Collagen
What is collagen?
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Photos Courtesy of McGhan Medical |
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Collagen is a natural protein that provides structural support. It is found throughout the body in skin, muscle, tendon and bone. Fibers of collagen are woven together like threads in fabric to form a framework into which new cells can grow. In the skin, collagen provides texture, resiliency and shape.
What causes facial lines and wrinkles?
Facial lines and wrinkles are caused by the wearing down of the natural collagen support layer that lies just beneath your skin. External factors, such as exposure to the sun and pollution, and internal conditions, such as the body’s natural aging process, also contribute to the wearing down of the collagen layer.
What are collagen implants and how do they work?
Collagen implants are natural substances that replenish the skin’s natural collagen support layer and provide additional support. The implants are derived from highly purified bovine (cow) collagen and are injected directly beneath the skin’s surface, where the body usually accepts it as its own. When collagen is injected directly into areas where the body’s own collagen has been weakened, depressions can be raised to the level of surrounding skin. This smoothes and minimizes facial lines and most types of scars. In addition, skin texture is improved and has a softer and more even tone. The areas most commonly treated are the area between the eyebrows, the nasolabial folds, and the area around the mouth. The treatment can also help to define the lip border and give the appearance of a fuller lip. Collagen has been used for over 20 years and on over one million people worldwide.
What can I expect?
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Photos Courtesy of McGhan Medical |
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Photos will be taken prior to treatment. The area to be treated will be cleaned with alcohol and your physician will administer the collagen injection. Although collagen implants contain a small amount of lidocaine that helps to numb the area temporarily, you may find that the injections are somewhat uncomfortable, particularly around the nose and lips.
Collagen implants produce an immediately visible difference in the appearance of your skin in just one treatment session. While most patients are comfortable resuming normal activities directly following treatment, temporary puffiness of the treated area should be expected. You may also notice temporary blushing, slight bruising, and tenderness around the treatment sites. These are all normal occurrences and should subside within a few days. Although the material is generally indistinguishable from the surrounding skin, some patients have reported that they were able to see or feel the outline of the injected collagen. However, as the new collagen is incorporated into your own skin, the treatment site takes on the natural look and feel of healthy skin.
How long do collagen implants last?
The results of collagen injections last approximately 3 to 6 months. Just like natural collagen, the implants will be altered by the same mechanical forces and biochemical processes such as smiling and aging that caused the original skin depression. Since injectable collagen eventually breaks down, ongoing treatments are necessary to maintain the results you desire. Most patients who choose to receive touch-ups do so within 3 to 12 months of the original treatment series. If collagen implants are discontinued altogether, the injected collagen is simply reabsorbed by your body over time and your face gradually returns to its natural contours. However, since studies have shown that injected collagen may stimulate the formation of your own collagen at the injection sites, there is a possibility that part or all of the correction may last 2 years or more.
What must I do before the treatment?
One week before the treatment, discontinue drugs that reduce coagulation such as aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications in order to reduce the chance of bruising and bleeding.
Is collagen for everyone?
No. Collagen cannot be administered if you have a dietary allergy to beef or a history of allergy to other bovine (cow) collagen products or lidocaine. In addition, it cannot be administered if you are pregnant, currently on corticosteroids or immunosuppressive therapy (for example, prednisone) or have a history of autoimmune disease including lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriatic arthritis.
How can I tell if I am a candidate for collagen?
In order to determine if you are eligible for treatment, your physician will inject a small amount of collagen into your forearm just below the skin’s surface. Watch the site closely for any signs of sensitivity including redness, swelling or itching, the majority of which occur in the first three days. Two weeks after the first skin test, a second skin test will be administered. If there is no reaction two weeks after the second test, treatment can begin.
What are the possible side effects?
Even if there is no reaction to both skin tests, 1 to 2% of patients will still develop an allergic reaction after one or more treatment sessions. These reactions may consist of prolonged redness, swelling, itching and/or firmness of some if not all injection sites. Most have lasted for several months but some have exceeded one year. In less than 1% of patients, formation of a scab and sloughing (shedding) of the tissue at the treatment site have been noted which can result in a shallow scar. In rare instances, a deep pocket of pus (an abscess) can form at the injection sites. This can develop weeks to months following an injection and may result in hardened skin and/or scar formation.
What if I experience a problem after receiving an injection?
If you notice any type of adverse reaction, call the office immediately.
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