iGuide® 2.0 Surgical Suture System - Q&A
What is iGuide®2.0 ?
The ImplicitGuide® Surgical Suture System (iGuide® 2.0) has FDA clearance for minimally invasive soft tissue and muscle elevation. It delivers results which meet those of traditional, invasive necklift surgeries, while reducing side effects such as swelling, bruising and the risk of nerve and muscle damage, and decreasing recovery times. iGuide® 2.0 was developed by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gregory Mueller to improve neck, face, and brow contours inherited through aging and genetics.
iGuide® 2.0 : NDS + Trampoline Platysmaplasty (Click images below to enlarge.)
How does iGuide® 2.0 work?
iGuide® 2.0 is packaged in a sterile kit that is comprised of five unique surgical tools which allow surgeons to elevate and define soft tissue areas by weaving a suture trampoline®. This is achieved through a series of needle punctures with one continuous thread, instead of cutting and repositioning muscles and soft tissue that can cause damage to the nerves and blood vessels of the neck, face, and brow. Using these unique tools, the system creates a trampoline-like structure that provides dynamic low tension support, elevating the skin, muscle and soft tissue as one unit.
What are the benefits of iGuide® 2.0 over traditional, invasive procedures?
iGuide® 2.0 provides patients with a minimally invasive surgical option that delivers consistent, natural-looking results, while leaving minimal to no swelling or bruising, and reducing the possibility of muscle or nerve damage that can occur with traditional procedures. Additionally, iGuide® 2.0 allows procedures to be performed quickly and in many cases using local anesthesia alone.
What is the average recovery time with iGuide® 2.0?
Recovery times with iGuide® 2.0 are short. Generally, patients are able to return to work within a few days and can resume physical exercise in a week or two. Your physician will be able to give you a clear idea of how short your recovery time will be.
Who is eligible for iGuide® 2.0 procedure?
iGuide® 2.0 is excellent as a stand-alone technology to elevate and shape the eyebrows or reshape the neck. It also makes a perfect complement to help improve results if you are having a facelift. The system was designed to help surgeons improve a sagging neckline, face or brow due to aging or genetics without all the cutting. iGuide® 2.0 has provided positive results with the following patient groups:
- Male patients who traditionally have more muscle in the face and neck area.
- Patients looking for a surgical "touch-up" to improve visible sagging neck muscles (better known as "turkey gobbler neck") following a neck and face procedure or liposuction.
- Patients needing a "bridge procedure" to sustain attractive neck contours, which helps avoid the necessity of undergoing invasive procedures more frequently.
- Younger patients who are looking to improve abnormal or unattractive neck muscle contours acquired through genetics, without invasive surgery and visible incisions.
- Patients who want a brow lift but would like to avoid procedures that require drilling into the skull.
- Patients who want to reshape the eyebrows without invasive surgery and visible scars.
- Patients who want a brow lift or neck rejuvenation procedure easily and safely using only local anesthesia.
Can iGuide® 2.0 Surgical Suture System be used in facelifts as well? And can patients who have undergone previous surgical procedures benefit from iGuide® 2.0?
iGuide® 2.0 is intended for soft tissue approximation and elevation of subdermis and underlying muscle. iGuide® 2.0 can be used as a stand-alone procedure or as a complement to a facelift or brow lift. It can also improve neck contours in patients who have undergone conventional neck and face procedures, can help conceal visible muscle banding that may become apparent after liposuction of the neck, and can be used to touch-up traditional face, and neck lifts to improve contours of patients experiencing early recurrent or residual platysmal bands. iGuide® 2.0 can also be used as a "bridge procedure" to sustain attractive neck, face, and brow contours, avoiding the necessity of more frequent invasive procedures. It is as well, a minimally invasive system that allows younger patients to improve abnormal or unattractive neck muscle contours acquired through genetics.
Who can provide iGuide® 2.0 technology?
To find an iGuide® 2.0 doctor in your area please visit www.implicitcare.com and refer to the "find a doctor" tab, or call Black & Black Surgical at 1-800-252-2517 for more information.
What is the typical cost of the procedure?
Costs for the procedure will vary depending on where you live and your surgeon.However, iGuide® 2.0 is typically more affordable for patients because they usually have shorter surgery times, less physician follow-up, and local anesthesia may be used in many cases.
What are the possible side effects?
iGuide® 2.0 is the first and only minimally invasive neck, face, and brow technology that delivers results that match those of traditional, invasive necklift surgeries, while reducing side effects like swelling, bruising and risk of nerve and muscle damage, and decreasing recovery times. Adverse effects associated with the use of this device include wound dehiscence, infection, minimal inflammatory tissue reaction, bleeding, nerve injury and transitory local irritation at the wound site. As with any surgical device it is important for the surgeon to have proper surgical training and an understanding of how to utilize iGuide® 2.0.
iGuide® 2.0 is a trademark of ImplicitCare LLC. © 2010 ImplicitCare®
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