Collagen is found in the body’s various types of connective tissue, including skin, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. Collagen forms dense fibers that provide support, strength, and cushioning – the collagen within our skin is mainly responsible for the elasticity, resiliency, smoothness, and volume of our skin. Collagen production starts to slow down as we age, starting in our early 30’s. As collagen levels decrease, we can begin to develop fine lines and wrinkles; as levels decrease further, we may start to see loose, sagging, and even shriveled looking skin.
Natural vs Artificial Collagen
Unsurprisingly many cosmetic procedures attempt to rejuvenate the skin’s appearance by trying to compensate for lost collagen. But there’s a difference between the collagen that’s naturally produced by your body, and externally applied collagen that’s somehow added to the body. It’s difficult for the body to absorb applied collagen effectively, and it’s also not possible to replace all the body’s missing collagen this way. Naturally produced collagen is by far the most effective substance for maintaining the skin’s firmness and resiliency.
Stimulating Natural Collagen Production
Having established that simply applying collagen to the skin using creams (or even injections) is less effective than persuading the body to create more collagen naturally, the question becomes what’s the most effective way to reverse the natural reduction in collagen production as we age?
Injectable fillers bypass one problem – they are directly injected into the optimum skin layer and don’t need to first be absorbed by the outer skin layers. Injectable fillers typically contain primarily hyaluronic acid, which provides immediate benefits by increasing the skin’s retention of moisture, but more significantly has recently been proven to stimulate the body’s natural collagen production over significant periods.
Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Fillers
The use of hyaluronic acid thereby provides a double-benefit – injection of the filler will resolve several age-related cosmetic issues immediately, and the long-term stimulation of collagen production allows benefits to be seen even after the body eventually starts to absorb the filler over time.
Your Laser Skin Care
Your Laser Skin Care can provide you with advice on the best ways to use and combine different dermal fillers, giving you the most effective and cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals, tailored to your specific needs. We have extensive experience providing dermal fillers, as well as a host of other non-invasive cosmetic procedures. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.
