Collagen Replacement Therapy - now includes longer-lasting Evolence
Collagen replacement therapy is an easy nonsurgical treatment that has been used millions of times to reduce facial lines, wrinkles and scars. Highly purified collagen preparations are injected just below the surface of the skin, to add bulk to the skin's natural collagen support layer. This replacement therapy smoothes facial frown and smile lines, wrinkles and scars. The treatment can also be used to augment the size of the lips and enhance the appearance of the lip border (See figures below). It is possible to achieve immediate, visible results and promptly return to your regular activities after treatment.
Johnson & Johnson has recently recived FDA approval for Evolence, a purified porcine-derived collage for use in the smile lines between the nose and corners of the lips (nasolabial lines). It can also be used for the hollows under the corners of the mouth. This collagen lasts 6 to 12 months and does not require skin-testing like the older bovine-derived collagen. To learn more about Evolence click here.
Bovine Collagen injections can smooth the appearance of forehead frown lines (A), scowl lines (B), cheek creases (C), lip lines (D & H), fine creases near the eyes (F), acne scars (G) and creases at the corners of the mouth (I). They can also be used to improve the appearance of the lips (E).
Results that can be achieved with collagen replacement therapy
Achieve fuller looking lips with bovine collagen.
Soften smile line creases.
Smooth away frown lines.
What do the treatments involve?
Collagen replacement therapy is a non-surgical out-patient procedure that produces immediate visible results. The procedure usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. Immediately after treatment, patients can promptly return to normal activities. Touch-up injections are usually required(every 3 to 4 months with human or bovine collagen; 6 to 12 months with porcine collagen [Evolence]).
Before beginning this treatment, patients have to be tested to make sure they are not allergic to bovine-derived collagen. A test injection is made into one arm and observed for any signs of reaction (e.g., itch, redness, swelling) during the next 4 weeks.
The cost varies, depending on the volume of collagen injected. At the Rutland Skin Center injection of 1.5cc of Zyderm bovine collagen costs approximately $300. Evolence costs $490 for a 1 cc syring treatment.
What are the risks of collagen injections?
Rigorous clinical trials to determine the safety and efficacy of collagen injections were conducted with 5,000 patients from 1976 to 1981. This data was submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and collagen injections approved shortly thereafter. Since then collagen injections have been in widespread use. For the vast majority of patients, side effects from these injections are minor and may include transient redness, swelling and discomfort that rapidly subside. A small percentage of patients develop an allergy to the collagen and will not be able to continue treatments.Evolence is a newer product but thus far has had a good safety record in other countries where it has been in use longer than in the US.
