Pig Fat 'Botox' Makes Debut in U.S.

Some people will go to great lengths to keep their youth. Now one Twin Cities doctor is using a new treatment to smooth out your wrinkles -- but it's what's in the product that has some raising their eyebrows.

The technique of taking collagen from pigs to put in people's faces have been used in Europe and Canada for several years, but it's very new to the U.S.

Having just turned 44, Brenda Beam is going to the pigs, or rather, the pigs are going into her face.

Pig-derived treatments, such as heart valves, are nothing new in medicine, since humans and pigs share similar anatomy.

But using pig collagen, taken from pig tendons, as an injectable wrinkle-filler, was only approved by the FDA last year.

The treatment is called Evolence, and is used on the lines from the nose, to under the corners of the mouth.

Evolence is an alternative to other facial treatments, such as Botox, which is a toxin; Juvederm and Restalyne, which are acids; or other fillers that use cow collagen.

"When the FDA looked at the cow protein, they actually said there was enough dissimilarity between the human and cow that they mandated a skin test be done on everybody. Sometimes even two skin tests to make sure there wasn't any sensitivity," says Edina plastic surgeon Dr. Edward Szachowicz.

The upside of pig collagen is that there is no worry about allergic reactions. It's cheaper, at $600 a treatment, and results can last a year instead of a few months.

And as for Brenda? "We've immediately softened on both sides of this, we've immediately lifted the corners of the mouth," says Dr. Szachowicz.

So far, it's only used on smile lines, and is too thick to be injected into lips. But a thinner version for that purpose is available in Europe, and Johnson & Johnson hopes for FDA approval in the next couple of years.