Collagen is a fibrillar protein found in the middle layer of the skin, the dermis. This protein is organised into parallel bundles to each other and to the surface of the skin. These bundles are real “ropes” that stretch and maintain the structure of the skin. These beams are real “ropes” that stretch and maintain the structure of the skin. The main characteristic of this protein is its resistance and elasticity, these 2 aspects are transferred to the skin giving it these properties, which means that the skin is resistant to aggressions and trauma and also has the ability to be elastic and turgid.
The problem is that from the age of 25 onwards we start to lose collagen and, little by little, these precious characteristics also disappear. Our skin is less and less elastic and resistant, so that it becomes more and more worn and responds less well to aggressions, regenerating with greater difficulty, resulting in defects, wrinkles, blemishes and dermal alterations.
It is that product that once infiltrated in the dermis will get it to create new collagen, i.e., cause the synthesis of the skin’s own collagen to regain those characteristics that are lost with the disappearance of this protein.
The most widely used because of their safety and efficacy are:
• Sculptra®, the main component is polylactic acid
• Radiesse®, its component is calcium hydroxyapatite
• Ellanse®, made up of carboxymethylcellulose
•Restylane Vital®, hyaluronic acid from NASHA technology
These stimulators act directly on the fibroblast when placed in the dermis. Fibroblast is a wonderful cell that belongs to the dermal layer of the skin and whose function is to generate all the components of the skin. With age and aggressions, the fibroblast weakens and loses its ability to function. By stimulating it with these products, we provoke a reactivation of its function that results in the creation of new collagen fibres that will be organised in the described bundles that give smoothness and health to the skin.
All the active ingredients described above are biocompatible and reabsorbable, so they should not cause any problems and, moreover, they will disappear from the skin once they have carried out their function.
It must be infiltrated into the correct layer of the skin using cannulas or needles. As a general rule, we try to create tension vectors, but what is really important is to distribute the biostimulator as well as possible in the dermis, creating a kind of layer or mesh so that it stimulates as many fibroblasts as necessary. The application is not usually painful and takes about 20/30 minutes. The most important thing is that it is performed by a qualified and experienced practitioner, given the importance of respecting noble anatomical structures and of placing it in the correct structure to obtain the desired result.
We can expect the collagen regeneration created to last about 10-12 months, which is when we should repeat the treatment, although it is true that on some occasions with very damaged or punished skins we may need several shock sessions at the beginning separated by a month to obtain a good result, and then we would consider a new session after six months or a year.
The patient can return to their normal routine immediately after the treatment. There may be slight swelling in the treated areas for 2 or 3 days and, if they appear, bruising may last 4-5 days. We always carry out a follow-up examination after 2 to 3 weeks to assess the result and check that everything is correct
