www.parkavederm.com
Coos Bay, Oregon
E-mail: debbieb@parkavederm.com|
www.parkavederm.com
Coos Bay, Oregon
E-mail: debbieb@parkavederm.com |
| Collagen |
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Collagen, an important natural component of our skin, joints, bones and
ligaments, is abundant in young skin and imparts plumpness to the face
and other areas of the body, such as the hands. As we age, the amount
and quality of collagen in our body decreases, and as a result, wrinkles
and creases begin to appear. Our cheeks become hollow and our upper lip
thins. In the past few decades, the cosmetic industry has attempted to market creams and lotions containing collagen as virtual fountains of youth, but in fact, collagen works best when it is injected into the skin, not smeared on it. Applying collagen topically provides a slight boost to the skin's elasticity, but injecting collagen is much more effective. The injectable form of collagen is usually derived from cows and purified to create a product that is similar to human collagen. In this form, Collagen falls within the category of an "injectable soft tissue filler." When injected beneath the skin, Collagen plumps up creased and sunken areas of the face. Collagen can also fill out wrinkles, skin depressions and some scars. It cannot, however, correct severe wrinkles. Nor can it treat sagging skin. Other techniques such as a chemical peel, dermabrasion or a facelift may be needed to treat these other varied cosmetic concerns. Allergy Testing Prior to Treatment Before receiving collagen treatments, a patient should be skin tested for a possible allergic reaction to the collagen. These "intradermal tests" are administered directly into the top layer of skin on the patient's forearm. A small amount of collagen is placed under the skin with a hypodermic needle. One may feel some minor stinging or burning as the injections are administered. Patients should not exercise or drink alcohol on the day of the allergy test since these activities may produce swelling at the injection site. Patients must return two days after the first allergy test and again four weeks later for an evaluation. Swelling, redness, tenderness or itching at the test site indicates that the patient should not receive collagen; however, this is only noted in 1-2% of the population. If a patient is eligible to receive treatment, Zyderm and Zyplast implants are implanted intradermally through a fine gauge needle into the appropriate facial application. Treatment with Zyderm and Zyplast implants consists of a simple in-office procedure that can be completed quickly and conveniently. Most patients return to their normal routine immediately following the procedure. An ongoing series of customized treatments can preserve the look that is desired. These treatments are as easy and convenient as the first one. Collagen is referred to by various trade names and the difference between the various collagen implants pertain mainly to the source of the material used, ease and comfort of the procedure, the type of processes designed by the manufacturer to provide for the safety and consistency of the product, and the regulatory review process the material was subjected to prior to its availability to patients. However, ZydermŪ and ZyplastŪ implants, introduced in the early 1980's, remain the most widely used, safe and effective choices for smoothing lines, wrinkles, scars and defining the lip border. Rigorous clinical trials to determine the safety and efficacy of Zyderm and Zyplast collagen implants were conducted from 1976 to 1981. These data were submitted to the Food and Drug Administration and Zyderm and Zyplast implants were cleared for marketing in 1981 and 1985. No other injectable collagen implants currently on the market have undergone such extensive study. In addition, more than one million treatments in over 40 countries have been administered with Zyderm and Zyplast implants.
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