Collagen Stimulating Fillers: How They Restore Facial Volume and Smooth Skin

Understanding Collagen Stimulating Fillers

Collagen is a vital structural protein in our body that gives skin its supple, plump, and youthful appearance. As we age, our body's collagen production declines leading to fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. This is where collagen stimulating fillers come in.

How Do Collagen Fillers Work?

Collagen fillers are injectable skin treatment products that supply extra collagen to restore plumpness and elasticity. They can fill in facial lines and creases while also providing environmental protection and hydration to skin.

The injected collagen supplements the declining levels in aging skin. As the collagen integrates into the dermis, it plumps up facial skin from within. This leads to a smoothing out of wrinkles and restored volume.

Types of Collagen Stimulating Fillers

The popular kinds of collagen stimulating dermal fillers include:

• Bovine collagen fillers derived from cow or calf skin
• Human-based collagens harvested from donated human skin or tissue
• Synthetic collagens made up of lab-created polymers for stability and longevity
• Autologous fillers extracted from the patient's own body fat or tissue

The effects tend to last from 3-12 months on average before a repeat treatment is needed to maintain results.

Who Are Candidates for Collagen Injections?

If your skin elasticity is diminishing with age leading to an increasingly gaunt or sagging appearance, collagen fillers can help. They are very popular for filling out wrinkles and restoring a youthful plumpness to the face and neck.

Common treatment areas include:

• Frown lines between the eyebrows
• Crow's feet at the eye corners
• Nasolabial folds from the nose to mouth
• Marionette lines around the chin and mouth
• Vertical neck lines

Patients in their 30s to 60s tend to see great anti-aging results from collagen stimulating fillers used to target these problem facial areas.

Combining Collagen with Other Fillers

For longer lasting wrinkle correction, your provider may recommend layering the collagen with other popular fillers like:

• Hyaluronic acid
• Calcium hydroxyapatite
• Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA)

The collagen plumps up skin for an immediate smoothing effect while the longer-lasting fillers reinforce results over time.

What to Expect During Treatment

Numbing and Injection

The injection sites will first be numbed with either a topical anesthetic cream or injected lidocaine. Then the filler is injected via a fine gauge needle at a superficial depth just under the skin's surface.

The injections feel like small pinpricks with some pressure. Discomfort is usually minimal, but your provider may use additional numbing if needed.

Smooth and Supple Skin

Immediately after the injections, you will notice a visible plumping and smoothing to treated areas. Your skin should feel more supple and springy.

Final collagen stimulating filler results emerge gradually over 2 to 3 weeks. Most patients are extremely satisfied with their refreshed and glowing complexion.

Minimal Downtime

You can resume normal activities right after your treatment. Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours after injections to prevent filler shifting.

Use ice packs as needed for swelling and tenderness. Plan filler injections 1 to 2 weeks before special social engagements to look your best.

Caring for Skin Post-Treatment

Sun Protection is Crucial

Always protect your freshly filled skin from UV rays. Excess sun exposure can potentially degrade collagen via free radical damage.

Avoid Touching the Area

For the first 24 hours post-treatment, be very gentle with your skin and try not to disturb the implanted fillers.

Follow Your Aesthetic Clinic's Advice

Your doctor or treatment nurse will provide you with proper aftercare instructions. Closely follow their guidelines for cleansing, avoiding makeup, activity, and more.

How Long Results Last

Depending on the type of collagen filler used and how quickly your body metabolizes the proteins, you can expect noticeable results to last from 3 to 12 months generally.

Bovine Collagen Fillers

Being thicker in consistency, bovine collagen derived from cows tends to last about 3 to 4 months.

Human-Based and Synthetic Collagen

With greater similarity to human collagen, these types (like Bellafill, Sculptra, Radiesse) offer longer-lasting augmentation closer to 6 to 12 months.

Layering and Repeat Injections

Your injector can optimize durability by layering different fillers like hyaluronic acid or hydroxyapatite over the collagen. Combination approaches allow skin to better retain implanted volume.

Periodic repeat injections help sustain cosmetic improvements long-term.

The Takeaway

Through supplemental collagen delivery injections focused on facial folds and creases, collagen stimulating fillers offer an effective anti-aging treatment for wrinkles and skin laxity.

Work with an expert injector to determine the right filler or combination for natural-looking and long-lasting plumping and rejuvenation.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.