Exclusive interview with Dr Shayan Rafiei-Damneh
Aesthetic medicine is entering a new era, driven by the rise of biostimulation. Practitioners are no longer seeking merely to correct a wrinkle or restore an isolated volume: they are adopting a global approach to rejuvenation that combines structural support with tissue regeneration. Hyaluronic acid (HA) and calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) are therefore complementary, helping to restore facial architecture, stimulate collagen production and improve skin quality. Dr Shayan Rafiei-Damneh advocates this anatomy-guided approach: treating the mechanisms of aging rather than their visible manifestations alone, in order to achieve natural, harmonious and long-lasting results.
ANTI-AGE & LONGEVITY MAGAZINE: Dr Rafiei- Damneh, why has structural biostimulation become so central to facial rejuvenation today?
DR SHAYAN RAFIEI-DAMNEH: Our understanding of facial aging has evolved considerably. It is not simply about wrinkles: it affects several anatomical levels simultaneously, with bone resorption, loss of fat compartments, ligament laxity and dermal deterioration. Together, these changes create the tired appearance so often described by patients. Structural biostimulation makes it possible to address these underlying causes by restoring both facial support and tissue quality.
AA&LM: What factors guide your treatment strategy during a consultation?
DR. S.R.-D.: Everything begins with a global facial assessment. I evaluate loss of projection, tissue ptosis, changes in contours and the condition of the skin in order to identify anatomical deficits and establish priorities. My principle is simple: treat the cause, not merely its visible consequence.
AA&LM: You often compare facial rejuvenation to renovating a house. Why?
DR. S.R.-D.: If the foundations of a house are weakened, repainting the façade will not solve the problem. The same applies to the face. Restoring the deeper structures rebuilds its architecture; regenerative treatments then improve the quality of the overlying tissues. It is the combination of these two dimensions that makes it possible to restore true facial harmony.
AA&LM: How do hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite complement one another in your protocols?
DR. S.R.-D.: Each product serves a specific purpose. Stylage® XXL provides deep support and projection in areas requiring architectural restoration. Stylage® XL refines contours and harmonises transitions. Novuma®, a CaHA-based biostimulator, provides the regenerative dimension by stimulating collagen synthesis and improving skin density, elasticity and quality. These technologies are not opposed: they complement one another.
AA&LM: Is there an ideal protocol when these technologies are combined?
DR. S.R.-D.: Yes, based on an anatomical rationale: first restore structure, then stimulate regeneration. I recreate deep volumes and projection with Stylage® XXL, then use Stylage® XL to redefine contours and balance transitions. Finally, Novuma® improves skin quality. This sequence respects facial anatomy and promotes natural, long-lasting results.
AA&LM: Can you illustrate this approach with a clinical case?
DR. S.R.-D.: A 37-year-old patient presented with loss of midface support, reduced malar projection, early temporal hollowing and impaired skin quality following several pregnancies, prolonged breastfeeding and significant weight fluctuations. She simply wanted to look less tired. We restored temporal support and zygomatic projection with Stylage® XXL, refined the volumes with Stylage® XL, then used Novuma® to stimulate collagen and improve dermal quality. The result was improved support, a natural lifting effect and more luminous skin, while fully preserving her identity.
Modern facial rejuvenation is no longer about correcting an isolated concern, but about restoring facial architecture while improving tissue quality. Combining hyaluronic acid with calcium hydroxyapatite therefore enables a global, anatomy-led and regenerative approach to facial aging.
Dr Shayan Rafiei-Damneh
An aesthetic physician based in Strasbourg and an international speaker, Dr Shayan Rafiei-Damneh specialises in facial rejuvenation and regenerative aesthetic medicine. His anatomy-guided approach combines structural restoration and biostimulation to achieve natural, harmonious results.
