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All around us are images of people with beautiful mouths, sensual lips, and flawless skin - not a pore, line, wrinkle, or scar in sight. Professional makeup, flattering lighting effects, and air brushing 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.
The wearing down of the natural collagen support layer that lies just beneath your skin causes facial lines and wrinkles. 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.
This information tells you everything you need to know about CRT. You'll learn what CRT is, how it works, and how it can help you look good in real life (like at your high school reunion, a wedding, or any special day). That's the beauty of collagen.
What is Collagen?
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 loss of water from cells and tissues. 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. As we age our skin cell division slows down by almost 50% after the age of 30. Facial lines and wrinkles are caused by the wearing down of the natural collagen support layer that lies just beneath the surface of your skin. Skin care creams can moisturize or exfoliate the surface of the skin, but they can't diminish the fine lines or wrinkles caused by the wearing away of the underlying collage support layer. 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.
Are creams containing collagen enough to smooth out lines?
Creams (with or without collagen) may temporarily diminish 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.
How does Collagen Replacement Therapy work?
Collagen Replacement Therapy (CRT) replenishes the skin's natural collagen support layer, smoothing facial lines and most types of scars as well as creating natural-looking, fuller and sensual lips. CRT is a non-surgical treatment in which Zyderm and/or Zyplast Collagen Implants (natural substances derived from purified bovine [cow] collagen) are injected just beneath the skin's surface, where the body commonly accepts them as its own. CRT produces an immediately visible difference in the appearance of your skin.
How was Collagen Replacement 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 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 Zyderm and Zyplast Collagen Implants. More than 1 million people worldwide have received CRT. Most people experience success with their collagen treatments.
What can I expect with Collagen Replacement Therapy?
Collagen Replacement Therapy is a proven, non-surgical treatment which you can conveniently complete during your lunch hour. It's important to discuss your treatment expectations with us. Together, we can review your medical history, the risks and benefits of treatment, and the specific areas you want treated. CRT may not be appropriate for certain lines and scars, or in the presence of certain medical conditions. For most people, however, CRT is a safe and immediate way to treat lines and wrinkles and beautify your skin and lips. Just like natural collagen, injectable collagen eventually loses its form and wears down. Ongoing treatments are required to maintain the improvements achieved with CRT.
How do I achieve full correction?
It's important to understand that treatment with collagen must be individualized. 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. We 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 I get started?
We start off by giving you a skin test. It's a simple test performed on your forearm to determine if you are sensitive to Zyderm or Zyplast Collagen implants. You must watch the area very carefully over a four week period. Approximately 97% of individuals tested show no reaction to the skin test and are eligible for treatment.
How much will it cost?
Just like natural collagen, injectable collagen is gradually absorbed into the skin and eventually wears down. Ongoing treatments are required every few months to maintain the improvements achieved. A standard treatment starts at about $350. Individual prices vary however depending on the amount of collagen used and duration of therapy.
