About the Procedure

Soft-tissue filler injections are in-office procedures. The three most commonly used materials are collagen, fat, and alloderm. Each substance has individual guidelines for use, but injections will need to be repeated to maintain the effects of treatment. Talk to your doctor about which filler would work best for you.

About Collagen Injections:

Collagen is an important natural component of the skin's structure, including joints, bones, and ligaments. Surgeons use collagen derived from cows (injectable bovine collagen) to correct problem areas. The bovine collagen is purified to create a product that is similar to human collagen. Injectable collagen is primarily used to improve the skin's texture, deep facial wrinkles, creases and furrows, sunken cheeks, skin depressions and some types of scars. It can also be used to add a fuller, more sensuous look to the lips. It cannot obliterate severe wrinkles; nor treat sagging skin. Other techniques such as a chemical peel, dermabrasion or a face lift may be needed to correct these and other cosmetic concerns. Collagen injections are often used in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures. The surgeon injects small amounts of collagen, with a fine-gauge needle, across the area being treated. An over-correction is often performed because the material includes saline that is rapidly absorbed. No bandaging is required. You can eat, drink and wear makeup as desired. The procedure usually takes less than 10 minutes.

Common areas treated with collagen include:

- Crow's feet (around eyes) - Forehead - Bridge of nose - Nasolabial folds (area between nose and lips) - Lips - Chin - Acne scars

About Fat Injections:

This procedure involves extracting fat from your own body. After the skin is anesthetized, fat is removed, using a tiny needle, from donor spots such as the hips, thighs, belly or buttocks. It is then injected into deep wrinkles and depressed areas. Since the fat is your own tissue, it will be accepted by your body and not be rejected as a foreign substance.

About Alloderm Injections:

Alloderm is human collagen tissue that has been purified and rendered non-immunogenic. It is well tolerated and does not cause an allergic reaction and you do not need to be pre-tested for possible sensitivity. It can be used to plump up lips, fill in creases and furrows, and improve the appearance of smile lines.

Recovery and Healing

Slight swelling and occasional bruising can be expected for 24 hours after the treatment. You may also experience minor stinging in the injected area. Within two days, the swelling is usually gone and you can cover any remaining redness with makeup.

Risks

Allergic reaction is the primary risk of collagen. Before receiving collagen treatments, you should be tested for a possible sensitivity. This "intradermal test" is administered directly into the top layer of skin on your forearm. A small amount of collagen is placed under the skin with a hypodermic needle. The possibility of an allergic reaction is not a factor for fat because it's harvested from a patient's own body. However, there is still a slight risk of infection and other infrequent complications. Uneven correction is sometimes a problem with fat injections.

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