In this interview with cosmetic doctor and certified dermatologist, Dr. Arna SHAB, who has been practicing in Frankfurt, Germany, for many years, he gives us his professional views on being a dermatologist and on the use of subdermal injectable fillers.

We spent some time with Dr. SHAB to find out more about his practice. He offers (among other dermatology procedures) volume restoration to facial areas using subdermal injectable fillers. We asked him about the different types of fillers and their uses, considering his experience as a professional dermatologist.

Dr. SHAB first studied for his medical degree at Heidelberg Medical School in Germany from 1999 to 2006. He then trained in dermatology at the Heidelberg University School of Medicine from 2007 to 2008 and then at the HSK Klinikum, in Wiesbaden, Germany from 2008 to 2011. Studying in these two prestigious institutions enabled him to open his own practice in 2013. It should be noted that Dr. SHAB was also the Head of Aesthetic Medicine & Dermatologic Surgery of Croessmann, Oberthuer, Meyer, in Hessen, Germany, between November 2011 and October 2013. Dr. SHAB is also involved in research activities in the two institutions where he was trained in dermatology and has also taught dermatology courses in these institutions for several years.

Dr. SHAB has been practicing in his clinic in Goethe's hometown of Frankfurt, Germany since 2013. He is accompanied by a team of professionals in his practice of dermatological and aesthetic medicine. He specializes in dermatological treatments providing conventional dermatology services and aesthetic treatment of the face and body. He also helps his patients with skin diseases and anti-wrinkle treatment.

Dr. SHAB was kind enough to answer our questions with diligence and enthusiasm, and to enlighten us on the role of dermal fillers today, their uses within his practice, and how they can help patients. Finally, he explained to us the future that dermal fillers may offer in the years to come. Dr. SHAB has been injecting dermal fillers for over 13 years now, and part of his research focuses specifically on the impact of dermal fillers on patients, and more recently on the impact of agarose-based dermal fillers for gum volumisation (1).

Q1: When did you first discover Algeness subdermal injectable fillers and what was the occasion?

As a dermatology professional, I often travel to dermatology and aesthetic medicine congresses to follow the innovations in our sector. It was at one of these congresses that I discovered the Algeness products and their strong potential. I also work with pharmaceutical companies and had heard about Algeness fillers as early as 2015 and 2016. The novelty for me was the basis of the Algeness products; I was interested in products that differ from hyaluronic acid (HA), because they are based on purified agarose gel, which is 100 percent natural.

Q2: Since you mention Algeness subdermal fillers, what are their advantages in your opinion, compared to other types of fillers?

Well, it's very simple: There are 3 main points that I particularly appreciate as a dermatologist, and moreover that my patients also appreciate.

Firstly, the fact that the product range is safe for both the patient and the practitioner, because they are not crossed-linked HA-based.

Secondly, Algeness products are 100% based on purified agarose, which is extracted from Algae. This is very reassuring for my patients: and I see this as the second strong point.

Finally, the filler is non-hydrophilic, which avoids any what I call "balloon effects" after injection. The volume I give to the parts of my patients' faces remains identical to the one they perceive after the injection, so there are no unpleasant surprises regarding the shapes I sculpt with the Algeness products. This is the number one quality that my patients tell me about when I use Algeness fillers, which is why I use them on my patients, (but only when treatment with fillers is appropriate, of course).

Q3: What exactly are the main types of procedures you perform with Algeness fillers in your practice? Are there any particular reasons for using Algeness fillers compared to other products with the same function? 

I use Algeness fillers mainly for the following procedures: Non-surgical rhinoplasty, cheekbone and/or chin augmentation, tear trough correction and lip correction. It is important to understand, however, that each type of filler has its own particular benefits: The main attraction of Algeness products is that they are extremely suitable for giving volume to different parts of the face, and can be used together with HA based filler when needed. I use Algeness for deeper injections under the skin, when I need to give a sharp contour, to cheekbones for example, or for a correction of the shape of the nose, and I may use HA filler in the same session for lip augmentation.

Q4: What is the feedback from patients who have been injected with Algeness fillers?

They are delighted, and as you know, here in Germany, natural products are very popular. There is an appetite for products that are extracted from natural raw materials, and Algeness fillers perfectly suit my patients’ needs. Beyond the very convincing results of the Algeness range, my German customers are seduced by the 100% natural and totally biodegradable aspect of the Algeness products. The same goes for my international patients - the other half of my clientele.

Q5: How do you see the future of Algeness fillers, based on your current experience, and considering the use made of them by the medical colleagues you work with?

Firstly, I must say that I am not very familiar with the extent to which my colleagues use Algeness fillers, but I know that those who use them are very satisfied with them. As for my own experience, as soon as either a practitioner or a patient discovers Algeness products, the doctors continue to use them, and the patients continue to ask for them. In general, some fillers are more suitable for certain types of procedure, and other fillers for other types of procedure. For example; HA-based fillers are, in my opinion, be better suited to giving volume to the lips, while cheekbones are outstandingly highlighted by an Algeness filler. In any case, I predict a very promising future for Algeness products, because for certain uses, there is no market equivalent to date, especially when it comes to treating the cheeks and jawline areas for example. They are the perfect products for these facial areas.

We ended our interview by asking Dr. SHAB if he could give the characteristics of Algeness products that stand out in his opinion. He insisted on the importance of the totally natural origin of the Algeness product range, on the long-term results of using such a filler, and on the fact that the products have no side effects, which ensures total comfort for the patient and ease of use for the practitioner.

Through the answers that Dr SHAB gave to our questions and the insights he provided us with, he assures us that he will continue to use the products, and is even testing the filler in the field of periodontics, to restore volume to the gums of patients who have had teeth pulled out or who have had dental implants, and who have suffered loss of gum volume. These tests are the subject of a recently published research article (1).

Dr. SHAB and a growing number of dermatology practitioners have come to fully trust and use Algeness products because they deliver tangible and consistent results due to their unique 100% natural composition and high subdermal stability over time. Should you need additional information regarding Algeness and its product range, please do not hesitate to ask our dedicated Algeness team. They will promptly answer any query you may have.

References:

(1) “Agarose Gel als Füllstoff der Gingiva in der Zahnheilkund” (Agarose gel as implant for the gingiva in dentistry / periodontics) By Dr. med. Arna Shab, Dr. med. dent. Anna Radtke, Dr. med. Catharina Shab; ZWP Zahnarzt Wirtschaft Praxis – 3/201.