Is Collagen Injection Good For Skin? When seeking healthy, glowing skin, collagen injections are among the last things you want to consider. Injectable fillers are generally associated with puffiness and scarring, whereas collagen has been demonstrated to help aged skin look vibrant and youthful. However, this does not rule out collagen injections as a potential treatment. If one of these injections is done correctly (under the supervision of a qualified dermatologist or plastic surgeon), the effects can be spectacular.
Injections of collagen enhance the skin’s smoothness, hydration, elasticity, and firmness. The result is less visible aging signs like lines and wrinkles. Injecting filler into the face and lips is a frequent cosmetic technique that helps the skin look smoother, fuller, and younger.
Introduction to Collagen Injection Therapy Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that can be found all over the human body. Wrinkles and folds can be filled in and made to look more natural with collagen injections. Experts agree that collagen injections are the best way to get younger looking skin.Read on to learn more on collagen injection benefits and collagen injection side effects.
Is Collagen Injection Good For Skin
Collagen is a protein found in the connective tissue of the dermis, the lower layer of skin. In the early 1980s, collagen injections were the first FDA-approved facial filler for facial augmentation and to give skin a more youthful appearance.
Today, some doctors still use collagen fillers to target crow’s feet and other fine lines around the eyes, smooth smile lines (nasolabial folds) and frown lines, fill in atrophic acne scars, and plump thin lips. It can also improve skin’s elasticity and overall texture.
When hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers like Juvéderm and Restylane arrived on the scene, collagen injections had some stiff competition. But the treatment still gets a high Worth It Rating from RealSelf members.
Your dermatologist may use one of these brands:
- Bovine-derived collagen fillers include BellaFill, Zyplast, and Zyderm
- Human-derived collagen Cosmoplast and Cosmoderm
- Porcine-derived collagen: Evolence (now defunct) and TheraFill
Some providers prefer bovine collagen (derived from cows) or porcine collagen (from pigs), because the body absorbs it more slowly than human collagen. BellaFill, which is made with a combination of synthetic microspheres and bovine ingredients, offers the longest-lasting results.
Some collagen fillers contain an anesthetic, like lidocaine, mixed into the formula for added comfort.
What are the pros and cons of collagen injections?
Pros
- Collagen injections are clinically proven to fill wrinkles, lines, and scars. They’re especially effective at treating pitted acne scars.
- This is a relatively quick, in-office cosmetic procedure.
- There’s no downtime, so you’ll be ready to return to normal activities immediately after your treatment.
- Collagen fillers like Bellafill last up to five years, making it the longest-lasting temporary dermal filler available.
Cons
- Most collagen injection products are derived from animals. While new methods of purifying and processing animal collagens have made them safer, allergic reactions can still happen. Be upfront with your doctor about your health history and consider doing an allergy test for bovine (beef) and lidocaine allergies prior to your treatment.
- Side effects can include stinging, throbbing, bruising, burning, and irritation at the injection site, though this usually resolves within an hour or two of treatment.
- More serious risks include infection, permanent lumps, irregularities, and, rarely, a wound or blockage if the injection punctures a blood vessel. Newer hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers have fewer associated risks.
- While they’re typically longer-lasting than HA fillers, results can diminish as soon as one month after treatment, depending on how quickly your body metabolizes the collagen.
- Like other temporary dermal fillers, it won’t deliver the same dramatic results in treating deep folds and wrinkles as a facial plastic surgery procedure, like a facelift).
What are the best alternatives to collagen injections?
Topical collagen creams or gels won’t give you the same results as an injectable filler. They work only on the outermost layer of skin, and while they can help keep skin supple, they can’t replicate the effects of injected collagen.
You may want to consider these alternative dermal fillers.
- Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers: HA is naturally found in your body, and its main function is to keep skin, eyes, and tissue lubricated. An HA filler replenishes existing moisture levels and adds volume by filling in the space between collagen and elastin fibers in your skin while attracting and binding additional moisture. HA fillers include Juvéderm, Restylane, Perlane, Prevelle, Elevess, Belotero. Results vary, but they can last from six months to two years.
- Radiesse: FDA-approved for deep facial wrinkles and hand enhancement, this semipermanent filler adds volume and stimulates your body’s collagen production, so it lasts much longer in terms of erasing lines and improving texture. Expect results to last up to 18 months.
- Facial fat transfer: You can fill wrinkles and plump lips with fat from other parts of your body, such as your butt, thighs, or abdomen. There’s low risk for allergic reaction, and the procedure is relatively quick: Dr. Mark G. Albert, a New York plastic surgeon, says “I do it in less than an hour in my office, under local anesthesia only. There is minimal pain and minimal swelling. Usually 50–60% of fat survives, and that fat stays with you indefinitely.” The downside? The fat has to be harvested first, via liposuction (a surgical procedure), so facial fat transfer is much more expensive than fillers.
