Collagen Fillers- CosmoDerm®, CosmoPlast®, Hylaform®

What is collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant natural protein found in the body and provides structural support to skin, muscles, tendons and bone. Fibers of collagen are woven together, like threads in fabric, to form a framework into which new cells can grow. In the skin, collagen provides texture, resiliency and shape.

What is Collagen Replacement Therapy?
Collagen Replacement Therapy is a safe, non-surgical wrinkle correction treatment in which highly purified collagen is injected into the skin to replenish the skin's lost collagen, restoring skin structure.

What are CosmoDerm® and CosmoPlast®?
CosmoDerm® and CosmoPlast® are collagen dermal (skin) fillers made from human collagen and injected just below the skin's surface to smooth wrinkles, fill in deep furrows and folds, and restore the lip border.

What is Hylaform®?
Hylaform® is a dermal filler made of chemically modified hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a natural sugar found in the fluids surrounding cells and tissues. It is chemically, physically and biologically similar in the tissues of all species. Hylaform® is made from highly purified natural hyaluronic acid that is gradually absorbed by your body through natural mechanisms.

What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a natural sugar. It is found in the human body in the skin, cartilage, joints and the eyes. In skin tissue, hyaluronic acid fills the space between collagen and elastin fibers. The role of hyaluronic acid in skin is to deliver nutrients, to hydrate the skin by holding in water and to act as a cushioning agent.

How are Collagen Treatments Different from Botox®?
BOTOX is a protein that is injected into muscles to relax them, smoothing lines and wrinkles caused by repeated facial movements. In contrast, collagen is a dermal filler and is injected below a wrinkle, scar or depression in order to "fill" it in, smoothing the surface of the skin.

CosmoDerm® and CosmoPlast®
CosmoDerm® and CosmoPlast® are injected just below the surface of the skin, filling in unwanted lines and wrinkles while adding definition. They can be used to fill in worry lines on the forehead, frown lines between the eyes, crow's feet, smile lines and acne scars, to define the lip border and to minimize deep creases on the side of the mouth.

What is the Difference Between CosmoDerm® and CosmoPlast®?
CosmoDerm is used for fine lines while CosmoPlast is used in the treatment of deeper lines and furrows.

How Long Does the Procedure Take?
Treatment of collagen injections usually takes less than one hour.

What areas can be treated with CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast?
The most common areas treated are the smile lines around your nose and mouth, frown lines between the eyes, acne scars, fine lines above the mouth, and the lip border to add definition.

Can I have more than one area treated at the same time?
Yes, more than one area can be injected at the same time.

How frequently will I need to have Collagen Replacement Therapy?
To maintain optimal correction, touch-up injections are usually needed two or three times a year. The amount of collagen used during follow-up treatments is usually less than that used in the initial treatment. Without ongoing treatments, the collagen is gradually absorbed by the body and your face returns to its original contours.

Are collagen injections painful?
Most people report that the injections are relatively painless. To minimize discomfort, a topical or local anesthetic can be applied to the area prior to treatment. Also, CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast contain an anesthetic, lidocaine, which helps to temporarily numb the treatment area.

Do I need to take time off from work to recuperate?
Collagen Replacement Therapy is a simple procedure with a quick recovery time. Most patients feel comfortable resuming their normal activities immediately following treatment. You are free to eat, drink, or wear makeup with sunblock shortly after treatment. There may be some temporary swelling and redness in the treated area, that should subside within an hour.

CosmoDerm/CosmoPlast Before and After PhotoGallery

Hylaform
Hylaform is injected into skin tissue for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds such as nasolabial folds, commonly known as smile lines. The most common areas treated are the smile lines around your nose and mouth, marionette lines at the corners of your mouth, frown lines between the eyes and fine lines above the mouth

How are Hylaform treatments different from collagen treatments?
Hylaform temporarily adds volume to your skin by mimicking the hydrating effects of your skin's natural hyaluronic acid. Treatment with CosmoDerm® and CosmoPlast® (and bovine collagen) replenish your skin's lost collagen, restoring skin structure.

How does Hylaform work?
Hylaform is injected just beneath the skin's surface temporarily adding volume to the layers of the skin that have deteriorated due to age and other factors. Hylaform, when injected, is used to raise depressions in the skin, providing temporary correction of wrinkles and folds.

Do the injections hurt?
In general, injections may cause some discomfort. Hylaform is injected directly into the skin using a fine needle to reduce injection discomfort. Physicians may choose to anesthetize or numb the treatment area to further minimize discomfort.

How often will I require treatment?
To maintain optimal correction, touch-up injections are usually needed two or three times a year. Everyone's skin is different. That is why the timing of any additional treatment varies from person to person. Over time, Hylaform will be absorbed by your body, which is why you may want ongoing treatments. If you choose not to continue with your treatment, any remaining Hylaform is simply absorbed by your body over time and your skin gradually returns to its natural shape. Your physician can work with you to develop a treatment plan that is right for you.

Without touch-up injections, how will my skin look?
Correction will reduce gradually until your skin looks like it did before treatment with Hylaform. Touch-up injections will help you maintain correction of the skin surface

How long does the procedure take?
Treatment and recovery with Hylaform usually takes less than one hour.

Hylaform Before and After Photo Gallery