For Life found out how aesthetic doctors refine their skills when we were invited by leading filler brand Teosyal to a master class training seminar in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Doctors in Jakarta, Indonesia who use the Teosyal hyaluronic acid dermal range of fillers include Dr Danu Mahandaru at The Clinic Indonesia and Dr Kevin Maharis at the Maharis Clinic

Dr Raymond Wu, the Chief of Medical Services at the Union Medical Association in Hong Kong presented the seminar. Dr Wu is an expert in aesthetic injectables such as botulinum toxins and hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers. Over the years he has developed several unique injection techniques for different regions of the face and neck. His skill and artistry with injectables is widely recognised and has led to him being appointed as an expert trainer and speaker by several injectable brands such as Dysport, Botox, Restylane, Juvederm, as well as Teoxane Laboratories, the makers of Teosyal. Over the past five years Dr Wu has helped to train doctors all over South East Asia sharing both his technical skills and his artistic aesthetic with hundreds of young practitioners.

The seminar was to introduce the Teosyal hyaluronic acid dermal range of fillers to Indonesian doctors, particularly the Resilient Hyaluronic Acid (RHA) range. A new concept in HA filler technology, the RHA range corrects wrinkles and depressions with more natural-looking results thanks to its dynamic qualities which allow it to stretch and move with one’s natural facial expressions. The doctors were also introduced to the new Teosyal Pen. The Teosyal Pen is the first motorised and cordless device for inject HA fillers.

Scientific presentation

Dr Raymond Wu at a recent training session in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Dr Raymond Wu at a recent training session in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Dr Wu began the seminar with a slide show explaining why the RHA range is the next big thing in HA fillers. HA fillers have been around for more than 20 years and there have been several generations of products as the science has been developed and refined.

What makes the Teosyal hyaluronic acid dermal range of fillers different is that they are dynamic. They can be stretched or squashed and bounce back into shape just like youthful skin does. They can do that because Teosyal have discovered a way to preserve longer chains of HA, more like the natural HA in our skin, than the short chains found in most fillers. The long chains allow RHA fillers to move naturally with one’s facial expressions.

Dr Wu then showed us the new, and surprisingly small, Teosyal Pen. The controls and motorised pump part of the device are only about the size of a large thumb. A single use, disposable syringe containing the filler and needle are attached to the pen for each patient.

The Teosyal Pen precisely regulates the amount of filler being injected and the pressure and speed at which it is injected. This allows the doctor to concentrate on where to place the filler rather than controlling the flow. It also uses a smaller needle than is used to inject by hand so it less painful for patients. In fact in a study carried out by Teosyal of 2,000 patients who had previously been injected manually, 95 percent reported that the Teosyal pen was at least 60 percent less painful than the manual injections.

According to Dr Wu the greater control this cutting-edge technology offer doctors is especially valuable for the very delicate oral, perioral (near the mouth), and periorbital (around the eye) areas, where highly precise and homogeneous injections are crucial for a natural-looking results.

Live demonstrations

The TEOSYAL Pen weighs only 40 grams.

The Teosyal Pen weighs only 40 grams.

Later Dr Wu did practical demonstrations of his techniques on volunteer patients. First he examined them, pointed out one or two problem areas on each and quizzed his audience of doctors about what each patient needed to have done and how best to do it. Dr Wu discussed each patient and their treatment plan, their facial proportions, volume loss and how it occurs, how and why wrinkles are formed.

Dr Wu demonstrated the use of different fillers from the Teosyal RHA range to treat different problems for four volunteer patients. There are four products in the RHA range; each with a slightly higher viscosity and all enriched with a patented blend of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids to help protect and revitalise the skin from the inside and prolong the fillers beneficial effects.

The audience of doctors watched Dr Wu demonstrated a technique and then Dr Wu would supervise one of the doctors – all experienced aesthetic practitioners themselves – as he or she learnt to use the Teosyal Pen to copy Dr Wu’s technique.

The patients were transformed under the doctors’ skillful hands. Dark under-eye circles considerably lightened, cheekbones were emphasised and lifted sagging jaw lines at the same time. One patient had the filler injected into her receding chin to transform her profile and rebalance her features. Noses were enhanced, forehead wrinkles and nasolabial folds – often known as “smile lines” – were smoothed away, and thinning lips were plumped and given a more youthful appearance.

Photos by Dr Raymond Wu and Teosyal.