- Sculptra (Poly-L-lactic acid): This synthetic polymer was developed from dissolvable stitches and bone screws, so you know it’s serious business. It works by stimulating the body’s own collagen to plump skin and improve texture. The process is gradual—you’ll have three treatments over the course of three to four months—and results can last up to two years.
While they’re not fillers, prescription retinoids, like Retin-A, are clinically proven to protect your skin from aging and slowly boost collagen.
Collagen Injection Side Effects
This is when collagen injections or fillers can come into play. They replenish your skin’s natural collagen. In addition to smoothing out wrinkles, collagen can fill out skin depressions and even significantly reduce the appearance of scars.
This article will explore the benefits (and side effects) of collagen injections, and how they compare to other cosmetic skin procedures. Keep reading to find out what you need to know before you p
en injections?
vine (cow) collagen — under your skin.
Possible benefits include the following
:
They can replace your skin’s natural collagen
Collagen injections are a way to replenish the natural decline of collagen production that occurs with age.
The skin looks younger as a result, since collagen is responsible for its suppleness.
One study followed 123 participants who had human collagen injected into the creases of their foreheads for 12 months. Ninety-two point two percent of respondents said they were happy with their outcomes.
Wrinkles in other localized areas of the face can also be diminished using collagen injections.
creases around the eyes and nose
mouth (frown lines) (frown lines)
forehead
Scars can be minimized with their help.
Collagen and other soft-tissue fillers are great for lifting depressed (sunken) or hollow scars.
The scar depression is treated by injecting bovine collagen under the scar to promote collagen formation and smooth out the skin.
Lips can be augmented with them.
Lips that lack fullness or volume can be enhanced using collagen fillers.
Former frontrunners in lip enhancement, hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers have since eclipsed them in popularity.
HA is a chemical found naturally in the body that works to maintain a supple and hydrated skin barrier. It has the same plumping effect as collagen and can also be used to eliminate the vertical lines above the lips (nasolabial folds).
However, HA is not permanent and is gradually broken down by the body, unlike collagen.
Comparing Bellafill and Sculptra
In the United States, Bellafill is your only option for collagen filler. It’s also the only filler that the FDA has specifically cleared for use on scars.
Bovine collagen and microspheres composed of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) are its main components. Lidocaine, a topical anesthetic, is also incorporated into the formula for added pain relief.
PMMA microspheres are implanted and then used by the body to form a scaffold for collagen growth.
The Aesthetic Sculptra
A collagen filler, Sculptra Aesthetic is not. Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is the primary component of this collagen stimulant.
After being absorbed, the PLLA microparticles collaborate with your body to increase collagen production. With time, your skin will look younger thanks to the collagen that was restored.
Injections are required three times over a period of three to four months. However, it’s not the same for everyone. For instance, the number of sessions needed to restore collagen loss in the body varies.
The synthetic material from the PLLA in Sculptra Aesthetic lasts for up to 2 years.
Where exactly can you inject collagen?
Injectable collagen has many uses.
They can add fullness to, in addition to smoothing out, the following facial features:
Face, Cheek, and Lip Acne Scars and Stretch Marks
When it comes to the latter, collagen is actually quite relevant.
Marks on the skin from rapid expansion or contraction are known as stretch marks. Pregnancy, growth spurts, rapid weight gain or reduction, and weight training are just few of the potential causes.
When this happens, collagen fibers in the skin break, resulting in discolored, irregular scars.
Collagen injections into stretch marks help the skin to recover and improve its appearance.
Injections of collagen for breast enlargement
Collagen injections for breast augmentation lack sufficient long-term evidence. The use of fillers to augment breast size is also not something the FDA has sanctioned.
What do you think?
When injected, collagen lasts for how long?
Although results from collagen injections are said to last up to 5 years, they are still considered permanent. In contrast, the effects of HA fillers are short-lived, at most 3 to 6 months.
The more you have, the longer it might last.
The more collagen injections you get, the longer your results may endure.
The favorable effects of an injection were found to last for roughly 9 months in this 2005 trial, for another 12 months after a second injection, and for another 18 months after a third injection.
Results may be affected by factors such as location.
The duration of the effects can also be predicted by other variables, such as the injection site and the material utilized. Some instances are listed below.
You may need to go in for touchups multiple times a year if you want to keep your face wrinkle-free.
