What is SkinVive and is it worth it?

It would be great to have a definitive answer to this… but I think we’ll have one in the next 6-9 months once this becomes more commonly used.

If you haven’t seen or paid attention to the marketing hype for this product (Allergan), you’re probably wondering what it is. Although it is a product that injects hyaluronic acid into a syringe, it is not actually a filler. Instead, it acts as a long-lasting moisturizer. It lasts about 6 months.

Because hyaluronic acid attracts water, it claims to give your skin a dewy, youthful glow that lasts longer than facial or cream moisturizers. It doesn’t lift or fill anything.

It received FDA approval in the fall in the United States, but has been approved under different names in Canada and Europe for several years.

Why you might consider this product:

• It’s not crazy expensive.
• For most people it seems to last about 6 months.
• There may be a cumulative effect in that improvement can occur with two to three treatments every six months.
• It’s good for hydration, even if it’s pretty subtle.
• It’s a good idea to pick me up a month before your wedding or other event. It takes a month to actually see results and see if the problem is resolved.

Why you might want to save money and wait:

• expense. It costs about $600-700 for two syringes and requires two syringes for each cheek.
• It varies considerably depending on the skill and technique. Poor technique will leave small bumps all over, which can take several weeks to go away.
• It definitely works better on some skin types than others. In my opinion, younger skin tends to look better, but younger people don’t need as much. It is older skin that needs more.
• So far, there are no long-lasting benefits.
• Could investing in a nice quarterly facial and mild RF treatment or BBL achieve the same results?

Hope this helps,

Brandis Irwin, MD
Concierge Dermatology and Laser, Seattle
Skin Tour Founder
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