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Collagen Treatments

 
Injectable cosmetic fillers have provided a solution for patients to rejuvenate their facial appearance without incisions and a minimal amount of downtime. Collagen is just one of the 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 can temporarily treat such conditions as wrinkles and other creases in the facial area. What results is a longer-lasting, youthful facial appearance.

Collagen can be used to either smooth wrinkles, sculpt lips or fill in scars. What results is a healthy, more youthful, and fuller appearance. This has grown in popularity. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 576,255 patients received Collagen Injections in 2003.

If you are considering Collagen injections, the following information will provide you with a basic introduction to the procedure. For more detailed information about how this 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.

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What are some of the common benefits of collagen treatments?

Collagen can fill in wrinkles and some types of scars or augment lips for a fuller appearance.
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What will happen at the initial consultation?

You will provide information about your medical history and talk about the areas you want to plump up. Your doctor can determine if collagen treatments will work for your specific concerns. If you decide to try collagen, an allergy test will be done to see if you have an adverse reaction. Your doctor will inject a small amount of collagen in your arm. After 30 days if no allergy is detected, you can proceed with a full collagen treatment.
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How is a collagen treatment done?

First, the injection site is numbed with local anesthesia. Your doctor will use a syringe to make a few small injections of collagen in the area to be treated. Most people use between 1 and 3 ccs during each collagen treatment.
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At what age can collagen treatments be done?

There is no specific age requirement for collagen treatment. The patient must be mature enough to undergo being injected with a needle.
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How long do collagen treatments take?

Collagen treatment can be administered in less than an hour.
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Do I have to stay in the hospital?

There is no downtime or hospital stay required.
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How much pain is there?

Local anesthesia is used before your collagen treatment so you should feel no pain.
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What can I expect after a collagen treatment?

The doctor will “overcorrect” to account for the loss of water from collagen that occurs after it is injected into the body. The lips or other site injected may appear excessively puffy; however this should dissipate within 48 hours.
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What is the recovery period like?

Bruising, swelling, redness and tenderness can occur after a collagen treatment but will subside in two weeks or less.
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What is the long-term outcome like for most people?

Collagen treatments last anywhere from 3-6 months and will need to be repeated to maintain the results.
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Ideal Candidate

A good candidate is an individual who has:
  • No allergies to beef
  • No allergies to the local anesthetic lidocaine
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Risks

Scarring, lumpiness and allergic reaction to collagen are some common risks.
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Collagen Treatment Costs

The average cost of a collagen treatment session was $394 in 2007 according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
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Choosing a Doctor

It is very important that you select a physician adequately trained and experienced in breast reduction procedures. We strongly recommend that you consider choosing a surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties. See our Physician Locator feature to find a surgeon in your area, including detailed profile information for many of the listed doctors. Also read How to Select a Plastic Surgeon for a more detailed discussion on choosing the right doctor.
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Questions to ask your doctor

  1. Are the desired results I described realistic?
  2. How long will the procedure take?
  3. What kind of anesthesia is used
  4. How much does it cost?
  5. What is your experience in performing this procedure? (How long has he/she performed this procedure, and how many he/she has performed in the past year?)
  6. What percentage of patients have had significant complications? (The physician should disclose this information to you.)
  7. Will you repeat or correct procedures if it does not meet agreed upon goals? And if the procedure must be repeated / corrected, will I be charged again? (The physician should provide you with his/her policy on this issue.)
  8. May I see "before and after" photos of recent patients? The physician should provide many photos of recent patients.
  9. What type of collagen do you use in your practice?
  10. Have you ever had your malpractice insurance coverage denied, revoked, suspended?
  11. Do you offer patient financing?
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Be sure to:

  • Tell your doctor about any allergies you have to foods, drugs or environmental elements.
  • Tell your doctor about all medications you are taking, both prescription and non-prescription.
  • Carefully follow any instructions your doctor gives you regarding eating, drinking, smoking, and supplements.

The information on this web site is only intended as an introduction to this procedure. This information should not be used to determine whether you will have the procedure performed nor as a guarantee of the result. The best method of determining your options is to consult qualified surgeons who are able to answer specific questions related to your situation.
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How do I finance this procedure?

Did you know that 29% of all Americans have considered having an elective procedure? Of those, 60% would schedule a procedure immediately if financing was available. With iEnhance's patient financing options, money no longer has to be the barrier between you and your new image. By filling out our on-line application you can qualify for a loan in as little as 30 seconds.
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At iEnhance, find information on top plastic surgery procedures such as breast augmentation, liposuction, facelift, tummy tuck, BOTOX ® Cosmetic, eyelid surgery, thermage, rhinoplasty; as well as teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, and other cosmetic dentistry procedures. Locate a plastic surgeon, cosmetic surgeon, cosmetic dentist, or specialist today!

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Facts:

*Top 5 Surgical Cosmetic Procedures in 2008:

1. Breast Augmentation: 356,000
2. Liposuction: 341,000
3. Blepharoplasty: 195,000
4. Rhinoplasty: 152,000
5. Abdominoplasty: 147,000

*Top 5 Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures in 2008:

1. Botox: 2,464,000
2. Laser Hair Removal: 1,281,000
3. Juvederm/Restylane: 1,263,000
4. Chemical Peel: 592,000
5. Laser Skin Resurfacing: 571,000

* Data collected from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)

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