| Most surgical procedures, such as chemical peels and | | | | last a lot longer and the results may be permanent, |
| laser resurfacing are meant to remove the outer | | | | especially if it was injected into other areas in the |
| layers of skin, forcing new collagen growth which | | | | face containing fat. |
| eventually fills in the wrinkles. The opposite approach | | | | According to a report issued by the Harvard Medical |
| is to fill in the wrinkles with an injectable substance | | | | School, a new product is being developed that is |
| such as collagen or fat. This fills in the defects giving | | | | designed to produce new collagen as needed. Called |
| the skin a smoother appearance. | | | | Isolagen, it uses a sample of your own skin to clone |
| The most common filler is bovine collagen. Since | | | | fibroblasts, the cells that produce collagen. Since this |
| there is a risk of allergic reactions, a skin test is | | | | is a new procedure, its long term effects are still |
| required before its use. There are now bioengineered | | | | unknown. |
| collagen products that are non-allergic and do not | | | | Anyone who watches movies or TV knows the |
| require a skin test, as well as synthetic fillers. Another | | | | results of overdoing these types of procedures. |
| choice is a transplant of your own collagen or even | | | | Many famous actresses wound up with lips |
| fat removed by a mini-liposuction procedure just | | | | reminiscent of Bozo the Clown from overzealous |
| before injection. | | | | collagen injections. Make sure you use a doctor |
| Usually you will receive a local anesthetic and the | | | | experienced in this procedure and be frank with him |
| collagen product will be injected directly under the | | | | on the results you expect to receive. |
| surface of the skin. There may be some bruising or | | | | When properly done the results should be |
| swelling in the treated areas. | | | | undetectable and natural looking, giving you another |
| The collagen injection restores the skin's natural | | | | weapon against wrinkles and creases in your face. |
| collagen and you skin will look younger as it fills out. | | | | This article is for informational purposes only. It does |
| Just like your own natural collagen, injected collagen | | | | not purport to offer medical advice. Consult a |
| will eventually start to break down and need to be | | | | qualified physician if you are interested in any of |
| replaced. You might have to repeat the treatment | | | | these procedures. |
| several times a year. However, injected fat tends to | | | | |