From Concept to Cornerstone – Understanding PDO Max’s AfterGlo™ Serum

Based on a White Paper written by Dina BenDavid, DNP, MS, FNP-C

For decades, the ideal outcome of any aesthetic procedure was the treatment, reversal, or elimination of a problem—usually a skin concern (like a blemish) or a sign of premature aging (like unwanted wrinkles). 

This “problem-meet-solution” approach worked fine for a time. But patients started realizing that fixing one issue was seldom as gratifying as fixing multiple issues in a single sitting. 

With this in mind, providers began seeking more comprehensive options. And while they found a few, the ideal product hadn’t hit the market—until now.

Evolving Aesthetic Trends & The Development of PDO Max’s AfterGlo™ Serum

At PDO Max, we’ve watched trends, solutions, and issues arise in the aesthetic market over the decades. With the release and popularity of our AfterGlo™ Serum, we thought it helpful to explore the industry trends and technology that led to its development and its ultimate success.

The Dawn of Skin Rejuvenation & The Search For the Ultimate Treatment

With skin rejuvenation in mind, patients and providers began searching for treatments that could deliver comprehensive results while also addressing specific concerns. Laser devices, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels shot into the spotlight as the “aesthetic treatments of the future.” 

Despite their success and efficacy, these 21st-century treatments had one critical drawback: downtime. Patients are busier these days and have demonstrated less patience for or interest in procedures with prohibitive or prolonged downtime. 

In an effort to enhance results without also extending downtime, patients and providers sought a topical solution that could bridge the gap between skin treatment and skin rejuvenation. As it turns out, this was easier said than done.

Topical Solutions, Upsell Opportunities, & Delivery Methods

Fast forward to the present moment and you’ll hear chatter about new solutions, such as exosomes. But exosomes are considered as biologic agents and are regulated by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Presently, no exosome has been approved by the FDA for aesthetic or cosmetic purposes.   

Elsewhere, skincare products containing hyaluronic acid (HA) skyrocketed in popularity. But on their own, topical HA solutions result in fleeting volume restoration. Furthermore, topical HA solutions struggle to penetrate the dermis deeply enough to rejuvenate skin on a lasting basis.

Solutions That Only a PDO Thread Company Could Think Of

Back in the early 2000s, the search for a topical, skin-rejuvenating solution with lasting benefits led researchers to a polymer: poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA). Unlike HA, PLLA resulted in prolonged restoration of volume through collagen synthesis. Additionally, in 2009, PLLA was approved for aesthetic use by the FDA. 

Like PLLA, polydioxanone (PDO) is a biodegradable polymer commonly used as an absorbable suture. At PDO Max, however, PDO is the primary ingredient in our industry-leading threads. 

This got the R&D team thinking. Laboratory testing on the safety of PDO revealed no cytotoxic properties, no inflammatory potential, and no potential for irritation. Furthermore, the testing revealed a meaningful increase in skin hydration. 

But how to deliver PDO into skin while preserving its hydrating and collagen-boosting properties?

A Solution For Solutions – PDO Max AfterGlo™ Serum

While our PDO threads are designed to lift soft tissue, support fascia, and stimulate collagen production beneath the skin, they’re less suitable as a topical solution. But by processing PDO into microparticles, we can then suspend these particles in a hyaluronic acid solution for both penetration and hydration.

Each vial of PDO Max AfterGlo™ Serum contains the equivalent of 1,000 PDO threads. PDO is completely metabolized by the body, but for maximum results, it also boasts a prolonged absorption duration between 182 and 238 days.

Testing of our own proprietary, skin-rejuvenating solution revealed further benefits, such as:

• Neocollagenesis – The formation of new collagen
• Plump skin
• Skin brightness
• Enhanced skin tightening

What Does PDO Max’s AfterGlo™ Serum Mean for the Aesthetic Industry?

After years of searching, countless hours of R&D, and numerous near or false solutions, our AfterGlo™ Serum is finally bridging the gap between spot-treating skin concerns and boosting results with a topical skin-rejuvenating solution. But what does this mean for your practice?

On its own, our AfterGlo™ Serum packs a punch, but its ideal application involves opening microchannels in the skin. Any treatment that opens microchannels can benefit mightily from a post-procedure application of AfterGlo™. 

AfterGlo™ pairs perfectly with any of the following treatments that you may already offer:

• Microchanneling
• Microneedling
• RF Microneedling
• Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing
• Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing
• Mesotherapy (nappage)
• Others

Trial & Error Resulting in Triumph – The PDO Max AfterGlo™ Serum

Over the last 30 to 40 years, providers and patients could only imagine a treatment add-on that, of all things, delivered lasting, comprehensive skin rejuvenation AFTER an aesthetic procedure had been completed. Now, we live in a different world.

Our AfterGlo™ serum combines decades of trial, error, research, development, engineering, market research, and technological developments. It capitalizes on leading-edge skin science and improves outcomes for all involved. 

Patients enjoy remarkable results beyond anything they could imagine while providers enjoy enhanced word of mouth, repeat business, new business, and unparalleled customer satisfaction. 

It took a while to get here, but now that we’ve arrived, there’s enough opportunity and AfterGlo™ Serum to go around. To learn more about our AfterGlo™ Serum, or our other recent innovations such as the new PDO Max Duo Needle or our Levo Lock, contact PDO Max today.

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PDO Max: Always Innovating, Always Leveraging the Science of Beauty

To serve patients and providers better, we’ve gone beyond our barbed threads and Smuth threads to deliver newer, more suitable innovations for a changing aesthetic landscape. If you’re new to PDO threads and PDO thread lifts, explore our expert in-office, hands-on training, and our on-demand e-learning courses today. For more information on our products or our services, contact PDO Max today!