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206-248-5020 e-mail:info@dermatologyseattle.com |
Lines and wrinkles happen. However, Collagen skin treatments* can just fill in those little annoyances. Collagen treatments last from 3 to 6 months and take less than an hour in a doctor’s office. Results are immediate and recovery time is so short, you can sneak in a treatment at lunchtime.
*Patients are required to have two patch tests to determine if they are allergic to Collagen prior to treatment.
We're surrounded by images of people with flawless skin - not a pore, line, wrinkle, or scar in sight. Professional makeup, flattering lighting effects, and airbrushing techniques make it easy to look good in magazines, on television, and in the movies. It's harder to look good in real life...but not as hard as you think.
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Facial lines and wrinkles are caused by the wearing down of natural collagen support layer that lies just beneath your skin. Creams can moisturize or exfoliate the surface of your skin, but they can't diminish the lines or wrinkles that are caused by the wearing away of the underlying collagen support layer. |
Collagen Therapy is a safe, non-surgical treatment that smoothes out facial lines, wrinkles, and scars by replenishing the natural collagen support layer beneath your skin. These results may be seen immediately.
What is Collagen therapy?
Skin is your body's largest, and most visible, organ. Your skin is composed of two layers:
The uppermost layer of skin, called the epidermis, acts as a protective barrier. The epidermis controls the loss of water from cells and tissues, and without it your body would quickly dehydrate. Just beneath the epidermis is the second layer of skin, called the dermis. This layer is composed primarily of a protein called collagen. Collagen forms a network of fibers that provides a framework for the growth of cells and blood vessels. As the primary component of the dermis, collagen acts as the support structure for your skin. |
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Why do lines appear?
When your skin is young, the collagen framework is intact, keeping your skin moisturized and elastic. Young skin is resilient - the facial lines that appear when you smile or frown simply disappear when you stop smiling or frowning.
Over time, the collagen framework weakens and your skin loses its elasticity. Older skin is less resilient, so the facial lines that appear with a smile or frown don't disappear when you stop smiling or frowning.
Can
creams containing Collagen be enough to smooth out the wrinkles on the
skin?
Creams (with or without collagen) may temporarily diminish the harshness
of facial lines or wrinkles, but they only work on the surface (the epidermis)
of your skin. Creams can't penetrate the skin to remedy the underlying
cause of lines or wrinkles - the depleted collagen support layer. Creams
can, however, help to keep your skin supple by slowing the rate of water
loss from the surface of your skin.
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Collagen Therapy replenishes the skin's natural collagen support layer, smoothing facial lines and most types of scars. Collagen Therapy is a non-surgical treatment in which ZydermÆ and/or ZyplastÆ Collagen Implants (natural substances derived from purified bovine collagen) are injected just beneath the skin's surface, where the body commonly accepts them as its own. Collagen Therapy produces an immediately visible difference in the appearance of your skin.
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How was collagen Therapy developed?
The medical use of collagen began decades ago when animal collagen was
used in surgical sutures. Continued research led to the wide use of collagen
in a number of applications, including heart valves and as an agent to
help stop bleeding during surgery. A group of biochemists and physicians
at Stanford University pioneered the concept of purifying animal collagen
so it could be used to replace lost skin tissue.
Research by Collagen Corporation led to the development of ZydermÆ
and ZyplastÆ Collagen Implants. More than 1 million people worldwide
have received Collagen Therapy. Most people experience success with their
collagen treatments. Some patients, however, have reported adverse events;
these are described in the safety summary.
What can I expect from Collagen Therapy Treatment?
Collagen Therapy is a proven, nonsurgical treatment simple enough to be
completed during your lunch hour. It's important to discuss your treatment
expectations with your physician. Together, you can review your medical
history, the risks and benefits of treatment, and the specific areas you
want treated. Collagen Therapy may not be appropriate for certain lines
and scars, or in the presence of certain medical conditions. For most
people, however, Collagen Therapy is a safe, convenient (and immediate)
way to treat lines and wrinkles.
Just like natural collagen, injectable collagen eventually loses its form
and wears down. Ongoing treatments are required to maintain the improvements
achieved with Collagen Therapy.
Can you achieve full correction of your facial wrinkles?
It's important to understand that treatment with collagen is highly individual.
The same amount of collagen that would give one person full correction
may result in inadequate or partial correction for another person. The
amount of collagen required for full correction will depend on your age,
skin condition, and amount of sun damage.
Due to the same factors, the amount of collagen and timing of maintenance
treatments vary according to the individual. Your physician will recommend
a treatment program that meets your individual needs and optimizes the
outcome of your therapy. For most patients, treatment programs are easily
determined and maintained.
How do you get started?
Start by asking us about a skin test. It's a simple test performed on your forearm to determine if you are sensitive to ZydermÆ or ZyplastÆ collagen Implants. You must watch the area very carefully over a four-week period. Approximately 97% of women and men tested show no reaction to the skin test and are eligible for treatment. If you do not have an adverse reaction to the skin test, you can get started with your Collagen Therapy.