Collagen Replacement Treatments

So, you looked in the mirror and saw your first facial wrinkle! Welcome to the crowd.

Baby boomers are reaching their 50’s. They are more concerned than ever with maintaining a youthful appearance. And, the number of cosmetic surgery procedures performed continues to soar, growing at a rate of over 20% each year since 1996. Facial wrinkles and creases begin to appear as the underlying collagen and elastin fibers begin to break down and wear out. While this breakdown is part of the natural aging process, it can also result from excessive squinting, frowning, smoking and smiling.

The most frequently performed procedure for filling facial wrinkles and frown lines are collagen treatments.

Collagen Replacement Treatments

Collagen Replacement Treatments have been one of the top ten cosmetic procedures performed in the United States since they were approved by the FDA in 1981. Zyderm® and Zyplast® collagen are natural substances derived from purified bovine (cow) collagen and are used to replace the collagen your skin loses over time. Zyderm and/or Zyplast collagen is placed just beneath your skin where your body accepts it
as its own.

By supplementing your skin’s own collagen with Zyderm and/or Zyplast collagen, we can smooth out wrinkles and most scars. We can also improve the appearance of deeper frown lines and nasal furrows. Collagen injections are a safe, effective, time-tested, non-surgical wrinkle treatment that provides immediate results.

However, collagen injections aren’t for everyone. A very small percentage of patients (fewer than 1%) can be allergic to bovine collagen. If you are considering collagen injections to correct the early signs of aging, you will need to have a simple skin test prior to your treatment.

How are Collagen Replacement Treatments performed?

Collagen Replacement Treatments are sometimes referred to as a lunchtime procedure, and usually take less than twenty minutes of your time. Injections generally take place in a doctor’s office one month after you are tested for an allergic reaction and require no recuperation.

The Zyderm and/or Zyplast collagen is injected through a tiny needle under your skin, beneath the wrinkle, into your own collagen. Several injections may be required, depending on the depth and length of the wrinkle. Because it contains a small amount of lidocaine, patients experience minimal discomfort.

How many treatments will I need?

Dermal defects are typically treated in two or three treatments over a three month period with correction lasting up to two years. Since aging is a continuing process, treatments for age-related wrinkles will be an ongoing process. Most patients come in three to four times a year for touch-ups.

Why choose Collagen Treatments?

• The treatments are non-surgical.
• Zyderm & Zyplast have a natural feel.
• There is no need to harvest tissue from another site on your body.
• Zyderm & Zyplast can be used alone or in conjunction with other facial rejuvenation procedures, such as laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels or facial surgery.

Which areas respond best to Collagen Replacement Treatments?

The ten areas most frequently treated with collagen are: frown lines between the eyes, acne scars, cheek depressions, smoker’s lines around the mouth, Marionette lines at the ends of the mouth, worry lines in the forehead, Crow’s feet at the eyes, deep smile lines, dimples, and facial scars.

What can I expect after my Collagen Treatments?

Following collagen injections, normal activities can be resumed immediately. Discomfort is minimal. The treatment site may have a little swelling, which may last a few hours. There may be some slight bruising which can be covered with make-up. Depending on the area, treatments usually last from three to six months. Allergic reactions are rare, but may consist of prolonged redness, itching, and/or firmness at the injection site.

If you would like to get rid of your wrinkles but aren’t ready for surgery, or if you would like to enhance or prolong the results of a surgery, Collagen Replacement Treatments might be the answer.

This information is intended to supplement, not replace, a consultation with a board certified physician. To find out if you could be a candidate for one of these procedures or to learn more information about these procedures, we invite you to contact one of our doctors for a private consultation.

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