Redwood Aesthetic Medicine

Porcelain Skin-AQUAGOLD FINE TOUCH Treatment

Consent and Patient Information

WHY USE  Porcelain Skin-AQUAGOLD FINE TOUCH TREATMENT?

This procedure enables the patient to achieve a more refined-appearing skin surface,  without the use of heavy makeup. Like the smooth finish of fine porcelain, the treated skin attains a healthy-looking glow with improved texture, reduced blemishes and discoloration and a more even skin tone. Results accumulate with multiple treatments and can further synergize with other treatments that improve the quality and health of the skin such as Medical Micro-Needling with Platelet-Rich-Fibrin plasma, Thermage Collagen Tightening, Intense Pulsed Light therapy or DefenAge home skin treatment products. It does not interfere with any Botox or Fillers already in use and can be an added benefit to overall appearance.  It is also the only patented microinfusion technology that uses sterile 24-k gold plated surgical steel micro-channeling needles thinner than hair to deliver the product, resulting in precisely controlled distribution, increased patient comfort, and decreased sensitivity.

HOW DOES Porcelain Skin-AQUAGOLD FINE TOUCH TREATMENT WORK?

Microinfusion delivers a cocktail which may include ingredients like: low viscosity hyaluronic acid, Vitamins, Autologous platelet enriched plasma (equivalent to Platelet-Rich-Fibrin plasma), as well as Neuromodulating toxins such as Botox. Each Aquagold treatment is unique to the patient’s needs and wishes. Additional costs do apply for each component of the cocktail and a separate consent must be signed for using each of the following:

ADD Hyaluronic acid for plumping, super hydration, firmness, elasticity and texture. Superficial acne scarring can be improved over time with micro-hyaluronic gels.

ADD Neuromodulating toxins (Botox) to shrink pore size and reduce sebum production. It can reduce redness from rosacea and overactive capillaries via the effect on smooth muscle of the small blood vessels and pores.

ADD Growth factors from your own plasma  to stimulate the skin for improved healing rate, ideal for use after microinfusion stimulation of the skin, growth factors help to maintain collagen levels. Best growth factors come from your own platelets, so consider adding Platelet-Rich-Fibrin plasma as part of your treatment.  Rejuvenates the skin by micro-infusing your own blood plasma into your skin, to stimulate cell growth and collagen production, improve complexion and texture.

ADD Vitamins such as vitamin B complex to improve the condition of the skin, help rosacea, acne, eczema, dermatitis, hyper pigmentation, sun-damaged, aging and dry skin. Vitamin C+E complex to help prevent free radical damage, improve skin tone and texture, enhanced skin brightness for a more youthful appearance.

ARE THERE ANY AQUAGOLD FINE TOUCH CONTRAINDICATIONS?

Although Aquagold fine touch is a very safe treatment with no reported side effects, like most medical treatments please do not use it in these instances:

• Pregnant and breastfeeding women
• Active Acne
• Broken Skin and skin infections
• Anyone who has ever had intolerance or sensitivities to any of the
• ingredients listed above

HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE TREATMENT

For best results, we recommend that patients thoroughly cleanse their skin with warm water to remove all make-up and other skin products, oils and debris. A pore-cleansing facial treatment is preferred prior to the Porcelain Skin-AquaGold Fine Touch treatment. Pore cleansing can be done as a targeted professional facial 1-2 days prior to treatment,  or it can be done as a mask at the clinic on the day of the treatment ( for this option, additional time and cost do apply ).

 WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE TREATMENT  

After pore cleansing (if applicable), a thin layer of lidocaine-based numbing gel is applied. After 10-15 minutes, the gel is removed with isopropyl alcohol. Then the microinfusion with the desired ingredients (see above) begins with minimal to no discomfort. When all the areas are treated evenly, it is completed (20 min).  For patients who opted for the addition of their own plasma, there will be a second round of microinfusion with the plasma after the blood is drawn, expect more time and cost for this additional option (20 min).

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER THE TREATMENT

Patients may experience slight redness depending on how sensitive their skin is. This will subside within 10 mins to 1 hour. Some results of treatment can be appreciated immediately, the skin is left hydrated and glowing. Results continue to improve over the coming days and weeks after having a Porcelain Skin-AquaGold Fine Touch treatment. Improvements can be cumulative if treated in a series of 4 treatments scheduled 4-6 weeks apart.

IS THERE Porcelain Skin-AQUAGOLD FINE TOUCH AFTER CARE?

