We live in the Golden Age of injectables, a market worth billions of dollars on its own and one that continues to invent and innovate. And while dermal fillers and neurotoxins address the symptoms of aging, experts have also been looking deeper, seeking to stave-off and prevent physical aging altogether. As the field of regenerative aesthetics evolves, one treatment stands out as the pinnacle, the new holy grail. A new “cornerstone” of the expert toolkit, Pix:E is an in-office treatment in a league of its own.
The Old Guard
The Gold Standard of Aesthetics
Experts like Vero Beach, Fl plastic surgeon Alan Durkin, MD have long been seeking a more preventative solution to signs of aging. “Dermal filler and neurotoxin-based interventions are largely reactive interventions,” Dr. Durkin explains. “That is, patients develop wrinkles, they get injected, results fade, and they return for future injections. This pattern begs the question—how can we address the root of the cause (ie, aging and intrinsic and extrinsic factors)? Is there a solution to fulfill the promise of preventative aesthetic treatment?”
We’re talking about truly preventing the physical signs of aging from taking hold, rather than tightening, volumizing and lifting those signs away. Certainly, there was a time when that seemed to be a fantasy—but in our time, it’s a reality.
The Next Stage
The Era of Collagen-Induction
“Regenerative aesthetics is the frontrunner to reactive or restorative aesthetics,” Dr. Durkin says. “Instead of waiting for the predictable onset of age-related aesthetic issues, this treatment paradigm proactively integrates techniques and technology that help offset the signs of aging and even help improve the body’s ability to age.”
And the crux of this approach is that pivotal building block of youthful skin: collagen.
“The cornerstone of regenerative aesthetics is the creation and amplification of youthful, natural Type I collagen in the skin, aka collagen induction,” Dr. Durkin explains. “From skin care to injectable collagen induction therapy, the amplification of collagen production is without question one of the most potent forms of nonsurgical aesthetic improvement.”
In our skin care, we rely on ingredients like retinol and tretinoin to improve collagen production in the top layers of our skin. And for decades, in-office treatments like energy-based devices (like radio frequency microneedling) and laser resurfacing have led the way in collagen-induction through deeper skin layers. While these options all produce quality results, they are all separate, distinct options. That means multiple types of treatment to achieve the most collagen-induction and (on the provider side) multiple methods and machines need to be readily available.
If only there were just one, comprehensive system that addressed multiple methods of collagen-induction to achieve that holy grail of regeneration…
The New Kid
The New Holy Grail of Results
That’s where Pix:E comes in.
“The Pix:E protocol combines the only FDA-cleared 4MHz radio frequency microneedling platform with both fractional and full-field erbium-YAG (laser) skin resurfacing,” Dr. Durkin says. “This first-in-class combination of energy delivery with microneedling merges the best collagen induction modalities into a single system with only one treatment protocol for the patient.”
Beginning with RF microneedling, Pix:E stimulates deeper collagen production to tighten skin and prompt that youthful Type 1 collagen. Afterwards, laser treatment prompts cell turnover and resurfaces skin of all tones and types.
“Our practice has undertaken a clinical trial with this device,” Dr. Durkin shares. “In our 20-patient series, patients universally tolerated the procedure, even those with darker skin tones and sensitive skin. Further, 91% of patients reported an overall improvement in their skin tone and texture.”
“To date, Pix:E provides superlative results against the effects of Father Time and has exceeded all expectations,” Dr. Durkin says. “As the age of regenerative, collagen-focused aesthetics continues to grow and evolve, we can expect Pix:E to hold its own as one of the cornerstones of that essential evolution.”