How could this be? What? An “ideal” filler? This must be a joke, right? Well,  the company’s tag line about this product is: “Still you, only better.” Catchy,  to be sure. It sure sounds like a bold claim. And it lasts at least 10 years.  Curious? 

I’m talking about Renuva of course. Not a mainstream product. And not  everyone is familiar with it. Renuva has been around for about ten years or  so. It’s put out by MTF, Biologics in N.J. Officially it’s categorized as an  adipose allograft matrix. It starts out as donated fat tissue from a person  who has been scrupulously cleared for any possible viral or other infectious agent that could be transmitted to the recipient person/patient.  

The donated fat undergoes a meticulous cold cleansing process that does not  involve any radiation. The treatment removes any antigenic material that  could serve as a foreign body threat to the receiving person. As donated  tissue, it cannot be “sold,” only donated. The practitioner who administers the Renuva to the patient charges a treatment fee, but officially and by law the Renuva itself is free.  

Renuva comes in either 1.5 or 3.0 ml syringes. It is usually diluted with  bacteriostatic normal saline prior to injecting it under the skin with a cannula.  A cannula is a rounded-tip needle with the opening along the side near the tip.  There is usually no down time or recovery period following the insertion  process. The possible down time would be from bruising. About 1/3 to ½ of  the injected Renuva volume is replaced by the recipient patient’s own newly  made natural fat. This transition process takes 3 to 6 months. Think of Renuva  as a combination of seed and fertilizer for one’s own fat growth. 

Most commonly Renuva is placed in the face, backs of hands, breasts to conceal the edges of an implant, or wherever a small amount of fat may be  needed to make up for volume loss.

To be fair, many of us would do well to just have a plastic surgeon relocate  some of our own fat from one part of our body and place it somewhere that  it would be better appreciated. Brazilian butt lift anyone? Seriously, if a lot  of fat is required, fat grafting is the answer. The niche for Renuva is for small  volume fat deposition in a person who is thin and not currently losing weight.  That person would be the ideal candidate for this unique natural small volume fat creation exactly where it would be desired. 

In many ways Renuva just may be the ideal filler. Just not for every person  and just not for every place on the face or body. 

Isn’t it great to have options? 

William A. Carter, M.D. 

Carter MD Aesthetics