Cristal - Dermal Fillers

Cristal is a newer product that was launched in the UK in early 2009. It is a monophasic hyaluronic acid based, double cross-linked dermal filler, made in Germany with a UK distributorship by Wigmore Medical Limited. A Non-Animal Hyaluronic Acid (NaHA) gel, Cristal is designed from biofermentaion hyaluronic acid, thus making it biodegradable and compatible with the body. According to the manufacturer, it is produced through a Granular Consistency Technology (NGCT) which produces a smooth gel solution that flows very easily into the body. It has the highest quality of hyaluronic acid-based filler in the current market. This makes it less likely to cause side effects compared to other fillers.

Pretreatment allergy testing is not necessary, so one can have the treatment with confidence. Given the fact that it gradually breaks down in the body, it is non-permanent and lasts for a limited amount of time. In its range of products, there are four main formulations: No.1, No.2, Soft and Lip. No.1 comes in 20mg/ml and is ideal for superficial wrinkles, smoker lines, crow’s feet and commissures. For medium to deep wrinkles, No.2 in a pack of 24mg/ml is best and is injected into the depths of the dermis using a 30G needle. Soft is 14mg/ml and can treat rehydration or mesotherapy by injecting into the superficial dermis. Lastly, Lips in 14mg/ml is designed for lip augmentation.

The manufacturers indicate that the effects are sustained from 6 to 12 months. Patients with conditions like hypersensitivity to hyaluronic acid, auto-immune disorders or under immunotherapy, multiple severe allergies, coagulation defects,hypertrophic scarring, active inflammatory condition or chronic skin diseases should not use Cristal. For best results and to avoid serious consequences, it is advisable to ensure that Cristal is not mixed with other injectable products.

The most common reported effects are swelling, tenderness at the implanted part, itching and minor pain. Under normal circumstances, recovery will take place almost immediately, but sometimes it can take 1 to 2 days for injections into the skin and up to 7 days for injections into the lip area. The cost implications will depend on the area treated, quantity used, plus level of the practitioner performing the treatment.