Collagen Injections
Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that
provides support to various parts of the human body: the skin,
the joints, the bones and the ligaments.
Collagen is used primarily to fill wrinkles, lines and scars on the
face and sometimes the neck, back and chest.
The procedure: The collagen
is injected using a fine needle inserted at several points along the
edge of the treatment site. If a local anesthesia has not been used,
you may feel some minor stinging or burning as the injections are
administered.
Since part of the substance is salt water that will be absorbed by
the body within a few days, your doctor will slightly overfill the
area. You may be asked to hold a hand mirror during the procedure
to help your doctor decide when you've had enough.
After treatment: Immediately following treatment, you may notice
some minor discomfort, stinging or throbbing in the injected area.
Occasionally some bruising or swelling will occur, but it is usually
minor. Any redness that appears in the injected site usually disappears
within 24 hours. However, in some individuals, particularly fair-skinned
patients, this redness may persist for a week or more. Tiny scabs
may also form over the needle-stick areas; these generally heal quickly.
No bandaging is needed and you are free to eat, drink, and wear makeup
with sunblock protection shortly thereafter. There may be some temporary
swelling and redness in the treated area which should dissipate within
a few days. If these symptoms persist, contact your surgeon.
The most important fact to remember about injectable fillers is that
the results are not permanent. Injected material is eventually metabolized
by the body. You should not expect the same long-lasting results that
may be gained from cosmetic surgery.
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