In the 1980s and even 1990s, collagen was the go-to treatment for lines and wrinkles, and a top choice for facial volume enhancement. In the last 10 years, a range of injectable fillers have replaced collagen for most purposes. At his Walnut Creek area plastic surgery practice, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Eric Mariotti offers several of the latest dermal fillers and explains the benefits he sees of using fillers instead of collagen.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, collagen was the front-runner for filling in lines and wrinkles, as well as adding volume to certain areas of the face, including the lips. As cosmetic medicine continued to change, new forms of treatments for wrinkles and fine lines became available. Many of these treatments contain hyaluronic acid, a natural substance in the skin that gives it youthful volume. At my plastic surgery practice, we use hyaluronic acid (HA) injectable fillers such as JUVÉDERM®, Restylane®, and Perlane® to treat fine lines and wrinkles or enhance facial volume.
Collagen
Many of my patients are curious about collagen. They come in from Danville, Concord, Walnut Creek and other Bay Area locations asking for it by name, only to discover that better treatments now exist.
Collagen is a natural substance found in the body. It helps to retain the skin’s elasticity and tautness. As we age, collagen is gradually lost, which causes the skin to lose its elasticity and form wrinkles. While collagen exists naturally in the body, cosmetic forms of collagen generally are sourced from cows. Some people may be allergic to this bovine form of collagen, which makes a blood test prior to treatment required.
Because injectable fillers can yield the same or better results than collagen without an allergy risk, they are more common and widely used today. Also, collagen tends not to last as long as other fillers composed of hyaluronic acid or other synthetic materials because the body breaks it down very quickly – usually around 3 months after treatment.
Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
While collagen can provide cosmetic benefits, many doctors have switched to newer dermal fillers containing hyaluronic acid because of their ease of treatment (no allergy pretesting required) and their ability to last much longer in patients (in some cases, up to 6 months or more). Also, unlike collagen treatments of the past, some HA wrinkle fillers today even have the ability to stimulate the skin’s own collagen production.
Calcium-Based Fillers
RADIESSE® is unlike hyaluronic acid fillers because it instead contains particles of calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA). CaHA is a natural component of the teeth and nails. RADIESSE® provides immediate volume enhancement along with a matrix that can support the formation of new collagen. It has the added advantage of lasting for a year or more, giving patients more time to enjoy their results between follow-up treatments.
Combining Fillers
Different fillers can be combined to achieve a patient’s desired results. For example, one filler may be used for augmenting the lips, while a different filler may be used to improve the appearance of smile lines or marionette lines. Also, many of my Walnut Creek patients ask about BOTOX® Cosmetic combined with injectable fillers. This is quite common and can provide beautiful results. BOTOX differs from the injectables discussed in this article in that it does not fill in wrinkles but instead temporarily releases the muscles that cause “dynamic wrinkles” on areas such as the upper face.
Dr. Eric Mariotti is a board-certified plastic surgeon whose San Ramon, Danville and Walnut Creek face lift, eyelid surgery, breast augmentation, breast reduction, abdominoplasty and liposuction patients trust him for high quality outcomes. He also serves residents of Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, Antioch, and other East Bay communities.
Pre-Test Nerves?