Super Collagen

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. It makes up the ligaments tendons and the cartilage in our joints, it makes up about three quarters of our skin. There are 27 itemised types of collagen, all a little different in their construction and with a slightly different role to play. Without collagen we would quite literally fall to pieces.

Collagen is a type of protein. Fibrous in nature, it connects and supports other bodily tissues, such as skin, bone, tendons, muscles, and cartilage. It also supports the internal organs and is even present in teeth. There are more than 25 types of collagens that naturally occur in the body.

Collagen is one of the most plentiful proteins present in the bodies of mammals, including humans. In fact, it makes up about 25 percent of the total amount of proteins in the body. Some people refer to collagen as the glue that holds the body together. Without it, the body would, quite literally, fall apart.

Possessing great tensile strength, collagen functions in a manner that is very different from many other types of proteins. For example, it can be found both inside and outside of cells. Collagen fibers are important in contributing to the external structure of cells. However, they are present on the inside of some cells as well.

Collagen works hand-in-hand with elastin in supporting the body's tissues. Basically, it gives body tissues form and provides firmness and strength; elastin gives the same body tissues much need flexibility. This combination of collagen and elastin is very important in many parts of the body, including, but not limited to, the lungs, bones, and tendons. Even the blood vessels rely on both collagen and elastin.

Often, collagen is discussed in relation to the skin. It works with keratin to provide the skin with strength, flexibility, and resilience. As people age, however, collagen degradation occurs, leading to wrinkles. As such, it is an important substance for those looking for ways to fight the visible effects of aging on the skin. Some skincare professionals actually advise people on ways to stimulate the production of collagen in skins cells.

In addition to being so important in the body, collagen also has many medical uses. It is used in some cosmetic surgery procedures and is sold as a supplement created for joint mobility. It is even used in treating and managing serious burns. For this purpose, it is used in creating man-made skin substitutes.

Since collagens are so important within the body, it stands to reason that collagen deficiencies can be problematic. In fact, there are some genetic diseases that are associated with collagen deficiencies. For example, osteogenesis imperfecta, commonly referred to as brittle bone disease, results from a significantly decreased level of collagen. It can also result from the presence of collagen that is of lower quality than normal.

Collagen supplements come in different purities, like any other supplement really. So when choosing a supplement whether it be collagen or any other, you need to select the best quality. That is not necessarily the highest strength by mg although it may be. Consider the source of the supplement. The purest source naturally provides the strongest, inherently.

In the case of collagen supplements the purest source is marine. Many collagen supplements are derived from Bovine sources and often chicken. Now in addition to being less pure, they often contain the wrong types of collagen for best anti-wrinkle/anti-aging effect. There are very many types of collagen and we'll get into that later but for now let's simplyfy things and say Marine collagen is best, beacause it's the purest collagen Pure Collagen

Collagen injections have been used for decades to treat minor imperfections in facial skin, including laugh lines, wrinkles, creases, crow's feet, and acne scars. Collagen is also used to create fuller lips and cheeks and can be used to treat areas of the chest, back, and neck. However, facial collagen injections are by far the most common. In many cases, collagen treatment is combined with other procedures such as a face lift or laser skin resurfacing. Although collagen injections are safe, quick, and easy to administer, it is important to seek treatment from a qualified cosmetic surgeon who can discuss all of the available treatment options with you.

How long will the results of collagen treatment last?
Collagen treatments can last from six weeks to six months or more, depending upon the type of collagen treatment you receive. Bovine collagen injections use animal-based collagen, and cosmetic results tend to have a shorter duration than those of human-based collagen fillers. However, human-based collagen treatments tend to cost more. The type of collagen treatment you have will ultimately be decided by you and your physician after your initial consultation and an allergy test, if a test is necessary. Bear in mind that the results of collagen treatments are not permanent, and follow-up treatments will be necessary to maintain their aesthetic benefit.

Facial collagen injections are a safe and effective way to achieve shapely lips and smoother, less wrinkled skin. However, patients should be aware that the treatment does involve possible risks and complications, including allergic reactions, uneven skin tone around the treatment area, and infection. As with any cosmetic procedure, patients should have a thorough understanding of the risks and benefits of collagen treatment before deciding to undergo the procedure.

