Collagen injections are the mainstay for many a people across the globe to improve their looks. Minor face deformities including scars, lines and wrinkles are treated with the help of collagen injections. These injections are also used on other body parts that require a correction in the skin. Chest back and neck are the other areas where collagen injections play a vital role in terms of getting a good skin texture that one can show off and boast.
What is Collagen?
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Before actually getting these collagen injections you have every right to know what exactly collagen is and what role it has to play in the body.
Collagen is a protein that is abundantly found in the body and is responsible for the way one’s skin is going to look. With age and some unfavorable environmental factors this collagen breaks down and leads to skin deformities (minor and major both).
Why Collagen Injections?
With age collagen breaks down and since it forms almost 80% of the skin the loss is visible on the skin. To cover this loss and help the skin regain its lost form and suppleness collagen injections are employed. Collagen creams and proteins that make the loss of collagen good are available in the market however the effects are quite slow and not really guaranteed.
Collagen injections show their effect on the skin of an individual the moment collagen is induced into the underlying skin cells. This is one of the biggest reasons why people especially those who want to look good or are in the business where glamour is primary need to have these injections. People who have lost the beauty of their skin to scars, acne and gaunt cheeks find solace after the use of collagen injections.
Types of Collagen Injectables
There are various kinds of collagen injections available that can be used based on the choice of your plastic surgeon or your personal preference.
- Cosmoderm and Cosmoplast collagen injectable formulas are derived from human sources.
- Zyderm and Zyplast are derived from bovine and is purified before actually injecting into human beings.
- Purified collagen obtained from pigs is called Evolence.
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Take care before actually having these collagen injections since one needs to undergo an allergy test before injecting these injections.
Hybrid varieties of collagen injections are there in the market which is really making their mark felt. Artefill is one such hybrid that is a mixture of bovine collagen and homogeneous polymethylmethacrylate microspheres. The tiny plastic particles when in the skin make sure that collagen production is increased and the skin gets a desired look.
Autologen is the collagen collected from your body which can be preserved for almost five years in liquid form. It is as simple as getting a tummy tuck, extracting the collagen from the skin that is removed from there and using it later on for the face or any other body part that needs the uplift.
Isolagen another form of collagen is collected from your own body. The best thing about collagen extracted from your body is that it does not need an allergy test.
The Cost Factor
The cost of collagen injections will depend upon the expertise and pricing of your cosmetic surgeon. Since these injections need to be taken under medical supervision there is always a risk of getting into wrong hands if someone offers you a price that is quite lower than the market price.
One difference that will be evident is that bovine/ porcine- based injections will cost less as compared to human based collagen injections. According to a statistical report released in 2013 the average cost of collagen injections that are porcine/bovine based will be somewhere around $467. Human based collagen injections may cost an upward of $550.
Ultimately it is your plastic surgeon who will be able to give you an exact costing of the injections cost.
Risks and Side effects of Collagen Injections
No doubt, injectable collagen wrinkle fillers do have their benefits, but they come with some risks and side effects as well.
- Allergic reactions: Redness, swelling, bruising and itching can occur around the treated area. This may either be caused due to allergic reaction towards the filler or the anesthesia. Your doctor will most probably test you for allergy towards the prescribed filler (all types of fillers are not suitable for just everyone). Stull there may be chances that on maybe develop mild to severe reaction.
- Bacterial Infection: The probability is less but bacterial infections are common to all the surgical or non-surgical medical treatments.
- Uneven/Bumpy skin tone: There are chances that the skin tone and smoothness is not maintained with a specific area receiving the filler and adjoining area not. In addition as the skin stretches to dissolve the wrinkles the skin under the folds comes to the fore and the skin may not match this tone with the adjoining areas.
In Addition; there are two factors which put many people off the collagen injections as a remedy for wrinkles. These are: Longevity of their effect + Cost.
Most collagen fillers are a temporary solution to wrinkles as the injected collagen is absorbed in the skin, skin starts to regain its former wrinkly surface. There are injections whose effect last for three months to at the most a year. Couple this with the cost of each injection/treatment the collagen filler remedy does not remain a preferred choice of just about everyone. This has led to the emerging prominence of collagen cream. These creams serve the dual purpose of regular skincare and anti-wrinkle treatment. The creams though less effective than the injections work by keeping the skin naturally healthy and maintaining the collagen levels within the skin.
Conclusion:
The collagen injections/ fillers do seem to do their job of treating the wrinkles but they come with riders as well. The basic fundamental o how the creams or injections work remains the same but if you are looking for a quick solution then collagen injections are the way to go. However make sure you consult your family doctor as well while choosing the right filler for you.