Collagen injection – cellulite treatment surgery for beauty enhancement

Cellulite Filler Plastic surgery collagen injections

Collagen Injections

Collagen Injections - Introduction

Collagen injections and fillers have made a name in cosmetic plastic surgery. To some extent, collagen injections are anti-aging solutions, they can reduce the creases, wrinkles scars and age lines to a great extent. As fillers, collagen injections have been used to enhance the beauty of lips and buttocks. Collagen gives softer look to the treated skin. Researchers and physicians have been striving to find a substance that can incorporate itself into the patient’s tissues, be given in a simple procedure, avoid complications, and last indefinitely. Collagen injection seems to fulfill most of these needs. This is one of the best anti-aging products in recent times.

Collagen Injections – The Beginning

First approved for human use in 1982, bovine collagen (cow collagen) is the most commonly used filler in cosmetic procedures. Actually, it is the standard for all collagen injections to be compared to. And with the strict screening of the bovine collagen injections, they are considered as safe as if it were taken from the patient’s own body. In some cases, however, a patient may be allergic to the collagen injections—this would of course be detected in a pre-procedure allergy test.

Collagen And Other Fillers

Other fillers include those that are biodegradable: Zyplast/Zyderm, Resoplast, Autologen, Isologen, AlloDerm, human placental collagen, Dermalogen, Hylaform gel, Restylane, and (in the future) recombinant human collagen. There are also nonbiodegradable fillers: silicone (which is illegal in the United States), Artecoll, SoftForm, Gore-Tex, Profill, and Endoplast-50.

Bovine collagen injections are found under the names Zyderm I and II, Resoplst, and Zyplast. Human collagen injections are named Dermalogen, AlloDerm, Cymetra, Fascian and Autologen. Human recombinant collagen will be found under the name Isolagen.

Collagen Injections – Who are they for?

The best candidates for collagen injections are those with superficial scars or early aging wrinkles. Those with deeper and more complicated scarring may need to have more involved cosmetic procedures. Collagen injections are also helpful in lip augmentations—plumping the contours of the lips. Patients need to be in good health and not suffer from allergic reactions to collagen. Those that are in a good mental state to have the collagen injections are considered the best candidates. Those that have realistic expectations will fare the best from collagen injections.

Collagen Injections – Procedure

Collagen injections can be used for many procedures. As a filler, collagen injections can be used to fill defects that may have caused an indentation in the skin’s surface. By injecting the collagen into the area, the skin raises to its original level, reducing the appearance of the defect. Of course, this only works with superficial scarring—acne, for example. Deeper scarring may need to have implants placed underneath them or fat injections can also be used.

Collagen injections are injected with small needles into the area that needs to be filled. Some physicians will apply lidocaine or another topical anesthetic to help numb the area to be injected. Side effects can include swelling and bruising from the injections, but most patients find that the procedure is relatively painless and does not require time off work or abstinence from normal activities. This is highly dependent on the patient’s particular case, so it is best to follow the physician’s specific instructions prior to and following a collagen injections procedure.

Collagen Injections – Risks

As with any procedure, there are risks that come along with having collagen injections. Aside from the post-procedure effects, patients can also experience asymmetry, infection, and nerve damage. These are rare effects from collagen injections when the technician or physician is properly trained. Reactions to the anesthetic or the collagen are rare, but can also occur. The physician should discuss the possibility of these side effects prior to giving the collagen injections.

Collagen Injections – Recovery Period

Collagen injections can be repeated for the full effect and the results can last anywhere from six to nine months, depending on the patient. The body naturally reabsorbs the collagen over time and thus the effects are not permanent. But researchers are hopeful that they will find something that is longer lasting.

And lastly, a concern that has been attributed to collagen injections—of the bovine variety—is the possibility of mad cow disease. This is not a concern that patients should worry about as great care is taken to separate the cows that will provide the collagen from those used for food.