The typical price for a bovine collagen injection is about $250 per injection. Advanced, human-based collagen products such as Isolagen average $1,500 per injection. Collagen treatment prices vary

The two basic types of collagen fillers are:

Bovine - purified collagen from cow skin; Zyderm® and Zyplast® are common brands available
Human - natural collagen from human skin. Some sub-types of human collagen are:
Autologen - liquefied collagen taken from your own skin during a previous operation
Isolagen - liquefied collagen that has been cloned from a skin sample taken from you
Dermalogen - liquefied and sterilized collagen from a deceased human tissue donor.

Collagen is the main protein of connective tissue. It has great tensile strength, and is the main component of ligaments and tendons. It is responsible for skin elasticity, and its degradation leads to wrinkles that accompany aging. Collagen also fills out the cornea where it is present in crystalline form. It is also used in cosmetic surgery, for example lip enhancement.

Collagen has an unusual amino acid composition. It contains large amounts of glycine and proline, as well as two amino acids that are not inserted directly by ribosomes - hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine - the former composing a rather large percentage of the total amino acids. They are derivatised from proline and lysine in enzymatic processes of post translational modification, for which vitamin C is required. This is related to why vitamin C deficiencies can cause scurvy, a disease that leads to loss of teeth and easy bruising caused by a reduction in strength of connective tissue due to a lack of collagen or defective collagen. The white collagen that makes up the matrix of most connective tissue in mammals consists of inter-woven fibres of the protein collagen. The collagen fibres consist of globular units of the collagen sub-unit tropocollagen. Tropocollagen sub-units spontaneously arrange themselves under physiological conditions into staggered array structures stabilised by numerous hydrogen and covalent bonds. Tropocollagen sub-units are left-handed triple helices where each strand is, further, a right-handed helix itself. Thus, tropocollagen may be considered to be a coiled coil. Each chain is left handed helix and the wrapping is right-handed!

Another rare feature of collagen is its regular arrangement of amino acids in each of the alpha chains of the collagen sub-units. The sequence generally follows the pattern Gly-X-Y, where Gly for glycine, and X and Y for any amino acid residues. Most of the times, X is for proline and Y is for hydroxyproline. There are very few other proteins with such regularity. The inordinate number of Gly residues allows the otherwise sterically disallowed, tight coiling of each of the alpha chain subunits of tropocollagen, where there is a rise per turn of just 0.3 nm as opposed to the .36 nm of a regular Alpha helical coil. Hydroxylysine and hydroxyproline play important roles in the stabilisation of the tropocollagen globular structure as well as the final fibre shaped structure by forming covalent bonds. The resulting structure is called a collagen helix.

Restylane Injections popular!

learn more Restylane gel is composed of hyaluronic acid, a substance that exists naturally in the body. Its most important function is to carry and bind water molecules.

Non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) does not contain animal protein and does not require a skin test prior to treatment.

Restylane is manufactured by Q-Med. Restylane is designed for different purposes and effects, from reducing wrinkles and folds to enhancing facial contours and sculpting lips. The treatment often takes less than half an hour. Injection-related adverse reactions such as swelling, redness and tenderness might occur. Other adverse reactions are very rare.

Cosmetic

learn more BOTOX®, technically known as Botulinum Toxin Type A, is a toxin that blocks neuromuscular transmission when injected in tiny amounts into specific muscles. BOTOX® Cosmetic is used to treat and improve lines and wrinkles associated with facial expression. BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected in minute quantities. It blocks the nerve impulses to the facial muscles responsible for contraction, thereby relaxing the muscles and smoothing facial lines. It is most effective on frown lines and crow's feet around the eyes. Accurate dosing and precise positioning are critical in order to freeze the right muscles just enough.

The treatment takes about 30 minutes and the effect of a treatment can be seen within 1 - 2 weeks. The long-term risks of BOTOX® Cosmetic are unknown. Redness may occur, as well as bruising, numbness, swelling and headaches. If overdosed or the injection is performed incorrectly, the patient can be left with an immobile face or droopy eyelids until the effect of the injection wears off.