Modern wrinkle removing therapy – face-lifting using stem cells 

An interview with an expert, Doctor Berger (Frankfurt am Main)

Doctor Berger, as we know, the number of cosmetic plastic operations is increasing year by year, but when we look at guests at various receptions and social events we only occasionally see women who have undergone cosmetic surgery. Why is this?

Dr. Berger: This is logical. As time goes by the results of a correctly performed facial rejuvenation procedure have become so natural that I would describe it like this: you see that you don’t see anything. In Europe emphasis is placed on minor corrections. Here, contrary to the United States, a noticeable difference between the patient’s appearance “before” and “after” would be undesirable. 

What does this mean with regard to your work procedures?

Dr. Berger: I like working according to a multi-stage plan best. It means I can proceed carefully and concentrate on correcting only truly unavoidable traces of ageing in the face. First of all we perform minor operations, such as eyelid surgery, Botox application or the removal of laughter and worry lines using dermal fillers or the patient’s own body fat to smooth out wrinkles. Later on we can start using thermage or the Liquid Lifting method, which is a volume therapy during which I use special fillers. And of course new products and new methods for removing wrinkles appear nearly every day. Naturally, I always try to give my patients the most individual approach possible.

If I understand correctly your advice is that women should not wait too long before their first wrinkle removing treatment

Dr. Berger: If this involves a patient who is considering a cosmetic procedure or operation for herself, then my answer is definitely “yes”. It is very important to me to establish a relationship based on trust with my patients. If they are satisfied with my procedures then they will also want additional treatment from me.

What treatments could this involve?

Dr. Berger: This frequently involves the neck area or drooping cheeks. At present the techniques available are getting better and more sophisticated and result in much smaller scars and shorter operation times, with a much shorter regeneration time. The Midface lifting surgical corrective procedure is a very popular treatment in my practice. This procedure is used to tighten large areas of the face using a small access point.

You say that new products and methods of removing wrinkles appear practically every day. Which development would you consider the most important?

Dr. Berger: In my opinion – and also in the opinion of my colleagues – the future of medicine lies in human stem cells. Trends in cosmetic surgery are directed more and more towards the use of implants obtained from the patient’s own tissues and adult human stem cells. There has also been great progress in the sphere of breast augmentation. In any case the use of biomaterials and own tissue is obvious particularly in the light of material tolerance, or so-called biocompatibility.

This sounds very interesting. And are you  already using these methods Doctor Berger?

Dr. Berger: Yes. I have been very interested in this subject for quite some time and I am convinced of the enormous advantages of this approach. In the past it was only possible to tighten some parts of the face. This gave the impression of a mask. Today I apply injections of an additional dermal filler or even more frequently an implant of the patient’s own stem cells to achieve the most natural effects. My patients are always surprised and enthusiastic about the rejuvenating effects that can be achieved using this regenerative technology. Apart from this we also perform face lifting using methods that are very gentle and mild on tissue at my practice. To summarise, today’s options in the field of wrinkle removal offer progress in the literal sense of this word (laughter). 

Doctor Berger thank you very much for clarifying the current situation in the field of modern face-lifting methods.