Injectable Collagen for Wrinkles: A Reliable Approach That Supports the Skin's Natural Collagen

Over the last years, our understanding of the reasons for tissue components deteriorating has made a lot of headway, so that a multitude of treatments (anti-free-radical creams and vitamin A), as well as specialized techniques ( photorejuvenation and microdermabrasion ) have helped us improve the structure of cutaneous collagen and stimulate the synthesis of new collagen. When loss of natural collagen occurs, lines and wrinkles begin to take shape in the areas where the skins moves.

Injectable collagen allows us to temporarily restore the lost natural collagen and thereby smooth out the lines and wrinkles or even redefine the contour of a lip.

This is a reliable method that has been in use for over 25 years, that does not require any special care and that is performed in 10 to 15 minutes with immediate results.

How Is Collagen Replaced?

Collagen is injected directly into the skin with a very fine needle, which raises the skin then smoothes out the wrinkle or redefines the lip's contour. The presence of an anaesthetic substance in the injectable collagen, combined with the use of fine needles, makes the procedure virtually free of discomfort and limits the occurrence of bruises (rare cases).

What Are the Benefits?

The main benefit is an effortless and painless immediate effect that requires no special care . Collagen becomes particularly well integrated with the neighbouring skin in general without any palpable contours or rigidity. It leaves the skin with a natural and supple texture .

It is not necessary to limit facial movements after the treatment since collagen does not have a tendency to move around or migrate.

Also, the advantage of intervening soon when wrinkles first start to appear lies in the stimulation of collagen autosynthesis that can be brought on by the injections.

What Are the Applications?

Collagen can smooth out:

• Crow's feet (wrinkles in the outer corner of the eyes)
• Worry lines (forehead furrows)
• Smoker's vertical lines (lip contour)
• Wrinkles in the corners of the mouth
• Smile wrinkles (nasolabial furrows)
• Frown wrinkles (glabella furrows)

Collagen can also be used for changing the volume and definition of the lips.

What Can Be Treated?

Fine or deep lines, frown lines, smile wrinkles, crow's feet, the lip contour and certain scar depressions (smallpox, acne) are the areas most often treated.

Are There Different Types of Collagen?

Currently there are two natural collagen products available: bovine collagen and human collagen.

Bovine collagen, which is treated and highly purified to make it similar to human collagen, has been originating for 20 years from the same California bovine herd that is isolated and tested in order to make it completely safe. It is however recommended that cutaneous tests be conducted prior to using collagen.

Human collagen comes from human dermis. It shares the same origin (a single cellular strain) and cellular culture method that is highly controlled in the laboratory and used for obtaining the tissues that have been in use for many years for treating serious burn victims. With human collagen, it is not necessary to proceed to a cutaneous allergy test before the treatment.

Simple and Reliable

If skin lotions are useful for preventing dehydration, they are not efficient against wrinkles. Fortunately, injectable collagen can treat this problem and the effects are immediate . Once injected it replaces the lost natural collagen while strengthening the remaining collagen . Moreover, it seems to have a protective effect against aging by stimulating our own mechanisms of collagen restoration and synthesis.

The main advantage of injectable collagen is its natural effect , since it blends so easily with the neighbouring tissues that it becomes imperceptible and non-palpable .

All the wrinkles can be treated during the same procedure. The effect of injected collagen lasts from 6 months to 1 year depending on the type of skin, the area treated and the mechanical stress occurring in that area.

Treatment without Convalescence

The non-surgical procedure is limited to a simple injection of collagen under the wrinkle. You can therefore receive the treatment during the lunch hour, apply your make-up after 15 minutes, then go back to work .

Is This the Solution for Me?

Injectable collagen should not be used if you have a history of allergy to lidocaine (local anaesthetic), to beef products (in the case of bovine collagen) or of anaphylactic reaction. It should not be injected in areas suffering from inflammation or infection. Caution should also be exercised if you are taking certain medications acting on cellular immunity or coagulation.

Frequently Asked Questions about Collagen

What is its life expectancy?
Generally from 3 to 12 months depending on the quantity injected and the working stress of the facial expression transmitted to the treated area. The reoccurrence of the defect that has been corrected is gradual; touch-ups are usually required every 6 months. Clinical experience has shown that the body will produce a certain quantity of collagen (autofibrosis) in the areas where there has been a collagen implant.

Are there precautions to be taken?
In order to prevent redness, swelling or occasional itching in the injection sites, it is recommended to avoid strenuous exercise, alcoholic beverages and prolonged exposure to heat and the sun during the first 24 hours. A foundation cream can be applied a few hours following the injections.

Are there related effects?
The presence of swelling, ecchymoses (bruises) or redness can be infrequently observed, which relate mostly to the injections. In the areas where the skin is very thin (around the eyes), a small, sometimes whitish elevation, can be perceptible for a few weeks. Also, in the areas where tissue elasticity is lacking (scar tissues), resistance to the distribution of collagen can produce a slight elevation on the edges of the corrected area.

Are there complications?
Although it is unlikely, a needle could accidentally pierce a blood vessel during the injection, which could cause a temporary discolouration in the area or a lesion of the tissues, which would then result in the formation of a small scab or scar.

Any type of implant, if it were injected in a blood vessel, could block the flow of blood and cause local damage (scar) or loss of vision in one eye (isolated case in 1981).

Can I avoid surgery with that?
No, because the injection of implants will correct surface defects but does not help in tightening tissues and removing their excess. The implants are nevertheless a good complement.

Are there other alternatives?
Depending on the problem to correct your cosmetic surgeon may suggest other techniques: more invasive procedures like subcision, lasabrasion, lifting and peeling ; milder procedures like radiophotorejuvenation , microdermabrasion ; as well as other types of injectable implants like hyaluronic acid and methacrylate-based prolonged-effect implants.

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