Dr Zunaid Alli, key opinion leader for Vivacy Stylage, explains why he advocates the pioneering dermal filler range

Dr Zunaid Alli, key opinion leader for Vivacy Stylage, explains why he advocates the pioneering dermal filler range 

AM: How did you get into aesthetics? 

Dr Zunaid Alli: I started out as a medical doctor in an incredibly busy GP practice in Johannesburg, South Africa. We performed a lot of minor surgery, such as bump removal, circumcision, and toenail removal, and the clinic also offered aesthetics. About eight years ago, the owner of the practice encouraged me to get involved in the aesthetics side so I did my foundation course and was introduced to the Stylage range. Then I got married and moved to the UK and found I had to retrain for insurance purposes. This turned out to be the biggest blessing because I gained a lot more skills in the UK and eventually became a trainer myself. 

AM: Why did you choose the Stylage products for your own practice? 

ZA: Stylage was the chosen range in the South African GP practice where I started out. I had great respect for the doctor who’d selected it so it was a natural choice. 

As I did more research on the company, I became even more assured that it was the right one for me for several reasons. The company is highly established worldwide and the product line is safe and very extensive; the range covers everything from skin boosters to volumising and contour agents. So if I’m working on the tear trough, for example, I can reach for a box of trusted product or if I’m doing non-surgical rhinoplasty I have a go-to product. 

Stylage also has a fantastic UK-based team now and the quality of the training is outstanding. Due to its reputation, I get international clients asking for Stylage when they come to the UK – particularly patients from Hong Kong and Korea where it is widely used and, for my patients, the price point is competitive. Stylage also puts a huge emphasis on research and development, which results in the most cutting-edge products. 

AM: What do you like most about the results you can achieve with the range? 

ZA: When I first started out, the product’s longevity attracted me. All of the products in Stylage range contain the antioxidant mannitol, which is a simple sugar. This boosts the activity of hyaluronic acid via a synergistic mechanism and prevents a degradation of the product ensuring results last for a long time. 

The product also injects really, really well and creates a natural result. When it comes to dermal filler the rheology is important. You need this to be excellent, especially when working on areas where tissues are quite soft, for example the lips, because you really need the product to flow beautifully. The moment you stop-start, you create lumps. The range is extensive and versatile, so there’s something for all indications. 

AM: What are your thoughts on Stylage’s patented IPN-Like technology?

ZA: It’s an exciting innovation. The IPN-Like Technology involves the interpenetration of two cross-linked monophasic hyaluronic acid networks. The crosslinking stage aims to stabilise the hyaluronic so as to increase the product’s duration once it has been injected.

AM: Which products do you use for which indications? 

ZA: The Hydro product is a skin booster and, in my opinion, is incredibly underutilised. It only injects four millimetres into the skin and can be used all over the face, chest and décolletage, as well as in the hands for a hydration boost and to smooth the skin. 

The HydroMax is slightly different but is also a lovely product to use; it’s really good for crepey skin. The product is slightly cross-linked so I use it in areas where I need a very minimal lift, such as the perioral lines and areas adjacent to the mouth. It’s quite nice to use in the hands as well. For fine lines and wrinkles, Stylage S is my go-to filler. I use it in the tear trough as it’s soft and very moldable. The product contains 16 milligrams of hyaluronic acid, so you can also use it in the lip contour and I find it excellent for defining the vermillion border. I also use it for the glabella frown lines. A lot of patients don’t like the effect of a toxin there, so this is a really good alternative. If the lines are really deep you can you can combine it with toxin. I have done this on a few patients and it makes for a really lovely finish. For contouring work, I use the XXL product. 

AM: What do you think about the new Bi-SOFT technology in the new syringe? 

ZA: The previous syringe was very robust. I never had a situation where a syringe broke or was dislodged, but what I like about the Bi-Soft technology is the fact that the winglets have been extended and they are now ergonomically designed. This is great for teaching when the course delegates have different sized hands and may be less steady. The broader winglets are perfect for both tiny hands and for someone with larger fingers. The design means that the physician can perform an aspiration test, if necessary, without dislodging the plunger from the syringe thanks to the special marks located on the surface of the grip plate. This is important and it’s where the safety aspect comes in. The patient may not appreciate the fact that it’s a fantastic syringe but the injector definitely will because it makes for more harmonious, easy injections. 

Dr Zunaid Alli is a renowned medical aesthetics doctor and trainer in the UK teaching various topics such as basic, intermediate and advanced Botulinum and dermal filler. He is key opinion leader for Vivacy Stylage and the lead medical aesthetics and skincare trainer for Glow Aesthetic Training in the UK.

