Collagen
What is collagen?Collagen is the most abundant and important protein in the human body, because it plays an essential role in the support and structure of connective tissues and organs such as the skin, the tendons and the bones.There are several types of collagen (currently they are 14), linked to one another through very strong molecular bonds thanks to which this protein is highly tension-resistant. During the ageing process of the skin and the subcutaneous tissue, mostly due to photoaging mechanisms (skin alteration owing to sun rays), collagen fibers (white fibers) may degrade and diminish, and the molecular bonds between them get weaker. Being no longer supported by the excellent mechanical structural function of collagen fibers, the tissues change and lose their three-dimensional structure and compactness. The treatment based on injections of little quantities of this protein allows the cosmetic surgeon and the plastic surgeon to give back their lost shape and support to the tissues. In medicine, collagen is used in the cosmetic field, as well as to make heart valves, for many suture materials and for the preparation of haemostatic substances. How many types of collagen are there?There are two types of injectable collagen: collagen of bovine origin and collagen of human origin.1) Collagen of bovine originCollagen of bovine origin is extracted from the derma of bovines, carefully selected and bred in managed farms.Its use in cosmetic medicine has been known since the middle of 70s and, up to now, more than 2 million collagen phials have been used successfully. Its production is based on advanced and complex processes of bovine skin preparation (solubilization by pepsin, clarification, concentration, purification, filtration, precipitation, homogenization) and reconstitution as an injectable material in sterile syringes. Being slightly different from that of human origin, collagen of bovine origin must be tested through a microinjection to be made a few days before the treatment in order to verify if the patient can tolerate it and that there are no allergic reactions to this product. The commercial name of bovine collagen is Zyderm and Zyplast. 2) Collagen of human originCollagen of human origin, on the other hand, is extracted from human derma and has the advantage of being exactly identical to that found in the skin of the patient and, therefore, it does not need to be tested beforehand to check its tolerability.This type of collagen has been produced only in the last few years and is sold as CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast. The collagen-based skin fillers CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast are sterile medications made up of highly purified human collagen, dissolved in a saline solution with phosphate buffer containing 0.3% of lidocaine. CosmoPlast collagen is formulated with intramolecular reticulation (cross-linking) and is used mainly to correct the deeper wrinkles, whereas CosmoDerm collagen is formulated without cross-linking and is used to correct superficial wrinkles. Which aesthetic imperfections is collagen used for?The treatment with injections of collagen-based filling materials (fillers) is indicated to correct:
How is collagen used in cosmetic medicine?Collagen is injected in very small doses into the areas to be treated by means of a syringe with a very thin needle.Can the treatment be performed in outpatient care?Yes. The injections of collagen are performed outpatiently and the treatment lasts 10-15 minutes.Local anaesthetic is usually not needed, but sometimes an anaesthetic ointment may be used, especially if the treatment is performed on particularly painful areas, such as the lips. Is the cosmetic result permanent?Collagen is not a permanent filler. This means that, once it has been injected, the product is gradually metabolized and thus absorbed by the body within a variable time depending on the area being treated.The effect of filling or volume increase or wrinkle reduction is immediate and last from 2 to 12 months, after which it is possible to repeat the treatment periodically. Does the treatment with collagen cause significant after-effects?No. During the first 24-48 hours after collagen-based treatment, slight flush may appear and the treated area might become slightly puffier than the result wanted. Small bruising may rarely appear in the injection area.However, after a few hours it is possible to cover the treated area with make-up or lipstick. If you wish to take this subject further, we advise you to visit the cosmetic surgery of the lips FAQ page, wrinkle reduction FAQ page and scar reduction FAQ page, where you will find the answers to the most frequent questions asked by the patients. |
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Chirurgia-plastica-estetica.it Prof. Mario Dini Chairman and Director of Plastic Surgery Dept. - University of Florence |
