Though our eyes are first drawn to the face, they quickly move down to the décolleté.
Dr Benoît Coursin
This area, which is fundamental to femininity, is often neglected when it comes to rejuvenation and beautification requests. An innovative, safe and biocompatible treatment is now available.
A new outlook for beauty and harmony
The more the products, technologies and protocols are developed, the more our role as “aesthetics GPs” evolves. Now, more than ever, patient care includes an important aspect: advice. Our knowledge and training in the new techniques and products is constantly being updated. Treating the décolleté is one of the newest protocols available and this is why I like to tell my patients that there is now a solution for this often neglected area. It is often the women whose face I have treated with a calcium hydroxyapatite product (to regenerate and firm the skin) who ask for the procedure after seeing the results on their face, and I am seeing an increase in demand, with a spike during the springtime as people are preparing for the summer. Along with the hands, the décolleté is one of the areas of the body that most reveals our true age, and it is important to explain the concept of harmony and natural-looking results to patients, as these procedures are generally carried out after facial treatments. A woman with smooth and plump skin on her face, but with rough hands and a décolleté that is marked and wrinkled with thin, dry skin will not look “natural” because her appearance is not balanced: these three areas create a real trio for youth. The demands for this problematic area begin with the peri-menopause, around age 45, and particularly in women who smoke or live in sunny climates, who immediately complain about their wrinkly, creased skin.
I suggest a global treatment plan, starting with the face and leaving them the option of adding other areas of the body. I believe that this approach will become a standard for global upkeep, where we first regenerate the areas that need it most, with regular medical check-ups to maintain the acquired results.
Beautifying the décolleté, an emblem of femininity and seduction
For many doctors and patients, the skin’s aesthetic health has become a priority, and boosting its collagen levels is an obvious strategy. I decided to work with Radiesse® because this product contains CaHA, enabling us to work on the architecture and structure of the skin on the face, décolleté and hands. On the market since 2006 and having been the subject of more than 200 clinical studies, it is particularly interesting because it acts on five cornerstones, which is where its role of “skin architect” comes from.
Radiesse® triggers the production of type I collagen (primarily), stimulates the production of elastin, increases the proteoglycans, stimulates the fibroblasts and promotes angiogenesis. This regenerative biostimulation also serves to reduce inflammation. Several recent scientific studies showed an improvement in the tissue quality, which patients and doctors can visibly notice and feel. The skin is denser, softer and healthier.
The décolleté is treated according to a specific protocol. The product is diluted with 1 blister of CaHA (1.5ml) to 2 of saline solution (3ml), so a total 4.5ml, which is injected onto a triangular surface of 100cm2. I start by administering three injections of local anaesthetic for the three entry points of the 25g cannula. I inject into the dermal-hypodermal plane, into which the cannula glides smoothly. I use the retrotracing technique to inject in fan-shaped lines, with the idea of criss-crossing the lines to ensure the product is distributed evenly. It is important to then massage the whole area for optimal homogeneity. The dilution allows me to distribute the CaHA without the risk of any lumps and, since it is not hydrophilic, there is no risk of “overfilling”.
The treatment takes 30 minutes, and the plumping effect is both immediate and improves over time, with progressive results as the biostimulation kicks in. If the treatment zone is marked and the skin is crumpled, I recommend having a second treatment 16 weeks after the first, and if the skin is leathery, thin and wrinkled, a third treatment may be envisaged 16 weeks later. A top-up treatment every 12 to 18 months is sufficient to maintain the results.
For me, this is the ideal treatment at an affordable price. The results are visible and long-lasting, the décolleté is revived and the patients are delighted. Until early 2024, this treatment was not available to us. The protocol is powerful, biocompatible and it safely fulfils expectations which, until now, we were not able to fulfil in a truly satisfying way.
Dr Benoît Coursin
Doctor of Medicine, graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in Rennes (35). Academic background and training. DIU Treatment of Baldness – Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University. DU – Injection and Filling Techniques in Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery – University of Paris 12. DU Physical Agents in Aesthetic Medicine – University of Paris 12. DU in Genital Aesthetic Medicine – University of Paris 12. Diploma from the International College of Aesthetic Medicine and Longevity – Dr Gadreau. Doctorate in General Medicine – University of Rennes 1. Consultant to laboratories for injection techniques. Member of the following learned societies SFME, FME, SFLD
