The use of collagen, in the form of a local injection to hide facial wrinkles, is a popular and well-known method for erasing the effects of wrinkles. Although this substance has become known fierce competition in recent times after the widespread use of hyaluronic acid as an alternative material, it still maintains a good position, especially as it represents the most effective solution for people with thin or fragile skin. If you want to know more about collagen and its use in aesthetic medicine, we recommend that you read this article.
Why is collagen used to remove wrinkles?
Collagen is found in the skin and works mainly to maintain its freshness, cohesion and elasticity. This substance also spreads at the level of cartilage, ligaments and tendons that connect the muscles. With age, the body’s reserves of collagen gradually decrease, just as the skin’s softness and elasticity decreases. And by decreasing this substance, the skin knows shrinkage and breakage of the skin that leads to the formation of wrinkles.
So, to counteract the wrinkles that appear in different areas, local injections of collagen are used to replace the original amount that has disappeared. This type of treatment is used to hide superficial and small wrinkles as well as light scars.
Collagen has been extracted from cow skin for many years. However, since 2003, it has been replaced by an analogue, which has properties similar to those of human collagen, and is natural and biodegradable. This article exists on different types that differ in terms of concentration and bifurcation. The more complex this substance is, the longer its effect will last.
How is collagen injected?
First of all, you should know that the collagen injection process must be carried out in specialized clinics, and under the supervision of a plastic surgeon.
The doctor begins with local anesthesia for the area to be injected, especially if it comes to sensitive areas such as the lips and the areas surrounding the mouth. In general, the injection process does not cause any significant pain.
Then he injects collagen, using fine needles, into the wrinkled area until the voids are filled and skin fractures are repaired. In some cases, the doctor may resort to doing successive injections of collagen under the wrinkles.
One session lasts between 20 and 30 minutes. It is recommended to conduct two or three sessions, provided that the interval between two consecutive sessions ranges from two to three weeks. It is also recommended to stay away from exposure to sunlight for 4 weeks.
One serving costs between 15 and 300 euros, and the price varies depending on the dose to be injected. The results obtained depend on the experience and ingenuity of the treating physician, but they are immediate and good in most cases. The effect of the substance lasts from 6 months to a year at most.
Are there any side effects of collagen use?
Collagen injections may know some side effects, but they remain very limited. In some cases, redness and swelling of the skin were observed, but these symptoms disappeared within the two days following the procedure.
The injection of this substance may leave a temporary light mark in people with darker skin. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised to avoid this intervention.
What is meant by autologous collagen?
Autologous collagen means collagen extracted from the body of the treated person. Where the person is anesthetized, and some grease is extracted from the buttocks area, for example, then this grease is ground and discarded to extract collagen, which is later used to hide the wrinkles of the same person.
This method guarantees very positive and distinct results, but the process of extracting collagen from a person’s body is rather difficult, and requires very high sterilization and precautionary measures.
