Benefits (and Side Effects) of Collagen Injections

You’ve had collagen in your body since the day you were born. But once you reach a certain age, your body stops producing it entirely.

This is when collagen injections or fillers can come into play. They replenish your skin’s natural collagen. In addition to smoothing out wrinkles, collagen can fill out skin depressions and even significantly reduce the appearance of scars.

This article covers the benefits and side effects of collagen injections, comparing them to other cosmetic treatments. Read on to learn what to know before trying them!

What are the benefits of collagen injections?

Collagen is the skin’s most abundant protein. It’s found in your bones, cartilage, skin, and tendons.

Collagen injections, like Bellafill, are a cosmetic treatment where bovine (cow) collagen is injected beneath your skin.

Possible benefits include the following:

They can replace your skin’s natural collagen

With the breakdown of collagen occurring in the body after a certain age, collagen injections can replace your body’s original supply of collagen.

As collagen is largely responsible for the skin’s elasticity, this leaves the skin with a more youthful appearance.

One studyTrusted Source looked at 123 people who received human collagen in the folds between their brows for a year. Researchers found that 90.2 percent of participants were satisfied with their results.

Collagen injections help reduce wrinkles in specific facial areas, including the nose, crow’s feet around the eyes, frown lines around the mouth, and the forehead.

They can reduce the appearance of scars

Soft-tissue fillers such as collagen are ideal for improving the appearance of depressed (sunken) or hollow scars.

Bovine collagen is injected under the scar to stimulate collagen growth and to elevate the skin depression caused by the scar.

They can plump the lips

Collagen lip fillers plump up the lips, adding fullness and volume.

While these were once some of the most commonly used fillers for lips, fillers that contain hyaluronic acid (HA) have since become more popular.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a gel-like molecule naturally found in the body that helps keep skin hydrated. Similar to collagen, it adds volume to the lips and smooths vertical lines above the lips, like nasolabial folds.

However, unlike collagen, HA is temporary and naturally breaks down in the body over time.

Bellafill vs. Sculptra

Bellafill
Bellafill is the only collagen filler available in the U.S. and the only FDA-approved filler for treating scars. It’s made with bovine collagen and PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) microspheres, along with lidocaine to minimize pain during the procedure.

The PMMA beads stay in place, creating a framework for your body to build its own collagen over time.

Sculptra Aesthetic
Sculptra Aesthetic isn’t a collagen filler—it’s a collagen stimulator. Its main ingredient, poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), works with your body to boost collagen production as it’s absorbed. This process gradually improves skin’s appearance, making it look younger.

Most people need three treatments over 3–4 months, but this can vary based on how much collagen your body has lost. Results can last up to two years, or until the PLLA is fully broken down.

Where on your body can collagen be injected?

Collagen injections are not a one-trick pony.

In addition to smoothing out various areas of the face, they can add plumpness to:

• lips
• cheeks
• acne scars
• stretch marks

Regarding the latter, collagen has a lot more to do with stretch marks than you might think.

Stretch marks are caused when the skin stretches or shrinks too quickly. This could be due to various reasons, such as pregnancy, growth spurts, sudden weight gain or loss, and muscle training.

When this happens, the collagen in the skin ruptures, leading to uneven scars in the skin.

Injecting collagen into stretch marks causes the skin to heal itself and appear smoother.

How long do collagen injections last?

Collagen injections are considered permanent, although results are reported to last up to 5 years. This is in comparison to HA fillers, which are temporary, only lasting around 3 to 6 months.

May last longer the more you have

In some cases, collagen injection results can last longer with repeated treatments. For instance, a 2005 study found that results lasted around 9 months after the first injection, 12 months after the second, and 18 months after the third. Source

How Location Impacts the Longevity of Results

Other factors can predict how long the results last, such as the location of the injection site as well as the type of injection material used. Here are a few examples:

• For smoothing out wrinkles on the face, you may have to get touch-ups several times throughout the year.
• For scar reductions, you may only have to make one to two visits a year, depending on how severe the scar is.
• Lip enhancements should be done every 3 months.

Collagen injections deliver immediate results, though it can take up to a week- or even a few months- for the full effect to show.

This makes them a great option for anyone wanting to leave their dermatologist’s or plastic surgeon’s office with smoother, more youthful-looking skin.

What are the side effects of collagen injections?

Collagen injections, like any cosmetic procedure, can have side effects. While serious reactions are rare due to pre-procedure skin tests, some possible side effects include:

• Redness and swelling at the injection site
• Bruising, bleeding, or discomfort
• Itching or skin rash
• Infection at the injection site
• Scarring or lumps
• Rare complications like blindness (if injected too close to the eyes) or wounds (if injected too deeply into a blood vessel)

It’s important to consult a qualified professional and discuss any concerns before undergoing the procedure. Source

Conclusion

Collagen injections offer a quick and effective way to enhance your skin’s appearance, reducing wrinkles and improving scars.

While the results can be impressive, it’s important to be mindful of potential side effects and ensure the procedure is performed by a skilled professional.

With the right care, collagen injections can help you achieve a smoother, more youthful look. For more information visit: Remedyu.