Collagen Fillers

Tucson Cosmetics uses synthetic collagens which include Restylane® and Juvederm®

These popular collagen products used in our Collagen Fillers are made from NASHA gel (Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid) in a laboratory. There is no need for a pretreatment test since the collagen is synthetic and has a very low chance of allergic reaction.

Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in your skin and other tissues. Hyaluronic acid plays an important role in giving volume to your skin and thus contributing to its youthful appearance. In just one visit you will be able to plump up your lips and smooth away wrinkles.

Collagen Fillers can be used to give you a long-lasting and natural beauty lift – smoothing wrinkles and folds for a fuller, more sensuous form. Studies show that the vast majority of clients are so pleased with their treatments that they have more when the effect wears off. There is minimal discomfort with the treatments.

Nutrients, oxygen, and hormones pass freely between the gel particles, maintaining the health and vitality of your skin. The body has a system for absorbing hyaluronic acid and it slowly disappears over time without a trace.

To maximize your comfort and minimize the chance of bruising, we like to use SinEcch (Arnica) before treatment. Some people find it helpful to take a couple of plain Tylenol an hour or two before treatment to reduce discomfort. The injections may sting a little, but normally no anesthesia is needed for the treatment of wrinkles and folds. Most people report that the injections are relatively painless. Anesthetic cream is applied to your skin for 20-30 minutes before treatment to reduce or prevent discomfort. So, we ask that you come at least 30 minutes early before your appointment to apply the anesthetic cream.

After Collagen Fillers treatment, some common injection reactions are temporary redness and swelling at injection sites, which typically resolve in two to three days. It is best to avoid using aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, St. John’s Wort, or high-dose vitamin supplements before treatment because these may increase bruising.

Since Restylane lasts 6-12 months, this type of treatment is good for those looking for results that last longer.

The benefits of treatments depend on the location of the treatment and the nature of your skin. Experience has shown that smaller amounts of Collagen® are often needed for maintenance than for the initial correction.*

Will I experience any discomfort or downtime during the Collagen Fillers treatment?

Restylane is a 20-45 minute office procedure with no downtime, but you will need to come in 30-60 minutes early so we can apply a numbing cream to your skin. Many people experience minimal discomfort when the numbing cream is applied in advance (call our office ahead of time to arrange for the numbing cream). Most patients experience a mild stinging sensation of the skin, but it is mild enough that 90% of patients do not wince or move during the procedure. For certain areas and in some patients, a tiny anesthetic injection may be needed. You may apply make-up and resume your usual activities immediately following treatment.

Common uses for the Synthetic Collagens include:

• Correcting folds and wrinkles of the face
• Acne scars
• Nasolabial folds (between your nose, mouth, and cheeks)
• Horizontal (upper forehead) frown lines
• Glabellar (lower forehead) frown lines
• Chin augmentation
• NON-Surgical NOSE JOB
• Hollow Eyes
• Depressed corners of the mouth, also known as marionette lines
• Lip enhancement, including treatment of the edges of the lips and wrinkles around the lips to stop lipstick from leaking from your lips onto the surrounding skin
• Skin defects and scars, ie. acne scars