- With the boom of the cosmetic surgery and skin care industries, you no longer have to live with wrinkles. Collagen is just one of many products on the market aimed at improving the appearance of the skin, as well as plumping up the lips and other areas. Collagen helps eliminate the look of fine lines and other signs of aging through a series of injections administered by a physician. People interested in collagen injections should become familiar with how they work and how long they last.
- Collagen is the skin's support structure. Located in the dermis, collagen is made up of a network of protein fibers that promote cell growth. When you're young, collagen remains strong and elastic so wrinkles cannot form in the skin. However, as you age, collagen wears down and becomes less resilient to stresses, such as facial expressions, and this diminished elasticity and strength leads to wrinkles. Environmental forces also can wreak havoc on collagen, leading to earlier wrinkle formation in some people more than others.
- Collagen injections work by supplementing and replacing the skin's natural collagen supply. Injections are placed in areas where skin is starting to sag or wrinkle to help plump up the skin and improve its overall appearance. Collagen is also used sometimes to plump up the appearance of the lips and make the mouth look more voluptuous. Although collagen injections can have a marked effect on the look of the skin, unfortunately, they don't last forever. Just like your skin's natural collagen, the implanted collagen wears down over time as well. While it varies by patient, typically you can expect the effects of collagen injections to last anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Some lucky individuals will notice improvements for over 1 year, but this is more the exception than the rule. To maintain the effects of collagen injections, you should expect to receive from two to four treatments per year.
