Collagen Injection Treatments
A popular filler used in medi-spas are collagen based. Collagen is a substance created naturally by your own skin, but diminishes in production as you age.
Collagen is injected, beneath each wrinkle, to fill the lines in your face and plump up the area to give you a more youthful look. On a “how bad does it hurt” scale, it is no worse than an injection of any other dermal filler although some areas of your face will be more sensitive than others.
The nice part about dermal fillers of any sort is once the swelling of the injection point has subsided you have immediate results that could last up to 18 months.
It is important to ask your doctor which type of collagen will be used. Although not all are popular in Canada, make a point of knowing which you are being injected with.
- Bovine collagen is extracted from cow skin. The collagen is then purified, sterilized, and processed into a usable liquid substance.
- Autologen collagen is extracted from your own skin during a previous operation (such as a tummy tuck), then processed into a useable liquid substance.
- Isolagen collagen is similar to Autologen as it is made by cloning collagen that has been collected from your own skin.
- Finally, Dermalogen is extracted from human cadaver skin. It is then sterilized, purified, and processed into a usable liquid substance.
No doubt you want to know more about these four collagens, so here’s the skinny, the way I best understand it.
Description of Various Collagen Treatments
Bovine collagen injections will last only 6-12 weeks. Short effect times (given synthetic fillers and new technology), and possible side effects such as allergic reactions or connective tissue disorders, make this a less than desirable option.
Autologen on the other hand is harvested from your own skin, processed in a lab and stored up to five years. Standard practice is to give you 2-4 injections every 1-3 months. Although some doctors have been quoted as saying that Autologen is permanent I haven’t found any research studies to prove it yet.
Isolagen may be a good alternative for you if you’re not planning on having a tummy tuck or other cosmetic surgery. Your natural collagen is harvested from a tiny piece of skin from behind your ear. The lab then processes and clones the collagen which is returned to your doctor for injection within a few weeks.
Finally, I suppose I should be objective about Dermalogen, but I find it difficult. Even though the collagen is harveted is sterlized and processed I personally have a hard time considering this as an option for a cosmetic practice. I suppose I would feel different if it was a life saving operation. And, ultimately, it is your skin care, your decision.
As for prices for these various injections, they generally fall into this order: bovine, demalogen, autologen and isolagen.
