Collagen Injections
Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that provides support to various parts of the human body: the skin,
the joints, the bones and the ligaments. Injectable collagen, patented by the Collagen Corporation under the trade
names Zyderm and Zyplast, is derived from purified bovine collagen. The purification process creates a product
similar to human collagen. Injectable collagen received approval from the Food and Drug Administration in 1981.
It is produced in various thicknesses to meet individual patient needs.
Collagen is used primarily to fill wrinkles, lines and scars on the face and sometimes the neck, back and chest.
The procedure: Treatment with collagen can begin after a skin test determines that you're not allergic to
the subsstance. The collagen is injected using a fine needle inserted at several points along the edge of the
treatment site. If a local anesthesia has not been used, you may feel some minor stinging or burning as the
injections are administered.
Since part of the substance is salt water that will be absorbed by the body within a few days, your doctor
will slightly overfill the area. You may be asked to hold a hand mirror during the procedure to help your doctor
decide when you've had enough.
After treatment: Immediately following treatment, you may notice some minor discomfort, stinging or throbbing
in the injected area. Occasionally some bruising or swelling will occur, but it is usually minor. Any redness that
appears in the injected site usually disappears within 24 hours. However, in some individuals, particularly fair-skinned
patients, this redness may persist for a week or more. Tiny scabs may also form over the needle-stick areas; these
generally heal quickly.
No bandaging is needed and you are free to eat, drink, and wear makeup with sunblock protection shortly thereafter.
There may be some temporary swelling and redness in the treated area which should dissipate within a few days. If
these symptoms persist, contact your surgeon.
Results: The duration of results from collagen injections is variable. Collagen's longevity depends
on the patient's lifestyle and physical characteristics as well as the part of the body treated. In general, the injected
material is likely to disappear faster in areas that are more affected by muscle movement.
For collagen injections in Beverly Hills California - Contact this Beverly Hills Physician at (310) 967-3050 or email us today.
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