Collagen Injections for Facial Rejuvenation
Washington, D.C.
Collagen injections have been widely used for cosmetic applications since the first one was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1982. Often used for the filling of acne and other facial scars, collagen injections are also used for facial rejuvenation as a wrinkle filler, or for lip augmentation. Although new facial fillers have been developed, many people still prefer this material, and for some applications it is, frankly, still the best in some ways.
If you are interested in collagen injections to correct facial scarring, achieve fuller lips, or restore your youthful appearance, please schedule a dermal filler consultation at the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery today.
What Is Collagen?
Collagen is a natural protein that gives your skin many of its structural properties. Along with the protein elastin it is responsible for the youthful fullness and elasticity of your skin. As we age, the amount of collagen in the skin decreases, and the collagen that remains often has a degraded structure, contributing to the degradation of skin quality. Many skin treatments, such as chemical peels and Fraxel skin resurfacing are aimed at stimulating the body's production of collagen.
Collagen Injections
Collagen injections are used as fillers to replace volume lost in the face due to injury, scarring, or aging. They can also be used to supplement volume in areas where a patient feels a lack, most commonly the lips. At the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery, we offer five different types of collagen injections:
Zyderm and Zyplast are derived from bovine collagen. They were the first forms of collagen injections approved for medical and cosmetic use as soft tissue fillers. These fillers are derived from a purified form of bovine collagen taken from a USDA-certified and carefully monitored closed herd of cattle. The resulting formulation is a smooth injectable gel that includes a small amount of lidocaine, a local anesthetic. Because the possibility of allergic reaction exists, potential patients must undergo skin tests 4 weeks prior to receiving injections of bovine collagen.
Cosmoderm and Cosmoplast are derived from human collagen. It has properties similar to those of bovine collagen and includes lidocaine, but requires no allergy testing before treatment, so injections can be performed the same day.
Evolence is derived from porcine collagen. It includes lidocaine and does not require an allergy test before treatment. Studies have shown cosmetic improvements can last as long as hyaluronic acid treatments and may cause less bruising after treatment.
Uses for Collagen Injections
Collagen injections can be used for:
- Lip augmentation
- Filling depressed scars, including acne scars
- Correcting wrinkles and folds, including nasolabial folds (lines around the nose and mouth, sometimes described as "parenthesis lines").
Zyderm remains the standard against which all other fillers are compared. It gives excellent results in all these applications. Collagen injections all give natural results with a minimum of discomfort and swelling, thanks to the blend of lidocaine. Many people who have used collagen injections stay with them because of the good results. We find that collagen injections give the most natural results for lip augmentation, except for Evolence, which is not recommended for lip volumizing. The results for collagen injections last about as long as for hyaluronic acid-based fillers, 4-6 months or more.
If you would like to see for yourself the results that allowed collagen injections to change forever the practice of cosmetic medicine, please schedule a facial rejuvenation consultation at the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery today.
