By Johnny Franco, MD, FACS | Austin Plastic Surgeon | Austin, Westlake Hills & San Antonio, TX
Contents
The short answer
- dermaClae is an adipose (fat) tissue filler made for the face. It is built from processed donor fat, specifically adipocyte cell membranes and extracellular matrix.
- It is the sister product to alloClae, which we have used in our practice for body and breast work. Same platform, softer, finer formulation.
- The formula shifts toward more matrix and less adipocyte membrane than alloClae, which is what gives it the softer feel you want in the face. This is made to give providers and patients more options.
- It is expected to launch in early 2027, initially in a 3cc syringe, with a 1.5cc syringe anticipated afterward. Join the weight list for early access!
- It is an in-office procedure delivered through a small 20-gauge cannula. No liposuction, no operating room, no donor site.
What dermaClae actually is
dermaClae comes from Tiger Aesthetics, the same company behind alloClae. If you have followed our practice over the last couple of years, it is obvious alloClae has given patients opportunities that they never had previously. It gave patients an off-the-shelf way to add real volume to the body without a donor site, and it changed the conversation for people who wanted fat but did not have fat to spare or didn’t want to undergo a surgical procedure.
dermaClae is that same idea, designed specifically for the face.
The product is a composition of adipocyte cell membranes and extracellular matrix, both derived from donor tissue. alloClae is composed of 60% adipocyte cell membrane and 40% extracellular matrix. dermaClae will have subtle differences in this ratio to create a softer finer product. That sounds like a small technical difference. alloClae was designed for structural strength while dermaclae is designed for the face.
alloClae was the first filler designed specifically for the body. dermaClae is designed for the face and for the delicate areas where the body formulation would be too heavy. dermaClae gives us a designer option for the face to rejuvenate and restore.
alloClae vs. dermaClae
| alloClae | dermaClae | |
| Built for | Body and breast | Face and soft, delicate areas |
| Composition | Roughly 60% adipocyte cell membrane, 40% extracellular matrix | Weighted toward more extracellular matrix, less adipocyte membrane |
| Feel | Structural, built for volume | Softer, smoother, made for finer work |
| Syringe | Large-volume packaging (12.5cc and 25cc) | 3cc at launch, 1.5cc expected to follow |
| Delivery | Cannula | Small 20-gauge cannula |
| Setting | In-office | In-office |
| Availability | Available now at Austin Plastic Surgeon | Expected early 2027 |
The problem this solves
Patients love the idea of fat transfer. They understand it instinctively. It is your own tissue, it looks natural, and it is made to restore and regenerate.
Fat transfer to the face has been easy when combined with other surgical treatments such as facelifts or liposculpting procedures. However this means a trip to the operating room, liposuction somewhere on the body to harvest the fat, anesthesia, and recovery. For our busy business professionals, time is the most important commodity they have currently .
dermaClae allows patients to have the benefits of fat transfer without liposuction. The fat is already processed, already sterile, already in the syringe. There is no donor site because there is no harvest. A patient who could never carve out two weeks for a surgical recovery can sit in a treatment chair and walk out.
For busy professionals who have been putting this off for years, that changes the entire calculation.
Many of our patients have been on their weight loss journey; GLP medications have changed the journey for so many. Many of our patients that are on their weight loss journey are looking for natural options. They have lost most of their fat and in the past fat transfer was not an option for them. Traditional fillers didn’t resonate with them and they felt like they didn’t have any options. That has changed with dermaClae.
Where we expect to use it
Anywhere we have historically done facial fat grafting would be an option for our patients, which means jawlines, cheeks, and lips to start and full facial rejuvenation. I believe this will be an attractive option to plastic surgeons and patients for those that have been on their weight loss journey. The GLP medications have been life changing for so many of our patients, but they want to look as good as they feel.
The opportunities and use of dermaClae will continue to grow exponentially as our experience with the product expands. The aesthetic industry has been looking for regenerative options that truly restore, rejuvenate and give patients the results they desire with minimal downtime.
The GLP-1 face
The Ozempic face has become a reality, but it doesn’t have to be, as there are so many options to help minimize the effects of the GLP-1 medications. The goal is to help our patients look as good as they feel. Many of our patients have used the GLP medications as a jump start to their change. They have made this wellness conversion and they want a natural option to enhance their appearance in a subtle natural manor. As someone that has personally lived the weight loss journey, I don’t want to fill their face, I want to restore structure in a natural way.
Our patients on their GLP-1 medications often feel that this is one of the best decisions of their lives, but they want to look as good as they feel. They are thrilled with the weight loss and the changes to their bodies. However the face can deflate during this weight loss journey. The goal is to give the face a youthful, structural appearance that looks rejuvenated and healthy.
These patients are very clear about what they do not want. They are not asking for the overfilled look. That look is over, and they know it. What they want is targeted structure in specific places so that the face matches how good they feel and how hard they worked.
A regenerative product that restores volume in a natural, structural way is a much better answer for that patient than pumping in more hyaluronic acid.
Why Patients are Seeking Regenerative Options
We are seeing a real shift. A growing number of patients seeking options and alternatives to traditional fillers. dermaClae is a meaningful option for our patients that want a natural option that is going last, that they can build on over time.
Regenerative options have always been intriguing, but we had challenges up until recently with these products creating meaningful changes, true structure and longevity after the treatment. Fat transfer is an incredible answer, but as covered above, it was a bigger procedure than most of our patients wanted during their transformation or weight loss journey. dermaClae gives both patients and providers a meaningful alternative for a natural restoration.
Based on what we have seen with alloClae, I expect the results to be long lasting. That has been one of the most consistent findings in our own practice with alloclae on the body. Over the next several years we will continue to see more and more of these products coming to the market and both patients and plastic surgeons will have more options.
What the appointment looks like
dermaClae is so interesting for me as a plastic surgeon and for our patients as the product comes ready to use, so there is no liposuction (harvest of fat), no processing time, and no operating room. Placement is done through a small 20-gauge cannula to allow the dermaClae to be placed precisely and safely throughout the face as an office treatment. dermacCae on demand is revolutionary, we no longer need to schedule a procedure or downtime. We can cater to our busy business professionals.
When can I get it?
dermaClae is expected to launch in early 2027. Austin Plastic Surgeon is on the list, and we plan to be among the first practices in Texas offering it, the same way we were with alloClae.
If you want to be notified the week it becomes available, contact our office and ask to be added to the dermaClae list.
FAQ
What is dermaClae made of?
Processed donor fat, specifically adipocyte cell membranes and extracellular matrix. It contains no synthetic filler material and no hyaluronic acid.
How is dermaClae different from alloClae?
Same platform, different formulation and different target. alloClae was designed for the body and runs about 60% adipocyte cell membrane to 40% extracellular matrix. dermaClae is weighted toward more matrix, which makes it softer and smoother for facial work.
Is dermaClae the same as a fat transfer?
The tissue is comparable in concept, but the process is not. Fat transfer requires liposuction to harvest your own fat, which means an operating room and a real recovery. dermaClae is off the shelf, so there is no donor site and no surgery.
Do I need surgery or anesthesia for dermaClae?
No. It is planned as an in-office procedure through a small 20-gauge cannula.
Where can dermaClae be used?
Facial and soft-tissue areas, including the jawline, cheeks, and lips, plus the areas where we have traditionally performed facial fat grafting.
How long does dermaClae last?
Duration data will come with the launch. Based on what we have observed with alloClae in our own patients, I expect results to be long lasting.
When will dermaClae be available in Austin?
Early 2027 is the expected launch window. Ask our office to add you to the notification list.