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Collagen
What is Collagen?
Skin is your body's largest, and
most visible, organ. Your skin is composed of two layers.
- The upper most layer of
skin called the epidermis, acts as a protective barrier. The epidermis
controls loss of water from the cells and tissues, and without it
your body would quickly dehydrate.
- Just beneath your 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.
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 frowning or smiling.
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 do not disappear when you stop
smiling or frowning.
How does Collagen Therapy work?
Collagen Replacement Therapy (CRT) replenishes
the skin's natural collagen support layer, smoothing facial lines and
most types of scars. 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.
Botox
What is Botox®?
Botox® is a purified protein
toxin produced by the clostridium botulinum bacteria. Although Botox®
is a toxin, there have been no serious side effects. This is because,
for the treatment described, it is used in extremely small amounts and
does not spread throughout the body.
How is Botox® used?
A few drops of Botox® are injected
with a tiny needle into the muscle that creates a wrinkle. When Botox®
is injected into a muscle, it blocks the nerve impulse from reaching
that area, and as a result, the muscle weakens. As the muscle weakens,
the skin overlying the muscle relaxes and the wrinkles in the skin gradually
soften and often disappear.
Does a Botox® injection
hurt?
When Botox® is injected there
is an initial minor sting for a few seconds. Once the injection is complete,
there is usually no discomfort.
Where can Botox® be injected?
The most common areas for the use of
Botox® are the frown lines between the eyebrows, the horizontal
forehead lines, and the crow's feet. On occasion, some other areas may
be treated as well.
Does Botox® affect other facial expressions
or create numbness?
Botox® does not affect the nerve,
so there is no numbness in the area of the injection. Also, the effect
of the Botox® is only in the immediate area of the injection. Therefore,
the muscles related to other expressions are unaffected.
How long does a Botox® treatment last?
The effects of Botox® usually last
three to five months, at which time another injection is required. After
several treatments, the effect of Botox® may begin to last longer,
sometimes up to ten months.
How safe is Botox®
Botox® has been used safely and successfully
in ophthalmology for over 10 years, and for wrinkle therapy for over
6 years. In the amounts used for wrinkle therapy, the only possible
side effects are temporary and localized to the area of injection.
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