Collagen is a natural substance produced in the human body that helps to form connective tissue. It also provides hydration and strength for the skin. Collagen is made in less quantity as we age. This reduction results in skin losing its elasticity, softness and tightness. Typical effects include sagging skin, wrinkles on flat plains of the face, as well as deep creases on the forehead and the neck. Both collagen and fat harvested from your own body can be used to plump up these areas that are sagging and creased. Collagen can also be used to plump up thin lips, a personal favorite of many celebrities as you no doubt have noticed!

Collagen is made using collagen harvested from animals, so there is a slight chance that your body may react to it. Also, collagen enhancements are not permanent. You will need to have repeat injections later on to maintain the look that you want. Besides collagen, other materials such as Alloderm and Goretex can be used to create the desired look without any cutting or major surgery. Recovery time is slight and the procedure is much less expensive than traditional surgery. No general anesthesia or operating room is involved. In fact, you can be in and out of most procedures in under an hour.

Side effects from collagen enhancements are rare, but there is always a chance they can occur. Side effects include bruising, swelling and allergic reactions. Some people also have allergic reactions to the local anesthetic used to numb the site. As the materials used are foreign to your body, you should discuss any medications you are taking and things you are allergic to with your plastic surgeon. To avoid reactions, of course, you can always choose to have the material drawn from your own body. Hips and buttocks are the most typical harvesting areas.

With collagen, there is a temptation to shop by price. Don’t do it! We are talking about modifications to your face. It is strongly suggested that you use a board certified plastic surgeon that can show you before and after pictures of his or her previous patients. This will allow you to understand the possible results and get the best care.

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.

The average person opting for Sculptra treatments will have 2 to 3 treatments spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. Once your first treatment is underway you will see noticable improvement in facial wrinkles and hollow zones of your skin. In a few days time however the water that is contained in the injection will be absorbed by your body and it will seem that your wrinkles will reappear. Don’t worry this is the natural process.

One of my favorite transformations - see www.Sculptra.ca for more!

After the initial injection your own skin’s collagen production is stimulated so even though it may appear that the wrinkes returned you will begin to see daily improvement over the course of the next few weeks. On the fourth week you should re-visit with your doctor or medi-spa for assessment. Take note that the best doctors in the field of skin care treatments with Sculptra are used to seeing excited patients at the 4 week mark.

Many women opt for an all-over Sculptra application but you might decide with the doctor’s consultation to just treat specific areas of your face such as your temples, eye rings, cheeks, nasiolabial folds, your marionette lines or your chin. In effect it is all about where you’re seeing the strongest effects of aging and how you would like your face to look after your treatments. You can, in effect, re-sculpt your entire look with a skilled practioner.

After your first and subsequent treatments you’ll need to do a little at home follow up. You only need to massage each treated section of your face 5 minutes, 5 times a day. Do this for 5 days and you’ll have a nice even distribution of the product under your skin which eventually leads to a more natural-looking end result. That’s all – no more special care is needed and in most cases you can start wearing makeup again within the same day (consult with your doctor though on each visit).

How much are you paying for the treatment? On average, Sculptra treatments range from $2,000 per treatment for one area of the face, to $5,000 per treatment for an all-over procedure.

That time frame makes Sculptra one of the most desirable skin care treatments. No more running into the clinic or spa for repeat injections of Botox, Restalyne or other dermal fillers every 3-6 months (although to be clear some fillers can last up to a year and a half on some people in some areas of the face).

Sculptra is most often recommended to men and women who are looking stressed, tired and starting to sag at the jowls or show a sunken look under the eyes and on the sides of the face. Treatments are non-invasive and has no known side effects. As this is a relatively newly released technology, it is important to note that the materials used in Sculptra treatments are not new to the field. In fact the substance has been used in the medical profession for over thirty years.

How Does Sculptra Work?

Sculptra is a filler, yes, but your transformation won’t be overnight. In fact the materials used stimulates your own production of collagen so you could be noticing improvements up to 3-4 months after your previous treatment. Your skin will literally tighten and smooth out after each session.

Although Sculptra promotes natural collagen production, it is a synthetic (poly-L-lactic acid derived from alpha-hydroxy fruit acids which is found in many over the counter skin care products). You might also like to know that this procedure has been in use for over 10 years now, in over 30 countries.

So, What’s It Like to Have Done?

On a pain factor of 1 to 10, with ten being the highest, Sculptra injections have been rated on average on the 2-3 scale (just uncomfortable). Your doctor should give you a topical and numbing medication as the materials is injected by a needle.

As stated above, the average session takes less than half an hour and most people only need 3-5 sessions to restore them to their former glory.