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As the aging process occurs our faces begin to show the effects of
gravity, sun exposure and years of facial muscle movement from smiling,
squinting, and chewing . As the underlying tissues that keep skin
looking youthful and plump begin to break down, they leave laugh lines,
smile lines, crow's feet or facial creases over the areas where muscle
movement occurs.
Soft-tissue fillers, or injectable collagen (several
types are available) or fat, can help fill in these lines and creases,
thus temporarily restoring a smoother, more youthful-looking
appearance. When injected beneath the skin, these fillers plump up
creased and sunken areas of the face. They can also add fullness to
lips and cheeks. Injectable fillers may be used alone, or in
conjunction with other procedures such as resurfacing with a laser
treatment or a facelift. Deep folds in the face or brow caused by
overactive muscles or by lose
skin can be more effectively treated
with cosmetic surgery, such as a brow lift or face lift.
Because there is some risk of an allergic reaction to collagen,
patients must undergo an allergy skin test before treatment. Redness,
swelling, itching or swelling at the test site are contraindications
for collagen injection. Collagen injections are also inadvisable
in patients with histories of collagen vascular disease, autoimmune
disease, allergies to beef or cow-like products and allergies to
lidocaine or the anesthetic injected along with the collagen.
Normal activities may be resumed immediately after treatment. The
duration of effects is brief, and variable. In general, the effects
will disappear soonest in areas with the greatest muscle movement. Some
patients retain the effects longer than others, and for reasons that
are not entirely clear. Patients should not expect the duration to last
for more than a year and perhaps only for a few months.
Costs:
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