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Collagen Treatment:
About the Procedure |
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Most doctors will ask you to arrive 60 minutes before your actual appointment so that an anesthetic cream called EMLA can be applied to the skin. This reduces the pain from the injection. Alternatively, the patient may apply EMLA at home and then come into the office minutes before the procedure. Unfortunately, EMLA does little to relieve pain when collagen is injected into the lips. Due to the presence of lidocaine, an anesthetic, in all collagen products, it is likely that you will find the pain tolerable. In certain cases, placing an ice pack over the area may provide adequate pain management.
Immediately prior to the procedure, your face will be cleaned with a soapless cleanser such as Cetaphil and rinsed with water. Then the areas to be treated are wiped with alcohol and patted dry. After 45 minutes, the EMLA begins to numb the area and the procedure can begin. Patients sit in an upright position so the plastic surgeon can best evaluate the extent and position of wrinkles and folds in the skin. The EMLA is removed and the skin is again wiped with alcohol. A fine-gauge needle containing collagen is then injected into the sites needing improvement.
For forehead lines, the collagen will be injected in a horizontal fashion. For lips, the injection is placed across the length of the lips at its border. The surgeon will inject small amounts of collagen across the area being treated. He or she may manipulate the skin to ensure that the collagen is placed properly. Occasionally, your surgeon may ask you to move your forehead, scowl, squint or otherwise exaggerate your expression to evaluate which lines need to be corrected. Some doctors ask their patients to look at the treated areas with a mirror to determine if they are satisfied with the extent of the treatment, or if they want a bit more. A technique called "overcorrection" is often employed. This means that the physician injects a little more collagen than may seem necessary because of the tendency for some of the collagen to become absorbed into the body quickly. No bandaging is required. You can eat, drink and wear make-up as desired. The procedure will taken anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the amount of work being done.
Common Areas Treated with Collagen Include:
- Crow's feet (around the eyes)
- Between the forehead and bridge of nose
- Nasolabial folds (area between the nose and lips)
- Lips
- Chin area
- Acne scars
The results of collagen are temporary because it is eventually absorbed by the body. How long the collagen lasts depends upon what part of the body is being treated, the patient's skin quality, genetic background and lifestyle. Parts of the body which are used more will lose collagen more quickly.
In general, the results of collagen last about 3 to 4 months. Some doctors recommend touch-ups at two to three months. Much less collagen is needed for a touch up, thus the cost will probably be lower than the original treatment.
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