Depending on the severity of the scar, yearly trips to have it reduced may be limited to only one or two times.
Every three months is ideal for getting your lips enhanced.
Collagen injections provide almost instantaneous benefits, while the full effects may not be seen for a week or more.
Those seeking more youthful, glowing skin after visiting a dermatologist or plastic surgeon will find this to be a significant benefit.
Can you tell me about the risks associated with collagen injections?
Serious responses to collagen injections are uncommon because a skin test is performed by a medical professional and closely monitored for a week beforehand.
If you have any kind of allergy, it’s crucial that you undergo a skin test before utilizing bovine collagen.
However, potential adverse effects exist, as they do with any cosmetic procedure. Among these are:
skin flushing
swelling, bleeding, and bruising, infection at the injection site, skin rash with itching and maybe scarring lumps, and a cut on the face if the injection penetrates too deeply into a blood artery are all potential side effects of getting an injection (a rare side effect)
injection near the eyes can cause blindness (also rare)
You could also end up dissatisfied with the results from your dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
It could be beneficial to ask a lot of questions in advance and bring in a picture of what you want the end outcome to look like.
Is there anything else that can be done by a dermatologist to help with things like wrinkles and scars?
Products containing collagen
Supplemental collagen and peptides have been shown to improve skin’s suppleness and moisture, two factors that contribute to the aging process.
Taking a collagen supplement containing 2.5 grams of collagen once a day for 8 weeks has shown promising results in studies.
The speed with which results manifest is the most striking contrast between collagen supplements and injections.
Injections have instant effects, but collagen supplements are more slow-acting.
Body fat injections
In microlipoinjection, also known as fat injection, excess fat is removed from one part of the body and reinjected into another.
A lot of people use it to make their:
worn-out digits
scars caused by UV damage
When compared to collagen, the use of a patient’s own fat reduces the potential for allergic reactions.
Fillers for the face
Although Botox has gained widespread acceptance, it is not the only anti-aging treatment available.
In the present day, HA-containing dermal fillers are very popular in the USA.
Although their effects wear off more quickly than those of collagen injections, they are preferred because of their lower risk.
Hydrolyzed collagen, collagen peptides, and other collagen supplements are often derived from cattle, hog, or fish skin and bones. The many purported health benefits of these supplements are not backed up by a sufficient number of studies. None of these supplements have been proven effective by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Some experts suggest that the hydrolyzed form of collagen in the supplements is more absorbed than the collagen present in the food, despite the fact that collagen may be obtained via dietary sources such bone broth and chicken. Powders, capsules, and pills are just some of the supplement types available. Essential amino acids for skin, hair, joints, and bones are found in them. The supplements’ efficacy may change based on the specific types of collagen they include. Collagen supplements have many positive effects on health in general, including:
Having good skin
Hair and nail health
Enhancement of Muscle Mass
Reduced bone loss and improved bone health
Joint health
Improved heart health
Managing Your Weight
improved microbiome
Is it safe to take collagen supplements?
The evidence for the safety and effectiveness of collagen supplements is scant. Furthermore, none of these supplements have been proven effective by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Heavy elements including mercury and titanium may have tainted these supplements, according to experts.
Most persons taking collagen supplements report no negative reactions. Minor adverse effects, including:
Skin rashes
Mild diarrhea
Sensation of heaviness or fullness in the stomach
Do vegetarians and vegans have access to collagen?
Phytonutrients, found in plants, are a group of nutrients that may aid collagen production. Vegetarians and vegans don’t need to worry about taking collagen supplements, according to research. Using genetically modified bacteria and yeast, scientists have created vegan collagen. These foods are alternatives to vegan collagen if you can’t find any.
Tofu, soy milk, and other soy-based foods and drinks
Vegetables and beans with green leaves
Sweet peppers
Tomatoes
Black tea
Garlic
Avocados
Chinese knotweed, horsetail, and ashwagandha are examples of such herbs.
Collagen Injection Benefits
Collagen injections improve skin texture, hydration, elasticity, and firmness. The end resu
wrinkles and seem younger overall. Injecting filler into the face and lips is a frequent cosmetic technique that helps the skin look smoother, fuller, and younger.
Injectable collagen helps restore the skin’s normal collagen levels. As the shape of the underlying structure is repaired, your skin’s natural beauty is brought out in full force.
The body’s “glue,” collagen is a long-chain protein that helps hold everything together. Collagen is naturally produced by the body and is sufficient for all bodily functions. This includes healthy bones, hair, muscles, nails, and skin.
Nearly 80% of the protein in skin is collagen, which comes in many different forms to fortify the body’s tissues, bones, and organs. It makes possible pliable joints and silky skin. It benefits the entire body.
