COLLAGEN INJECTIONS

Collagen is a protein that is the main constituent of skin, muscles, ligaments and bones. Throughout the dermis, fibres of collagen are interwoven, like the skins own scaffolding.

During our lifetime it weakens and disappears due to years of constant facial expressions, smoking and exposure to the sun's rays. Tiny cracks appear on the skin causing the lines and wrinkles but these can be smoothed away if the collagen can be put back. We are able to do this with collagen injections. Collagen injections are the second most popular cosmetic procedure, the most popular being liposuction.
 

Collagen injections instantly reduce lines in the face. They are particularly successful for nose to mouth grooves, acne scars, frown furrows and can plump up narrow lips. A dilute form can be used around the eyes.

Cosmetic surgeons use a type of collagen taken from cowhide, treated so it is less likely for the patient to have an allergic reaction. It comes, suspended in saline, as a creamy paste which can be easily injected into the crevices of the skin. The saline is absorbed into the body leaving the collagen behind and two or three treatments three weeks apart are all that is needed. There are no hospital says and no anaesthetic, no drugs and very few after effects.
 
  There is always a risk of an allergic reaction with any foreign body injected into the skin and with collagen injections of this kind there is a small chance of nasty red itchy blotches that could last for 6 months and very rarely, may need a steroid treatment.

The surgeon should always ask if the patient is prone to allergic reactions but people with rheumatoid arthritis should not have collagen injections. A test injection should be given five weeks before treatment although not everyone tested, and who will be allergic, will react to the test.

Treatment can be painful particularly if injected into the lip but an anaesthetic cream can be applied before and a local anaesthetic is mixed with the collagen. Collagen injections are extremely good for short term furrows such as forehead, nose to mouth and laughter lines, but for long term it is an expensive option because collagen absorbs into the body after a few months so top up injections are needed twice a year.

Some people are happy to do that and don't think of it as any different to having their hair coloured or legs waxed a few times a year.

If you are looking for collagen injections, the following links may also be of interest to you:

 

There are other options to collagen injections.

Fat:

There is evidence that fat can be taken from one part of the body, usually the abdomen, by liposuction and injected into another such as wrinkles and muscles. Fat can be absorbed into the body just as easily as collagen but because the fat already comes from the body there can be no allergic reaction.

Silicone:

Silicone does not cause an adverse reaction although it is often mixed with paraffin which does. There are problems with silicone which can cause scarring, and injected silicone can become hard and lumpy and require more surgery. There is a historic link to problems with silicone being used for breast implants and the sometimes disputed link with autoimmune disease. Silicone's use for wrinkle filling was banned in the US in the early 1990's.

Gore-rex

Gore-tex is a name we may recognise as it is used to waterproof clothing. Micro strips of gore-tex are threaded beneath the skin and because scar tissue works its way round the strips it plumps up the skin by over 50%. There are some problems reported from gore-tex and it is not suitable to be used for lips.

Restylane and Perlane

One natural body product found in the skin is hyaluronic acid. It can also be artificially made from non-animal products and made into a product that can be injected into the skin with no allergic reaction. Restylane is perfect to smooth deep wrinkles and perlane excellent for lip enhancement.

 
 
Try searching on the Internet for "collagen injections" and you will be amazed just how many pages are on offer. Try it for yourself by hitting the search button below!