When you’re young, it’s easy to take firm, resilient skin for granted. As you get older, though, skin starts to lose its natural “bounce,” leaving it a lot more prone to sagging and wrinkles. The reason, in part, has to do with a natural protein called collagen.
In fact, over the past few years, collagen has been touted as a treatment not only for aging skin, but also for lackluster hair and sore joints. Most of us have seen the ads for collagen products — but many of us still don’t know what collagen is or how it “works.”
At ENT Specialists, our medical spa features two collagen-based treatment options aimed at bolstering natural collagen and smoothing wrinkles, restoring a more youthful look to your skin. This post provides a brief overview of collagen, along with a quick review of the collagen treatments we offer at our practice.
Collagen is a protein that’s found in your bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, connective tissues, and — of course — skin. In fact, three-quarters of your skin is made of collagen.
Collagen is composed of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) that form strong fibers. These fibers “interlink” with each other to form a strong, elastic-like network that supports your skin, giving it a natural bounciness and keeping wrinkles and lines at bay.
When we’re young, our bodies produce plenty of collagen, and the elastic fiber network is strong. But as we age, collagen production slows down, the fiber network weakens, and wrinkles and lines are suddenly a lot more visible. UV exposure and other environmental damage can also affect how much collagen you have (another reason why wearing sunscreen is so important).
At our medical spa, we offer injectable collagen fillers to help “plump up” lines and wrinkles with natural collagen that’s compatible with your own skin. When collagen is injected into facial creases, it works in a couple of important ways to smooth out your skin.
First, the collagen itself buoys your skin, filling lines and wrinkles around your mouth, nose, forehead, and chin. Collagen can also be used to add volume to areas like your cheeks, gently lifting your skin so it looks fuller.
Second, the injection process can help stimulate natural collagen production in your skin. That’s because collagen also plays a role in healing. When your body senses the injection, it registers the tiny needle puncture as a wound, triggering production of new collagen that can help your skin look and feel firmer.
Another product, collagen matrix, is threaded under the skin to form a new network ideal for filling in deeper flaws, including scars. The matrix is threaded under the skin below lines and creases, providing a strong, structural network to smooth our brow lines, cheek folds, or lip lines.
With offices in Salt Lake City, Murray, Draper, Tooele, and West Jordan, Utah, ENT Specialists helps patients get the treatment they need for optimal health and wellness at every age. To learn more about our collagen treatments and how they can help you look and feel your best, book an appointment online or over the phone today.