Reduced collagen production is a common consequence of aging. The breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin accelerates as a result of UV damage. Wrinkles, drooping skin, and thin lips are some of the first indicators of aging and emotional discomfort.
By replenishing depleted stores, collagen injections can promote new collagen formation, slow the aging process, and generally make you seem younger.
MIRACLE ANTI-AGING TREATMENT: INJECTABLE COLLAGEN
Injectable collagen can enhance the skin’s suppleness, firmness, elasticity, and smoothness. The result is less visible aging signs like lines and wrinkles.
Injecting filler into the face and lips is a frequent cosmetic technique that helps the skin look smoother, fuller, and younger. Acne, hollow cheeks, scars, wrinkles, and other skin flaws can all benefit from collagen injections.
The injection of collagen into the dermal layer of the skin has the effect of making the skin more even and smooth. Collagen injections are a less intrusive, less expensive, and less time-consuming alternative to facelifts and other invasive surgical procedures.
Collagen-based fillers can lose their efficacy after three to six months, so touch-ups may be necessary.
After obtaining collagen injections, most patients do not experience serious adverse reactions. Allergy testing is necessary prior to treatment with nonbiodegradable fillers. Hypersensitivity reactions are unusual. It is generally agreed that soft tissue fillers are both safe and effective.
Collagen supplements like Zyderm and Zyplast, sourced from cows, can restore the natural elasticity of your skin. When collagen implants like Zyderm and Zyplast are inserted into the dermis, they are quickly and easily absorbed by the body.
Unlike Zyderm and Zyplast, which call for a skin test before the first treatment, bioengineered human collagen products like CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast can be used immediately.
Only a medical professional should inject collagen into your skin.
Supplemental Injectable Materials
Artecoll is a man-made substitute for natural collagen. Synthetic materials carry a larger risk of allergic reaction than natural alternatives like collagen or fat, but they endure far longer.
The collagen used in an autologen injection comes from another part of the patient’s body. There is no danger of an allergic reaction, but the effects won’t last.
Dermalogen is collagen taken from the bodies of cadaver donors. Although this is also a short-term solution, your body should accept it.
Fascia injections utilize a specific kind of connective tissue taken either from the patient themselves or from a human donor who has passed away. It can be inserted surgically or administered intravenously. The primary problem is that your body will reabsorb the fascia and put you back to square one within a year of the injection.
You can also inject your own body fat, typically from the abdomen or thighs. You won’t have to worry about an allergic reaction, and the effects can last forever. This is also a surgical implant option.
HylaForm is a product developed from hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring component in the human body. There is no danger of infection, but you will need to keep getting treatments in order to keep the result.
Restylane, like hyaluronic acid, is a transparent gel. The injection will only be a short-term solution because your body will absorb it in around six months.
When I have collagen injections or other fillers, what should I expect?
An injection of local anesthetic will be given to numb the treatment region before the collagen is injected. Mild bruising, swelling, redness, and discomfort in the area may follow the injection.
What to expect from each treatment is something you and your doctor should talk about in detail. Discuss how many procedures you may require and how much money you might expect to spend on fixing your face. Keep in mind that you could not get rid of all of your wrinkles with just one treatment.
Keeping the smoothing effect going may require more treatments depending on the material injected.
How many times will I need an injection of collagen or filler?
That is totally product dependent. Collagen substitutes deteriorate and lose their shape over time, just like actual collagen. Two to four collagen injections per year may be necessary to sustain the smoothing benefits of treatment. Both Hylaform and Restylane are reabsorbed by the body over time, therefore maintenance treatments are necessary. The danger of an allergic reaction is higher with synthetic materials like Artecoll, but they stay longer. Depending on the context, fat can produce long-lasting effects.
Is it Possible to Determine whether Injections are a Good Fit for Me?
Your doctor will ask you questions about your health and the areas you want to have filled in with injectables. Some wrinkles and scars, as well as certain medical conditions, are not good candidates for injections. Knowing and discussing the potential benefits of dermal filler injections is crucial.
If you and your doctor have decided that injections are the best course of treatment, a skin test on your forearm may be performed to check for allergies. Over the course of four weeks, you must keep a close eye on the area. Most people take the skin test and get injections without any problems.
lt is a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles and a more youthful appearance. These injections to the face and lips are a common cosmetic procedure, providing a smoother, plumper, more youthful appearance to the skin.
Collagen injections replenish the skin’s natural collagen. The natural beauty of your skin is enhanced as the contour of the support structure is restored.
