Collagen - Benefits and Treatment Options

Collagen is a natural biomaterial that has unique properties that provides our bodies with structural support and is being used by many health care professionals for curing their patients since the ancient Egyptian civilization. It is the most abundant protein found in the body. There are 13 different types of collagen. Types 1, 3 and 5 are specific for skin. Twenty-five percent of the dry protein weight of the human body is collagen -the fibrous, elastic, connective tissue in our bodies that holds us together.

It is a fiber of edible proteins arranged in such a way by extrusion technology to produce a high quality, uniform, thin-walled casing. Along with soft keratin , it is responsible for skin strength and elasticity, and its degradation leads to wrinkles that accompany aging. It strengthens blood vessels and plays a role in tissue development. It is tough and inextensible, with great tensile strength, and is the main component of cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bone and teeth.

Some people are allergic to collagen. So, it is recommended to first test yourself if you are allergic to collagen or not. To help determine if you are allergic to collagen, your surgeon will perform an allergy skin test about a month before the procedure. Any sign of redness, itching, swelling or other occurrences at the test site should be reported to your surgeon.

Benefits of Collagen

Some of the Great Benefits of Collagen are listed below:

• Taking a collagen supplement helps a lot in loosing weight.

• Collagen can be used to either smooth wrinkles, sculpt lips or fill in scars, which will give you a smarter look.

• Most people experience many welcome side-benefits which notifies them that the collagen supplementation is working - including improved sleep, increased energy, overall toning, rejuvenation and a greater overall sense of wellness.

• Relieves the symptoms of Arthritis.

• Seventy-five per cent of our skin is made up of collagen, providing texture, resiliency, and shape; and in total about 30 per cent of our body is collagen.

• When applied to a wound, collagen initially acts as a hemostatic agent. Continued application seems to aid and hasten the body's own repair mechanisms.

• Plumps up the skin.

• The most abundant and well characterized collagen is type 1 extracted from bovine (cow) hide. Other sources include porcine (pig), chicken tendon, bovine tendon, etc.

• As we age, our body's production of collagen slows down. On the outside, we see our skin start to wrinkle and lose its youthful radiance. On the inside we experience this as the weakening of our skeletal structure due to the breakdown of connective tissue, including muscle tissue. Collagen supplementation is essential to support the body during these natural processes.

• Distribution and orientation of collagen reflects the function of the tissue in which it is found. It is none other than collagen that transmits tension in tendon, lends structural support in skin and bone and limits expansion in arteries.

Collagen Treatment

Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that provides support to various parts of the human body - including skin, joints, bones and ligaments. Injectable collagen, patented by the Collagen Corporation under the trade names Zyderm and Zyplast, is derived from purified bovine collagen. Injectable cosmetic fillers have provided a solution for patients to rejuvenate their facial appearance without incisions and a minimal amount of downtime and nowadays collagen is the only one fillers available in the market today.

The collagen used comes from highly purified bovine collagen. By injecting collagen into the skin, it adds volume, improves texture and can smooth out wrinkles. This minimally-invasive procedure is used primarily to fill wrinkles, lines and scars on the face and sometimes on the neck, back and chest. This will help you in developing a healthy, more youthful, and fuller appearance.

Procedure: Treatment with collagen can begin after a skin test determines that you're not allergic to the substance. The collagen is injected using a fine needle inserted at several points along the edge of the treatment site. If a local anesthesia has not been used, you may feel some minor stinging or burning as the injections are administered.

Since part of the substance is salt water that will be absorbed by the body within a few days, your doctor will slightly overfill the area. You may be asked to hold a hand mirror during the procedure to help your doctor decide when you've had enough.

For more detailed information about collagen and collagen injections, the above procedure may help you, we recommend that you consult a cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist who is board certified or has extensive experience in administering Collagen injections.