SkinMedica TNS Recovery Complex FAQ

What is TNS Recovery Complex?
TNS Recovery Complex with NouriCel-MD is a patented formulation, designed to give your skin the natural growth factors, antioxidants, matrix proteins, and collagens it needs for optimal health.  This product works by stimulating the skin’s own natural rejuvenating processes and assists in improving the health and appearance of sun-damaged and aging skin.

How do I use this product?
Put a single pump of TNS Recovery Complex on the back of your hand. With index finger on the other hand, dab TNS Recovery Complex on entire face twice daily. Rub remaining product over back of hand, neck, or chest.  TNS Recovery Complex should be applied immediately after cleansing and toning and before any other products.

What type of results should I expect and how long will it take?
Use of this product may help the skin texture appear healthier, smoother, with reduced wrinkle depth, minimization of fine lines, improved elasticity and a decrease in the appearance of age spots and pigmentation.

How long must I use this product?
A minimum of 3 months is recommended, but in general the longer it is used the better the results.

What is the science behind this product?
Growth factors are naturally occurring proteins that play important roles in the regulation of cell division and tissue proliferation.  Each growth factor has specific cell-surface receptors.  These natural proteins result in new collagen formation, new elastic tissue, new blood vessel formation, as well as elimination of abnormal cells and structures in the skin.  Our growth factors are natural byproducts of bio-engineered tissue collagen of human skin developed by Advanced Tissue Sciences.  These growth factors have been studied extensively and are known to have a complete compliment of naturally occurring growth factors.

What is the difference between growth hormones and growth factors?
Growth hormones are hormones that your body secretes to control growth of your entire body, as well as muscle growth and various other endocrine or internal factors.  Growth factors are not hormones.  They are wound healing regulatory proteins that control natural wound healing of the skin.

What is the active ingredient in TNS Recovery Complex?
TNS Recovery Complex contains NouriCel-MDä.  NouriCel-MD is a professional strength concentration of Advanced Tissue Science’s enriched nutrient solution by-product of growing tissue-engineered skin.  NouriCel-MD is the only product on the market that contains the same natural chemicals that newborn baby skin has including a unique combination of growth factors, soluble collagens, proteins, hyaluronic acid, amino acids and powerful natural antioxidants.

<Are growth factors safe?
There have been more than 8000 procedures to date utilizing Advanced Tissue Sciences burn and wound healing products, TransCyteâ and Dermagraftâ with not one reported adverse reaction or rejection.  NouriCel-MD does not contain Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) because it is made from dermal fibroblast cells.  EGF is the only growth factor that has been linked to cancerous cell growth and division when tested on laboratory mice.  All safety testing on NouriCel-MD has resulted in no experimental irritation or adverse reaction.

What are dermal fibroblasts?
The skin loses about 1% of its fibroblasts and thickness per year.  Dermal fibroblasts are the “architects” or framework of the dermis.  Fibroblasts produce new collagen fibers, which plump the skin from underneath.  Collagen keeps skin strong and dense.  The loss of collagen and elastin causes a breakdown of resiliency and skin thickness, which causes lines and wrinkles to result. Upon reaching adulthood, the dermis becomes thinner and the fibroblasts fewer, which translates into aging skin.

Where do the dermal fibroblast cells come from?
Selected neonatal foreskins have been donated by parents to help burn and wound victims.  Normally, this tissue would be disposed of in the surgical process.  The epidermal layer of skin is separated from the dermal layer and the cells from the dermal layer, dermal fibroblasts, are used for growing human tissue.  This tissue helps burn victims to heal faster, with less scarring and reduced pain.  It also heals chronic diabetic foot ulcers helping patients avoid infection and possible amputation.

What testing procedures are used to test the dermal fibroblast cells?
Advanced Tissue Sciences’ master cell bank has been safety tested and approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.  Cells undergo testing for all know antigens and pathogens including HIV.

What growth factors are contained in NouriCel-MD and what are the functions?
The NouriCel-MD ingredient contains Transforming Growth Factor-Beta(TGF-b), which is responsible for collagen secretion.  Increased collagen fills in the depression under the wrinkles and restores the support structure of the skin. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) are responsible for new blood vessel formation.  New blood vessels deliver nutrients to the tissue.  Keratinocyte Growth Factor (KGF) is responsible for epithelial cell growth.  Interleukins (IL3 and IL6) are responsible for reduced inflammation.

Are there other products on the market containing NouriCel-MD?
No, SkinMedica has the exclusive rights to NouriCel-MD in the medical market.  NouriCel-MD is available only through physician offices and physician directed medical spas.

Are there any side effects?
No side effects have been detected in the use of these products.  In fact, in more than 8,000 procedures using Advanced Tissue Sciences’ burn and wound healing products (TransCyte® and Dermagraft®), there has not been a single adverse reaction nor rejection.  These products contain the same growth factors as NouriCel-MD.

Can anyone use this product?
Yes. The presence of sun damage is a primary suggestion for the use of this product.  Sun damage is an accumulative event and requires as little as six or seven minutes of sun exposure a day to result in sun damage that will progress and accumulate.

Can younger people use NouriCel-containing products?
Many factors influence the skin’s tendency to wrinkle only one of which is age.  Our environment, sun, stress, diet, even our emotions all affect how our skin holds up, as we get older.  Products containing NouriCel-MD are for people of any age who would like to maintain healthy skin.

Will this product help with hyperpigmentation?
It is thought that this product will result in more normal pigmentation, but studies have not been performed yet to prove or disprove this potential benefit.

Will NouriCel increase my sensitivity to the sun?
No, NouriCel will not increase sensitivity to the sun.

What are the benefits of using this product?  Specifically, what types of improvement will I be able to see in the skin?
The use of this product will result in making the skin texture appear smoother and make fine lines less visible.  With continued use, it may help the skin achieve a more healthy appearance and much better elasticity and resilience.

How is the performance of TNS Recovery Complex optimized?
Improved results have been noted when used in combination with regular exfoliation and products containing Vitamin C. Exfoliation eliminates dead cells, opens the pores and allows TNS Recovery Complex to penetrate the skin.  Vitamin C is known to stimulate the production of collagen.