Collagen is a long chain protein that forms a supporting network that is the “glue,” of the body. The body in its prime produces enough of its own collagen for bones, hair, muscles, nails, skin, and all other organs.
Collagen comprises almost 80 percent of protein within the skin and takes many forms in the body to strengthen tissues, bones, and organs. It enables the flexibility of joints, and the smoothness of skin. It’s important for all body systems.
As the body ages, it produces progressively less collagen. Skin damage due to sun exposure results in the faster-than-normal breakdown of collagen and elastin already in the skin. Signs of aging – wrinkles, sagging skin, thinning lips, and other visible signs of distress – begin to appear.
Collagen injections can replace lost levels of this vital protein, helping to achieve healthy levels of collagen growth, and reduce those telltale signs of aging.
ANTI-AGING MIRACLE: COLLAGEN INJECTIONS
Collagen injections improve skin texture, hydration, elasticity, and firmness. The end result is a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles and a more youthful appearance.
These injections to the face and lips are a common cosmetic procedure, providing a smoother, plumper, more youthful appearance to the skin. Collagen injections also benefit people with acne, gaunt cheeks, scars, wrinkles, and other imperfections.
Collagen is injected just beneath the skin and has the effect of smoothing out the skin. Compared to facelifts or other invasive surgical procedures, collagen injections are quick, with minimal recovery time, and are much cheaper.
The effects of collagen-based fillers can wear off after three to six months, so repeat treatments may be required to achieve the desired results.
Most people do not report severe side effects after receiving collagen injections. Nonbiodegradable fillers require allergy testing before treatment. Allergic reactions are uncommon. Overall, soft tissue fillers are considered safe and effective.
Zyderm and Zyplast are collagen products gotten from cows that replace the collagen your skin loses over time. Zyderm and Zyplast collagen are placed just beneath the skin, in the dermis where the body readily accepts it as its own.
CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast are bioengineered human collagen products that are used for similar indications as Zyderm and Zyplast but have the advantage of not requiring a skin test prior to the first treatment.
Collagen should be injected into your skin only by a trained health care professional.
Other Injectable Fillers
- Artecoll is a synthetic filler material. Because it’s synthetic, you are at higher risk of having an allergic reaction to it than if you got an injection of collagen or fat, but it lasts much longer than those options.
- Autologen is an injection of your own collagen, extracted from another place on your body. There’s no risk of allergic reaction; however, the results are only temporary.
- Dermalogen is collagen extracted from deceased human donors. This is also a temporary fix, but your body should not reject it.
- Fascia injections use a specific type of connective tissue harvested either from your own body or from a deceased human donor. It can be implanted surgically or injected. The main drawback is that within a year of injection, your body will reabsorb the fascia and you’ll be back at square one.
- Fat from your own thighs or abdomen can be also be injected. There’s no risk of allergic reaction and you may achieve permanent results. This can also be implanted surgically.
- HylaForm is a material created from a natural body substance known as hyaluronic acid. There’s no risk of infection, but you will need repeated treatments to maintain the result as it’s only a temporary fix.
- Restylane is a clear gel that also contains hyaluronic acid. It is only a temporary fix, as your body will absorb it within about six months of the injection.
What Can I Expect From Collagen Injections or Other Fillers?
Before getting a collagen injection, you should expect to receive a small injection of local anesthesia to numb the area being treated. There is a possibility of slight bruising, and you may experience puffiness, redness, and tenderness around the treated site.
It’s important to discuss with your doctor exactly what you can expect from each treatment. Together, you can prioritize which facial areas you wish to be treated and discuss how many treatments you may need and the estimated cost. It’s important to know that one treatment may not remove every line on your face.
Depending on the substance injected, you may need continued treatments to maintain the smoothing effect.
How Many Collagen or Filler Injections Will I Need?
That depends on which product you use. Just like natural collagen, collagen replacements begin to lose form and will eventually wear down. Treatment may require collagen injections two to four times a year to maintain the smoothing effects. Hylaform and Restylane are also eventually reabsorbed by the body requiring repeated treatment. Synthetic materials, such as Artecoll, last longer but carry a higher risk of allergic reaction. Fat, depending on how it is used, can sometimes achieve permanent results.
How Do I Find Out if Injections Are Right for Me?
You and your doctor will discuss your medical history and the areas you want treated with injectable fillers. Injections are not appropriate for certain lines and scars or when certain medical conditions are present. It is very important to discuss and understand what filler injections can do for you.
If you and your doctor decide injections are appropriate, your doctor may start with a skin test in your forearm to determine if you are sensitive to the substance being used. You must watch the area very carefully over a four-week period. Most men and women tested show no reaction to the skin test and can have injections.