The demand for non-surgical aesthetic procedures has skyrocketed in recent years, and this growth has been at least partially attributed to the “Zoom Boom.” In fact, according to the American Association of Facial Plastic Surgeons (AAFPRS), 82% of the total number of procedures performed in 2022 were minimally invasive in nature.

This comes as no surprise to Los Angeles facial plastic surgeon Jason B. Diamond, M.D., F.A.C.S., founder of The Diamond Face Institute and creator of the InstaFacial procedure. Featuring a combination of topical application and injection of a patient’s own platelet-rich plasma (PRP), lasers, and microneedling in each session, Dr. Diamond has performed more than 5,000 of these $4,500 minimal-downtime treatments at his practice and around the world.

“The InstaFacial took off and quickly became a Hollywood-insider favorite because it was safe, effective, and gave patients what their skin needs to look its best in a short period of time,” he said.

Dr. Diamond proudly shared his journey between completing his medical training and beginning to practice.

“When I finished residency, I spent two years studying with the top doctors in Southern California while basically living in friends’ basements or out of my car. As a surgeon, my training focused on the structures underlying the skin, but a light bulb went off while I spent time with a high-level dermatologist. As soon as I learned the intricacies of maximizing the appearance of patients’ skin, I decided to incorporate this type of cutting-edge skin care into my practice from the get-go —including facelifts and other surgical procedures. I believe this is why my results stand out.”

Bioregenerative treatments, such as those that utilize PRP, stem cells, and exosomes are gaining traction in the aesthetic world, and Dr. Diamond saw their potential early on. The InstaFacial debuted in 2012, and Dr. Diamond soon faced a conundrum. “We had a lot of patients who couldn’t come in regularly, such as actors who were on-location shooting for months at a time. And there were those who couldn’t afford the InstaFacial or travel to L.A. for the treatment. I started to ask myself, ‘What are we going to do for these patients?’”

This is when he set out to create a skin care line, and Dr. Diamond’s Metacine was born. Rounding out the executive team is Dr. Diamond’s wife and Co-Founder/CEO, Jessica Combs, M.D., and co-founder/Chief Brand Officer Tammy Goodarzi, who has been working with the Diamonds for over 12 years, building The Diamond Face Institute. The team embarked on a six-year journey of research and development to harness the power of bioregenerative medicine outside of the doctor’s office. President Mark Ferdman joined the company two years ago to focus on marketing strategy, long-term strategic planning, retail partnerships, and growing the team.

In May 2023, Dr. Diamond’s Metacine introduced the two-step InstaFacial Collection to replicate the actions of the modalities used in the office-based InstaFacial. Dr. Combs recalled, “We wanted to put very potent, super-effective formulas out there and we landed on 17 active ingredients between the two formulas. We like to call this ‘molecular synergy,’ similar to how using multiple professional procedures together has a synergistic effect that is superior to one procedure alone.”

Used morning and night, the InstaFacial Plasma is formulated with bioengineered human-identical (not human-derived) growth factors that simulate PRP’s ability to promote skin repair and rejuvenation. The weightless fluid is also infused with a complex of bioactive peptides that support collagen production and sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) for rejuvenating and hydrating benefits. The Plasma’s bioactive growth factors also make the serum excellent for optimizing healing after procedures such as lasers and microneedling.

In the evening, the InstaFacial Emulsion mimics the skin-resurfacing component of the office-based InstaFacial. The star ingredient is a revolutionary time-released bioactive retinoid called hydroxypinacolone retinoate that side-steps the irritation and adjustment phase associated with other retinoids while enhancing the skin’s ability to absorb the plasma. Dr. Combs explained, “Retinol and other retinoids need to be converted into retinoic acid by the skin, which creates byproducts that we believe play a role in irritation. Our retinoid is active immediately, and it is also very stable so it does not breakdown like retinols and retinoids do with light exposure and time.” The potent formula also includes bioactive lipopeptides that promote cell turnover and skin firmness while targeting visible lines, wrinkles, and discoloration. Rounding out this powerhouse product are niacinamide, four weights of hyaluronic acid and medical-grade silicone for skin-barrier protection and a light occlusive effect to lock the Plasma into the skin.

For those who believe it’s impossible to replicate the outcomes of an office-based treatment with at-home skin care, Dr. Diamond said, “The proof is in the science and the results. This is a collection of biomimetic formulas that mimic the biological processes of the skin to deliver immediate and long-term results. It really all comes down to wound healing, these bioregenerative molecules help the skin do what it already does, which is especially helpful when the healing process and its associated production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid get less and less robust with age.”

The brand put Dr. Diamond’s Metacine to the test in a clinical study of 28 women and seven men with an average age of 55 who represented all Fitzpatrick skin tones. After replacing their usual skincare routines with the InstaFacial Collection, their skin was evaluated at four and eight weeks with VISIA-CR imaging to measure facial wrinkles and the Cutometer to assess skin firmness and elastic response. VISIA-CR imaging showed a 91% improvement in crow’s feet and Cutometer results showed a 77% improvement in elasticity under the eyes after eight weeks.

An independent clinical investigator also assessed and graded the overall appearance of each test subject’s skin. After eight weeks, subjects saw an average of:

• 94% improvement in crow’s feet lines
• 71% improvement in under-eye fine lines
• 62% improvement in under-eye wrinkles
• 57% improvement in firmness
• 54% improvement in forehead wrinkles
• 54% improvement in skin smoothness
• 51% improvement in face sagging
• 51% improvement in skin radiance
• 48% improvement in glabellar wrinkles

Test subjects also completed self-assessment questionnaires at four and eight weeks.

• Week 4: 91% reported their skin texture was smoother and more refined
• Week 4: 82% reported their skin looked healthier and more youthful
• Week 8: 91% reported their skin looked firmer and lifted
• Week 8: 82% reported their skin looked more luminous and radiant

Dr. Diamond performs several other novel procedures in his practice, including Diamond Facial Sculpting, which Dr. Combs said will be used as inspiration for forthcoming Metacine products. She teased, “The next product is on the forefront of what’s happening in skin care and we’re really excited about it.”

Although Dr. Diamond’s Metacine is self-funded and available exclusively through the brand’s website, The Diamond Face Institute, and Moda Operandi at the moment, the company is in talks with several other online retailers and plans to expand its brick-and-mortar presence in 2024. The team is also exploring outside investment. Dr. Diamond said, “I think this is definitely something we would do in the future to expand and scale the business.”