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Lunchtime Quick Procedures:
 
     
Collagen and
Restylane:
As time passes, the wear and tear of
repetitive daily actions movements like chewing, smiling, and
frowning can begin to affect
the look of our faces, etching lines and creases into our once
smooth
skin. The effects of sun
exposure and the constant draining pull of gravity exacerbate this
damage.
The underlying tissues that
keep our skin looking fresh and plumped up begin to break down,
further
deepening telltale creases and
lines. One of the most effective ways to handle these signs of
ageing
is to employ the use of
collagen or Restylane treatments.
Procedure:
In these procedures, collagen a
natural protein or hyaluronic acid a natural sugar, found in the
skin,
muscles, tendons, and bones is used
to fill in these creases. When injected underneath the skin,
these materials act as a filler,
plumping up the skin and leveling it out. They can serve other
purposes,
as well; for those looking for a
fuller look to their lips or boost these features within reasonable
limits.
The basic procedure first involves a test to check if the patient
has any allergies to the collagen. These
allergic reactions are highly rare,
however, affecting approximately 3% of the general population. This
step may be avoided for certain types
of collagen as well as for Restylane because of the rarity of
allergies to these materials. Once
this text is performed, Dr Schmidt injects the solution into pre-
determined insertion points around
the edge of the area to be treated. During the injections, patients
may feel a slight stinging or burning
as the site is injected. This discomfort may be ameliorated by the
use of a topical numbing creme.
Most treatments will involve "overfilling" injecting more of the
solution into the affected area to
compensate for the usual absorption
of a portion during the first few weeks after the procedure. At
first,
the treated area may appear to be
more puffy or swollen than usual; however, this corrects itself as
the
excess material is metabolized, and
the skin will slowly sink to the desired level of fullness. All of
these
materials are temporary in nature and
tend to be slowly absorbed by the body.
Recovery:
Recovery after
a collagen or Restylane treatment involves at most temporary
swelling, redness, and
slight discomfort and itching in the
treated areas; these conditions will dissipate within a few hours to
days. There is no need for bandages,
dressings, or stitches, and patients will not have to curtail any
normal activities such as eating or
talking.
Please note that this treatment is temporary, and that all the
injected collagen or Restylane may be
absorbed away within a few months.
Subsequent injections are recommended, and Dr Schmidt would
be glad to discuss with you a regimen
for maintaining results..
Typical Patient Profile:
The best candidate for
collagen or Restylane treatments are those
looking for alleviation of
fine lines and deep creases in their skin, or
those seeking to boost the prominence of
certain features such as the lips and cheeks.
Collagen is not recommended to treat
certain types of creases, such as crow's feet:
BOTOX
may be a more appropriate treatment
or they may be combined for optimal
treatment of wrinkles (please see our BOTOX
page). |
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