Collagen is a fat-injectable filler. Also called soft-tissue augmentation, collagen injection is a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure used to correct wrinkles, scarring and depressions in the skin, according to the University of Virginia Health System. When collagen is used for wrinkles, it is injected into target wrinkles with a needle and syringe and is considered an implant procedure, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMM). Collagen is injected into wrinkles around the eyes and mouth to give the skin a smoother appearance. Repeat treatments are required 3 to 12 months later to maintain results.
Function
The function of collagen when treating wrinkles is to plump and smooth out skin. The aging process causes a loss in collagen and hyaluronic acid, and elastin fibers start to deteriorate. Collagen injections help minimize these effects of aging by giving a more youthful look to patients' skin, according to American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
Types
Collagen is the protein that forms structures in the body like skin, cartilage and bone. There are two types of collagen used when treating wrinkles. The most common type of collagen used is bovine (cow) collagen, according to UMM. Another type of collagen is a form of human collagen, which is typically used to treat deep creases of the brow or cheek folds, according to the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine.
Benefits
According to UMM, collagen filler procedures are very simple and have a faster recovery than other filler procedures. Collagen temporarily plumps and smooths out skin, lessening the appearance of wrinkles. If the human-derived collagen is used, it does not require an allergy test, as does like bovine collagen, according to the AAD. Collagen-injectable procedures take only 5 to 15 minutes to perform, and patients see results immediately.
Drawbacks
Collagen injections are not permanent and repeated treatments are performed every two to four months to sustain the desired results, according to the USCD School of Medicine. Insurance does not usually cover the cost of collagen injections, and repeat treatments may become costly over a period of time. Allergy testing must be done a month prior to having collagen injected into skin.
Side Effects
Collagen injections for wrinkles do have a few side effects, such as mild irritation at the injection site and some swelling that normally subsides within an hour or two.
Warning
Collagen injections may cause an allergic reaction in some people. To avoid this possible complication, skin tests are performed before the treatment to see if the patient is allergic to collagen, according to the University of Virginia Health System.
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