What Is Collagen & Why Is it So Important?

When it comes to anti-aging, collagen is the buzzword. Fittingly, the word itself originates from the Greek root “kolla”, meaning glue. Making up about 25 to 35 percent of our body’s total protein, collagen is the glue that holds the body together. Collagen is the main component of the body’s connective tissues. By forming a fibrous network known as the extracellular matrix (ECM), collagen is what gives our skin its strength, structural support, and elasticity—and thus, its youthful allure.

Sadly, beginning at the tender age of 20, our body’s production of collagen decreases by up to one percent per year. No longer as plentiful, collagen loss results in fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. Similarly, our skin starts to sag as it gradually loses its natural elasticity.

Adding to our skin’s aging appearance, overtime, facial movements stress the extracellular matrix. When we smile, squint, or frown—collagen further breaks down and causes lines and wrinkles to form around the eyes, nose, and mouth.

For women, estrogen also plays an integral part in collagen production. Unfortunately, as estrogen levels decline, so does the body’s ability to produce collagen. Post menopause, many women begin to see more pronounced wrinkles and sagging of their facial skin.

Collagen loss is inevitable, luckily, at Eastbay Aesthetic Surgery, we can help you increase your body’s natural collagen production.

Skin Resurfacing

Reducing wrinkles and helping to tighten slack skin, skin resurfacing increases collagen production as it encourages a more rapid skin turnover. Depending on your skin’s needs, we offer laser skin resurfacing and gentler treatments like dermabrasion, microdermabrasion and needeling. Taking advantage of her expertise in skin rejuvenation, Sherry, our medical aesthetician, will help tailor your treatment to you skin’s specific needs.

Skin Care

Proper skin care is essential for both preventing and maintaining a youthful appearance. Containing small elastin peptides, the Forticelle Skin Refinement Series is specially designed to regenerate collagen and elastin as well as exfoliate and inactivate free radicals in the skin that accelerate aging.

Fillers

Bellafill and Sculptra are fillers that help promote collagen production. Bellafill® is a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) collagen filler. The collagen immediately adds volume to the skin to lift wrinkles known as smile lines. The PMMA microspheres create a matrix that supports your body’s own collagen production. Sculptra Aesthetic is a type of facial injectable made from poly-L-lactic acid, which helps to replace lost collagen. It helps correct shallow and deep facial wrinkles, and folds; that appear with aging by replacing lost collagen. The main ingredient is a biocompatible, biodegradable synthetic material that has been used by physicians for decades.

Let us at Eastbay Aesthetic Surgery help restore your complexion. To learn more about collagen restoration, please schedule a consultation at one of our two offices.

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