Body beautiful

Dr Martin Kinsella shares one of his first case studies using new PLLA collagen–stimulant Lanluma X for buttock enhancement

Left: before,

 Right: immediately after one treatment

DR MARTIN KINSELLA

Dr Martin Kinsella MBChB BDS BACD has practised for over 16 years as an anti-ageing cosmetic doctor, primarily from his lead clinic Re-enhance in Hale, Cheshire. He also has clinics in Yorkshire and London and makes frequent trips to Mallorca to see patients and worldwide to train other cosmetic doctors.

Left: before, 

Right: immediately after one treatment

Despite causing death in one in 3,000 cases 1 , the number of people opting for buttock enhancement by fat transfer (commonly referred to as a Brazilian Butt Lift or BBL) has more than doubled in the last five years.1  The procedure involves taking fat from areas of the body where it’s not wanted and transplanting it into the glutes to enlarge them. However, injecting fat into the buttock can easily lead to serious problems if done incorrectly. Complications can include a fat embolism, when fat enters the bloodstream and blocks a blood vessel. In the lungs, for example, it blocks oxygen from entering the bloodstream, while in the brain it can cause a stroke.

While many patients opt for a buttock enhancement for aesthetic reasons, other patients look to treat the area after losing a significant amount of weight, to address serious disfigurement after pelvic trauma, or if they are experiencing practical problems, such as holding up trousers. However, in all cases the aim of treatment should be to enhance the shape of the buttock and texture of the skin as opposed to completely changing and distorting the patient’s natural shape.

Now, we have a non-surgical, safe alternative to a BBL in the form of Lanluma X, an injectable poly-L-Lactic acid (PLLA) collagen stimulant for the body. The treatment adds volume and re-shapes the buttock area to enhance the curve and shape of the buttocks without surgery or indeed, a high risk of complications. Lanluma works very differently than other kinds of dermal fillers. Instead of simply adding volume in the way that hyaluronic acid ingredients would, Lanluma’s ingredients kick-start the body’s natural collagen production mechanism. Since collagen is the protein that gives the skin its structure and shape, Lanluma injections perfectly create a curved shape that looks natural and, importantly, fits with the patient’s body type.

CONSULTATION

Sarah, 44, presented as a patient who was concerned about the shape of her buttocks having exercised regularly over a number of years and for a considerable amount of time. She explained that she would work out up to seven days a week with endless squats but struggled to achieve the desired look in increasing the size of the buttocks. As a patient who was very focused on reversing the signs of ageing, Sarah felt that her buttocks did not necessarily reflect her age and the rest of her body. Lanluma was suggested to enhance the shape and fullness of the buttocks.

TREATMENT PLAN

After marking and sterilising the area, sterile water is drawn into the Lanluma syringe and slowly added to the vial containing the product (in a dry powder format). The vial has to be shaken for ten minutes for optimal injectability and then left to stand for one hour to ensure complete hydration. The product should then be strongly agitated immediately prior to use for one minute.

I made one entry point per side with a cannula. An instant result was visible on Sarah on the day of treatment, but as the building of collagen takes several weeks to months, patients will likely need several injections to see improvement in volume and shape, depending on their needs. Sarah received one injection to each side of the buttocks and is due to return in four weeks’ time [at the time of writing] for a second session. I used one vial per side and will use one or two per side for the second treatment. The number of vials used should be based on the patient’s response to the product during the first session and the intended outcome of treatment. For older patients with an “A-shape” buttocks, two vials per side may be recommened for the first session.

Downtime is minimal, and Sarah was provided with an aftercare guide to follow for the next few days following treatment.Advice includes massaging the area vigorously for a few seconds every day for at least two weeks to reduce the risk of nodules and/or granulomas; and the use of bandaging or compressive underwear following treatment to hold the shape of the buttocks.

RESULTS

The results of the treatment are visible and yet incredibly in keeping with Sarah’s natural shape. The improvements are three-fold. Firstly, there is an improvement in volume. This in turn achieves lifting of each buttock, and thirdly, we see an improvement in skin texture which reduces the appearance of cellulite and skin dimpling, and this will only improve over time. Sarah is delighted with her results and told me her confidence sky-rocketed. We are both looking forward to seeing how the results develop following her second treatment.