Collagen Replacement Therapy

Collagen Replacement Therapy® is a natural, non-surgical procedure which has been used by  millions of  individuals to help reduce facial lines and wrinkles, providing immediate and visible results with minimal recovery time. In fact, many patients return to work or other activities immediately following their treatment.

Dr. Pilest is no longer offering collagen products as dermal fillers. Better options are the hyaluronic acid gels Restylane,  Perlane, Juvederm and Prevelle and the collagen stimulators Sculptra and Radiesse which prompt your own natural collagen production.

The original collagen fillers, Zyderm & Zyplast Collagen, were derived from purified bovine (cow) and have been replaced by much more efficient and longer lasting products.  Although still in use as components of other fillers such as Artefill, these bovine products are not available as stand along fillers. Dr. Pilest recommends the use use of fillers with no allergic potential which include Restylane and Juvederm or the more permanent fillers such as Radiesse or Sculptra.   Artefill is available as a permanent filler and does contaqin bovine collagen as a carrier.

By supplementing your skin's own collagen  we can smooth out wrinkles, most scars, replace lost facial volume, return a youthful lip border and fullness and improve the appearance of deeper frown lines.

Immediately following collagen injections normal activity can be resumed. Discomfort is minimal. The treatment sites may have a little swelling which may last a few hours and depend on the filler chosen and your skin's own individual response. There may be some slight bruising which may be covered by makeup but this is typically only with the more robust and longer lasting fillers such as Restylane, Radiesse or Sculptra.

Depending on the area, treatments usually last from three to six months or up to 5 years in the case of Radiesse.

Wrinkle Filler Product Duration

• Perlane - 6 to 9+ months
• Restylane - 6 to 9 months or longer
• Juvederm Ultra and Ultra Plus - 6 to 9 months or longer
• Sculptra - possibly 2  years or longer
• Radiesse  (formerly Radiance) - possibly 5  years
  

Areas most frequently treated with collagen or collagen-like fillers are:

• Nasolabial folds (sides of the nose)
• Perioral lines (above the lips)
• the Vermillion ridge (top of the lip)
• Glabellar frown lines (between the eyebrows)
• Oral commissures (smile lines)
• Marionette lines (lines at the ends of the mouth)
• Crows feet
• Acne scars and Depressed scars.