various methods for anti aging skin care treatment, classified as surgical or non-surgical procedures. Under the surgical category, there are brow lifts, face lifts, and eyelid lifts. Incisions are made on the facial skin, so that muscle and skin may be tightened to get rid of wrinkles.

Non-surgical forms of wrinkle treatment, includes wrinkle injections. Botox is one which uses a form of protein injected under the skin to tighten and reduce lines. Another injection comes in the form of fillers. The two types of injected wrinkle fillers approved by the FDA are classified as temporary and permanent.

The temporary wrinkle injections include four kinds of products; collagen injections, hyaluronic acid gel, calcium hydroxylapatite, and poly-L lactic acid. When injected beneath the skin, they fill up the spaces caused by loose skin and fat loss. After several months to years, however, these natural compounds are absorbed by the body, which is why additional sessions for injections are needed. Polymethylmethacrylate beads is the only type  of temporary wrinkle injection approved by FDA. As they are made of synthetic material, so the body can’t absorb it when injected into the skin. 

The cost of temporary wrinkle injections ranges from $300 to $500 per injection. Newer forms of treatment, such as PMMA microspheres and calcium hyrdoxylapatite may cost around $1,000. Side effects are temporary soreness or sensitivity of the skin. Some patients may experience itching and bruising.

There is such a wide array of injectable fillers available now that if you’re feeling a bit confused about them it’s not surprising. Botox is injected, but it’s not an “injectable filler” – it works differently. Fillers are treatments that deposit a substance beneath the skin surface which helps to plump up the skin. They work to smooth out the fine lines and wrinkles, crows feet, and folds which come with aging.

An injectable filler gives temporary results only, and must be repeated after a certain period of time, depending on which filler it is. If you want more permanent facial rejuvenation, you would need some type of facelift – although keep in mind that aging continues to happen and a facelift simply sets the clock back.

Collagen Injectables

Collagen is a fibrous connective tissue which underlies our skin. With elastin, it forms a matrix in the skin’s second layer, the dermis, which supports the skin and keeps the surface smooth. Aging gradually weakens the matrix. So the idea of collagen injectables is to strengthen it again by injecting a form of collagen into the dermis.

There is a choice between human-based collagen and bovine-based collagen (from specially bred cows).

· Brand names of human-based collagen – Autologen, Fascian, Cosmoderm, and Cosmoplast

· Brand names of bovine-based collagen – Zyplast and Zyderm

For a bovine collagen treatment you would need to have an allergy test, but that’s not necessary for human collagen. Treatment results last about four months, by which time the collagen has been absorbed by the body. If you continue having treatments, less collagen will be absorbed after a while, and results will last longer.

Radiesse

The important ingredient in Radiesse is Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA) as small particles suspended in a water-based gel. They are biocompatible and no allergy test is needed. Results will last about six months or longer. The FDA has approved Radiesse for medical use, but cosmetic use is done off-label. Off-label does not mean illegal. It means that your doctor uses his highly-trained judgment to give you an appropriate treatment.

Hyaluronic Acid Injectables

This is a popular groups of injectable fillers. Brand names include:

· Juvederm

· Hylaform

· Restylane

· Perlane

· Dermalive

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally-occurring substance in the body. It attracts water. As we age, the body becomes drier, which contributes to the formation of lines and wrinkles, especially if we have neglected to use a sunscreen over the years. When the skin is sunburned, it slows down production of hyaluronic acid and speeds up its degradation.

By injecting a form of hyaluronic acid beneath the skin, more water is retained there, giving the skin a smoother look. Results last for about six months or longer.

Sculptra

Sculptra contains poly-L-lactic acid, a substance often used in dissolvable stitches. When you exercise, the muscles produce it naturally. Its effect is to gradually thicken the skin, which can offset some of the natural thinning caused by age. It is biocompatible and no allergy test is needed. After five or six treatments, results last longer and can last up to two years.

Artefill

The active ingredient in Artefill is synthetic Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) Microspheres. They make up 20% of the injectable and are suspended in a bovine collagen gel which makes up 80%.

As we age the collagen-elastin matrix in the skin’s dermal layer, which supports the skin and keeps it smooth while we’re young, shrinks, losing collagen. Artefill injections provide both collagen and the microspheres, which work in sequence.

· First the collagen gives immediate smoothing to the skin

· Then the spheres add to the existing collagen matrix, giving it strength, and smoothing the skin for a longer period. They provide a latticework where the skin can add new collagen and elastin cells.

Softening deep acne scars resulting from severe bouts of cystic or nodular lesions requires a well thought out cosmetic corrective plan. And according to reports in Dermatologic Surgery, popularized scar removal options like laser resurfacing may not satisfactorily smooth away deep acne scars. Yet, patients can readily witness scar depth reductions in indented acne scaring using aesthetic therapies such as dermal fillers.

Silicon based dermal fillers

In a 30-year perspective study of using dermal fillers to correct acne scars, doctors Jay Barnett and Channing Barnett deemed medical-grade liquid silicone the only filler substance that permanently and precisely corrects acne scars. During their investigation, the researchers reviewed the lives of five patients with a history of acne scarring. Each patient showed improvements from injections of liquid silicone at the initial treatment session and at 10-, 15-, and 30-year follow-up sessions.

Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers

Even though silicon based dermal fillers work, heavily marketed fillers made of hyaluronic acid also present a potential deep acne scarring corrective. While the results from dermal fillers can prove pleasantly dramatic, in the case of hyaluronic acid, the enhancements may only last six months. Moreover, most Food and Drug Administration approved dermal fillers like Perlane have only been tested on and prescribed for correction of nasal labial folds, not acne scars that can arise on multiple areas of the face.

Calcium-based dermal fillers

In a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, investigators tested a dermal filler composed of calcium hydroxylapatite to treat acne scars. Researchers used the filler to correct both round or saucerized acne scars, and deep acne scars with a sharp triangular shaped called “ice-pick” scars. After administering the dermal filler to ten patients with various types of acne scarring, the investigators found that only saucerized acne scars responded well to the treatment. Scar improvements lasted up to twelve months in some volunteers.

How to select a dermal filler

While dermal fillers offer dazzling results, they aren’t cheap. And typically, the longer the filler lasts, the more expensive the treatment. Dermal injections can run from $300 to $2000 for treated area so plan to spend smartly. Moreover, a dermal injection is only as aesthetically beautiful as the professional delivering the shot.

When seeking a dermal injection, seek a professional possessing experience with correcting deep acne scars with dermal fillers. Finally, when using a dermal injection, make certain that you have your acne outbreaks under control because dermal injections are contraindicated for facial areas experiencing pain or inflammation, including pimples.

Sources:

Barnett, Jay %26 Channing Barnett. Treatment of Acne Scars with Liquid Silicone Injections: 30-Year Perspective. Dermatologic Surgery, November 2005; vol 31, no 4, pp 1542-1549.

Food and Drug Administration. Perlane Injectable Gel – P040024s006 Labeling. May 2, 2007. http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/pdf4/p040024s006c.pdf

Goldberg, David; Snehal Amin %26 Mussarrat Hussein. Acne scar correction using calcium hydroxylapatite in a carrier-based gel. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, September 2006; vol 8, no 3, pp. 134-136.

Woo, S; J Park %26 %26 Y Kye. Resurfacing of Different Types of Facial Acne Scar With Short-Pulsed, Variable-Pulsed, and Dual-Mode Er:YAG Laser. Dermatologic Surgery, April 2004; vol 30, no 4, pp 488-493.