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Director of Cosmetic Surgery,
University of Illinois Chicago
Department of Dermatology
Oakbrook Center Mall Oak Brook, Illinois (630) 928-0240 Jeffrey Melton, M.D., S.C.,
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Collagen Replacement Therapy Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that gives support and structure to skin, bones, ligaments and other body parts. Injectable collagen is like the natural protein found in humans, but is made from purified bovine (cow) collagen. There are two major commercial types of collagen with the brand names of Zyderm and Zyplast. Zyderm and Zyplast collagen injections are generally used to treat wrinkles, facial lines, and scarring. Collagen is injected beneath the surface of the skin into the dermis, the second layer of skin, where it corrects the wrinkle or scar by temporarily plumping or filling out the skin depression. Conditions that respond well to collagen treatment include frown lines, lines around the mouth. Worry lines, crows feet, smile lines, and facial scarring. Although all medical procedures carry risk, collagen therapy is quite safe for the treatment of facial wrinkles, scars and contour irregularities. In fact, it received marketing approval by the Food and Drug Administration in 1981. The chief risk associated with the procedure is an allergic reaction to the injected collagen. Therefore, before beginning collagen replacement therapy, two skin tests are administered to evaluate whether you have an existing allergy to the collagen. The skin tests are usually performed 2 to 4 weeks apart. Provided the skin tests were negative and a sufficient time has elapsed, treatment can proceed. The procedure is performed in an outpatient setting where the collagen is injected just below the surface of the skin with a very fine needle. A local anesthetic contained in the collagen mixture helps to reduce discomfort. A topical anesthetic cream may also be used. During a series of treatment sessions, a person receives the amount of collagen necessary to "fill out" the lines and wrinkles or raise the scar depression up to the level of the surrounding skin. There may be some swelling or minor bruising at the injection site. This usually fades in a matter of hours to days, revealing a new, smoother appearance to the skin. How Long Do Collagen Injections Last? The length of time the correction lasts depends on many factors. Typically, 3 to 12 months may go by before touchup or maintenance treatments are required. Occasionally, treatments may need to be done sooner or more often. In some people the collagen injections seem to stimulate the body's own production of collagen, and improvement can last more than a year. What other treatments are available for wrinkles and aging skin?
are also used to improve or eliminate wrinkles. |