Collagen Replacement Therapy
ollagen is a naturally occurring protein in the skin. It
forms a network of fibers that provides a framework for the growth of cells and blood
vessels. In addition, collagen acts as the support structure for the skin.
In young skin, the collagen framework is intact, and the skin remains moisturized and elastic. It's resilient to the many facial expressions we wear, as well as to everyday wear and tear. But over time, the support structure weakens, and the skin loses its elasticity. Collagen creams work only on the skin's surface. A moisturizer (with or without collagen) cannot penetrate the skin and is not designed to be absorbed.
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| Some candidates for collagen replacement therapy are frown lines (left), "marionette lines" (center), and deep smile lines (right). | ||
Collagen replacement therapy is a non-surgical treatment in which purified bovine (cow) collagen is injected beneath the skin on a maintenance schedule. It is intended to provide a immediate, visible difference in the face by replenishing the skin's natural collagen. The natural appearance of the skin is enhanced as the contour of the support structure is restored. Just like natural collagen, however, the injected collagen will eventually begin to lose its form and wear down, requiring a series of treatments to achieve and maintain full correction.
Before undergoing collagen replacement therapy, the patient must have a simple skin test in the forearm to determine if they are sensitive to the collagen injections. If there is no adverse reaction to the skin test after four weeks, the individual can be treated. (Ninety-seven percent of men and women show no adverse reaction to the skin test.)
Other Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgeries:
|Abdominoplasty|
|Blepharoplasty|
|Breast Augmentation|
|Breast Lift|
|Breast Reduction|
|Breast Reconstruction|
|Collagen Replacement Therapy|
|Dermabrasion/Dermaplaning|
|Facelift|
|Forehead Lift|
|Otoplasty|
|Liposuction|
|Rhinoplasty|
|Scar Revision|
|Skin Cancer|
|Spider Veins|