Collagen Injection

Collagen is the most common substance now in use for soft tissue augmentation. It was approved for this purpose in 1981 by the FDA and since then nearly 2 million patients have received collagen treatments.

Collagen is actually part of the natural support structure of your skin. Wrinkles form when this natural collagen thins. This thinning is mostly a process of aging, however, other important factors include the amount of sun exposure received over a lifetime, smoking history, pollution, health and lifestyle. With decreased collagen support, wrinkles and lines start to form wherever the skin moves.

The most commonly injected collagen in the United States is provided under the brand names Zyderm I, Zyderm II and Zyplast. Each of these variations of injectable collagen is a sterile, purified, suspension of collagen derived from cowhide. The manufacturing of the product is carefully regulated to maintain the highest degree of safety.

The collagen is received in refrigerated, pre-filled syringes mixed with lidocaine, a local anesthetic. The material is injected with a very fine needle into the skin of the wrinkles to be treated. The lines or wrinkles that can be effectively treated include the worry lines (Forehead lines), frown lines (Glabellar folds), crow's feet (Periorbital lines), lip border (Vermillion border), smile lines (Nasolabial folds), vertical lip lines (Perioral lines), and marionette lines (Oral commissures).

Collagen injections have an immediate effect on lines and wrinkles. Like your own collagen, however, your body eventually absorbs collagen, so ongoing treatments are necessary. If you discontinue treatments, the new collagen is reabsorbed and your face gradually returns to its natural contour. Collagen treatments last from 3 to 6 months depending on the individual and area treated.

Since a small percentage of patients develop an allergic reaction to injectable collagen (approximately 3%), sensitivity testing is required prior to initiating collagen replacement therapy. Most patients are very pleased with the results of collagen and experience no side effects.