Here’s What You Need to Know Before Getting Collagen Injectables

Gone were the days when getting wrinkles and scarring on the skin were huge stressors as they were irreversible. Thankfully, with advanced modern technology seeping into the future of the beauty industry, cosmetic procedures have been made accessible for those looking to enhance the appearance of their skin.

This is especially true for adults as they transition into adulthood. The first signs of skin ageing start to become apparent around age 25. It can first show up in fine lines, followed by wrinkles, a loss of volume and eventually a loss of skin suppleness over time. Our skin ages for a variety of different reasons.

Dr Mark Lim, a member of Society of Men’s Health Singapore, says: “Skin ageing is a complex process that can be affected by genetics or hormones, but other external factors that may accelerate skin ageing include perennial exposure to UV rays, smoking, air pollution, and even poor nutrition.”

“Loss of collagen can result in poor skin texture, laxity, fine lines and wrinkles,” he adds.

Enter collagen-infused skincare products, collagen supplements, and collagen injectables as a solution to supplement or stimulate the body’s natural collagen production.

While collagen skincare and collagen supplements are both methods that require consistency and commitment to see results, results for collagen injectables have an immediate effect.

WHAT IS A COLLAGEN INJECTABLE?

 

Collagen injectable filler, also called soft-tissue augmentation, is an aesthetic procedure performed to improve the appearance of skin and reduce blemishes such as scarring, depressions in the skin, or wrinkles.

This cosmetic procedure involves injecting collagen into the skin to plump or fill up the area being treated.

Similar to collagen, a natural protein found in humans, injectable collagen is typically made from cows.

Collagen injectables are utilised to treat wrinkles, scars or facial lines. It can be injected into lips, cheeks, acne scars or stretch marks to smooth out various areas of the skin and add plumpness.

BENEFITS OF COLLAGEN INJECTABLES

Possible benefits of collagen injectables include the ability to replenish our body’s original supply of collagen and the ability to reduce the appearance of scars. Besides direct procedures to the skin, collagen injectables may also be used as lip fillers to plump the lips to add volume and fullness.

TYPES OF COLLAGEN INJECTABLES

The two most common types of collagen injectables are Bellafill and Sculptra.

Bellafill’s tiny, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microspheres are suspended within a base of smooth collagen gel. Once injected, the collagen gel immediately reduces the look of smile lines.

Your body uses the microspheres in Bellafill to create a “scaffold” onto which your natural collagen can develop over time. This collagen forms a foundation that adds volume to wrinkles, reducing their appearance and giving natural-looking results that can feel soft and smooth for up to five years.

Sculptra, on the other hand, is an injectable dermal filler.

In 2014, the FDA approved Sculptra Aesthetic for treating wrinkles and folds on the face to give a more youthful appearance.

The main ingredient in Sculptra is poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), which acts as a collagen stimulator to gradually restore fullness to facial wrinkles and folds long-lasting, natural-looking results that can last up to two years.

Sculptra is safe and effective but isn’t recommended for people with allergies to any of its ingredients or for those with medical conditions that cause irregular scarring.

During both procedures, local or topical anaesthesia such as ointment or ice may be used. A nerve block is often used for lip injections to block the nerves responsible for pain.

HOW LONG DOES THE EFFECT LAST?

Individuals who undergo a collagen injectable procedure can typically expect to see results immediately, but it can also take up to a few months to see the full results of the treatment.

The result of the procedure is typically temporary and touch-up injections may be needed every three to 12 months.