Dr Zunaid Alli, key opinion leader for Vivacy Stylage, explains why he advocates the pioneering dermal filler range 

AM: How did you get into aesthetics? 

Dr Zunaid Alli: I started out as a medical doctor in an incredibly busy GP practice in Johannesburg, South Africa. We performed a lot of minor surgery, such as bump removal, circumcision, and toenail removal, and the clinic also offered aesthetics. About eight years ago, the owner of the practice encouraged me to get involved in the aesthetics side so I did my foundation course and was introduced to the Stylage range. Then I got married and moved to the UK and found I had to retrain for insurance purposes. This turned out to be the biggest blessing because I gained a lot more skills in the UK and eventually became a trainer myself. 

AM: Why did you choose the Stylage products for your own practice? 

ZA: Stylage was the chosen range in the South African GP practice where I started out. I had great respect for the doctor who’d selected it so it was a natural choice. 

As I did more research on the company, I became even more assured that it was the right one for me for several reasons. The company is highly established worldwide and the product line is safe and very extensive; the range covers everything from skin boosters to volumising and contour agents. So if I’m working on the tear trough, for example, I can reach for a box of trusted product or if I’m doing non-surgical rhinoplasty I have a go-to product. 

Stylage also has a fantastic UK-based team now and the quality of the training is outstanding. Due to its reputation, I get international clients asking for Stylage when they come to the UK – particularly patients from Hong Kong and Korea where it is widely used and, for my patients, the price point is competitive. Stylage also puts a huge emphasis on research and development, which results in the most cutting-edge products. 

AM: What do you like most about the results you can achieve with the range? 

ZA: When I first started out, the product’s longevity attracted me. All of the products in Stylage range contain the antioxidant mannitol, which is a simple sugar. This boosts the activity of hyaluronic acid via a synergistic mechanism and prevents a degradation of the product ensuring results last for a long time. 

The product also injects really, really well and creates a natural result. When it comes to dermal filler the rheology is important. You need this to be excellent, especially when working on areas where tissues are quite soft, for example the lips, because you really need the product to flow beautifully. The moment you stop-start, you create lumps. The range is extensive and versatile, so there’s something for all indications. 

AM: What are your thoughts on Stylage’s patented IPN-Like technology?

ZA: It’s an exciting innovation. The IPN-Like Technology involves the interpenetration of two cross-linked monophasic hyaluronic acid networks. The crosslinking stage aims to stabilise the hyaluronic so as to increase the product’s duration once it has been injected.

AM: Which products do you use for which indications? 

ZA: The Hydro product is a skin booster and, in my opinion, is incredibly underutilised. It only injects four millimetres into the skin and can be used all over the face, chest and décolletage, as well as in the hands for a hydration boost and to smooth the skin. 

The HydroMax is slightly different but is also a lovely product to use; it’s really good for crepey skin. The product is slightly cross-linked so I use it in areas where I need a very minimal lift, such as the perioral lines and areas adjacent to the mouth. It’s quite nice to use in the hands as well. For fine lines and wrinkles, Stylage S is my go-to filler. I use it in the tear trough as it’s soft and very moldable. The product contains 16 milligrams of hyaluronic acid, so you can also use it in the lip contour and I find it excellent for defining the vermillion border. I also use it for the glabella frown lines. A lot of patients don’t like the effect of a toxin there, so this is a really good alternative. If the lines are really deep you can you can combine it with toxin. I have done this on a few patients and it makes for a really lovely finish. For contouring work, I use the XXL product. 

AM: What do you think about the new Bi-SOFT technology in the new syringe? 

ZA: The previous syringe was very robust. I never had a situation where a syringe broke or was dislodged, but what I like about the Bi-Soft technology is the fact that the winglets have been extended and they are now ergonomically designed. This is great for teaching when the course delegates have different sized hands and may be less steady. The broader winglets are perfect for both tiny hands and for someone with larger fingers. The design means that the physician can perform an aspiration test, if necessary, without dislodging the plunger from the syringe thanks to the special marks located on the surface of the grip plate. This is important and it’s where the safety aspect comes in. The patient may not appreciate the fact that it’s a fantastic syringe but the injector definitely will because it makes for more harmonious, easy injections. 

Dr Zunaid Alli is a renowned medical aesthetics doctor and trainer in the UK teaching various topics such as basic, intermediate and advanced Botulinum and dermal filler. He is key opinion leader for Vivacy Stylage and the lead medical aesthetics and skincare trainer for Glow Aesthetic Training in the UK.