We advise no make-up until the next day, we advise patients to not wash their face for at least 8 hours after the treatment. No swimming, saunas or steam rooms. Non-comedogenic sunscreens can be applied. A soothing hydrating mask will be given to use at home. We do recommend complementing the clinical procedure with home treatment of DefenAge, a defensin-peptide-based serum to help stimulate new cell growth. Please check our website for detailed information and usage instructions. A 24-hour starter kit is available for purchase at the time of treatment, the kit is complimentary if you purchased a package of 4 or more treatments.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS OF Porcelain Skin-AQUAGOLD FINE TOUCH TREATMENT?

The cost of the Porcelain Skin-AQUAGOLD FINE TOUCH treatment is determined by the type of ingredients, the need for a pore-cleansing mask prior to treatment and the number of treatments purchased.

Each treatment starts at $250, and can range up to $1250 per treatment. Package Pricing: purchasing of any 4 or more treatments as a package will get 10% savings off the total plus a complimentary DefenAge 24-hour starter kit. The package rate and bonus gift would also apply when you combine 2 Porcelain-Skin treatments with 2+ medical micro-needling+PRFp treatments, or 2 Porcelain-Skin treatments with a Facial/Neck Thermage or with 2+ IPL treatments.  We encourage combination treatments to achieve best synergistic results, i.e. quality + refinement.

If you already have a good pore-cleansing routine or if you can obtain a professional pore-cleansing facial no more than 1-2 days prior to the treatment, you do not need the pre-treatment mask. ( $50 and add 15 min to treatment )

 More Detailed Device Specifications

WHAT IS THE AQUAGOLD FINE TOUCH NEEDLE SPECIFICATION & LENGTH?

• 600 micron depth
• 130 micron diameter
• 24K pure gold-plated micro-channels
• 20 gold needles thinner than human hair with patented screw thread technology

HOW DOES AQUAGOLD FINE TOUCH COMPARE TO OTHER NEEDLING TECHNIQUES?

AQUAGOLD fine touch is in a treatment category of it’s own – it is classed as a MICRO-CHANNELING facial or MICRO-INFUSION facial. It is NOT micro-needling as many would think.

There are several differences between micro-channeling or micro-infusion and micro-needling.

• Unlike micro-needling, the Aquagold micro-channeling treatment delivers ingredients before micro-injuries begin to heal
• Micro-channeling treats evenly at a predictable depth
• Very gentle, great for sensitive skin
• Bypass the protective barrier of the skin for greater absorption
• Treat more conditions via micro-infusion
• Treat sensitive areas / areas closer to the eyes
• Treat those who may be needle phobic
• Natural ‘not had work done’ look
• Plumping & tightening without the pain, downtime, reactions, breakouts or bleeding associated with other injection techniques.
• Creates thousands of micro-injection sites

WHO CAN OFFER AQUAGOLD FINE TOUCH TREATMENT?

Aquagold fine touch is for professional use only. For licensed injectors, prescribers and medically qualified persons; proof of clinician qualifications / certification is required before offering the treatment. Aquagold fine touch treatments must always be performed by a trained and qualified practitioner.

I HAVE SEEN OTHER SEEMINGLY SIMILAR BUT CHEAPER DEVICES, WHY?

Aquagold fine touch spiral/screw thread needle technology is a patented one of a kind micro-infusion system. We are aware of several other cheaper copycat and counterfeit products on the market that claim to have the same spiral thread technology, when in fact they don’t. If in doubt, take a look at the needle tips under a microscope. False advertising of a class 2 medical device such as the Aquagold Fine Touch is a serious crime and will be reported.

At best these devices are simple needling devices, no different to a standard dermal roller device. At worst these counterfeit micro-infusion devices pose a risk to your patients. The most serious concern is safety, counterfeit products are often made of non-medical grade materials and in facilities that do not follow quality assurance requirements.

Concerns of using counterfeit Aquagold devices include:

• Cheap industrial plastic of unknown origin
• Non-surgical grade steel and glass
• No 24-karat gold plating
• No screw thread micro channels, instead, straight needles with large holes on the plastic cover
• Irregular and random thickness and length of needles
• No proper sterilisation processes, if at all. (dust and hair have been found)

To obtain medical CE marking, products must be tested and certified by a third party certification body, known as the ‘identified body’. The identified body code should be printed under the CE mark. If this number is omitted or replaced with 9342 this product is not Medical CE marked but self certified CE marked and not tested or certified by a third party. For sterile devices, such as Aquagold fine touch the CE marking must also have the identification number of the notified body that approved this part of the conformity assessment.

Disclaimer: Patented spiral thread needle micro-infusion / micro-channeling technology is unique to the Aquagold® fine touch products alone. Aquagold® fine touch & Venn Healthcare Ltd cannot be held liable for any issues arising from clinics who are choosing to use any copy-cat or fake versions, or similar looking micro-needling devices that may claim to have the same or similar technology.

Dr. Chia Chen M.D., Redwood Aesthetic Medicine, March 2021