Collagen biostimulators in Medellín

Collagen biostimulators, collagen stimulators, biostimulatory fillers: these are all names for the same treatment. It involves injecting a substance that prompts your skin to produce its own collagen, with the goal of improving firmness in the face or body. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) groups them with dermal fillers and explains that poly-L-lactic acid does not give an immediate result: the improvement shows up gradually over a few months. That's why the result isn't judged on the day of treatment. It builds over 2 to 3 months and lasts 12 to 24 months.

These are two of the substances used as biostimulators, and they are not the same. According to the FDA, calcium hydroxylapatite is a mineral and one of the main components of bone, and poly-L-lactic acid is a biodegradable synthetic material. Both are on its list of temporary fillers: the body breaks them down and absorbs them over time. Which one suits you, the amount and the areas to treat depend on your skin and on what you want to improve. It isn't decided from a photo or from what worked for someone else: your aesthetic physician makes that call when she examines you at your in-person consultation.

A biostimulator works on firmness. If you're looking for something else, other options may be a better fit:

• Restoring volume or treating the lips: hyaluronic acid fillers.
• Forehead lines, frown lines between the brows or crow's feet: Botox.
• Firmer skin with a device instead of injections: HIFU or radiofrequency.
• A lifted look without surgery when sagging is mild: thread lift.
• Significant sagging: according to the ASPS, for some people surgery such as a facelift may be the best option. That's for a plastic surgeon to evaluate.
• More volume in the buttocks: the FDA advises against using any injectable filler for that. What you can look into instead, with a plastic surgeon, is a Brazilian butt lift (BBL), a fat transfer to the buttocks.

At your consultation, we'll tell you what makes sense for you.

According to the FDA, before the treatment you should tell your doctor if you:

• Have pimples, cysts, a rash or hives, or any infection.
• Have a bleeding disorder.
• Have severe allergies or have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
• Are allergic to local anesthetics such as lidocaine, which some fillers contain.

The FDA also notes that the safety of these products is not known during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or in people who tend to form keloids or thick scars. At your consultation, we review your medical history and tell you whether it's right for you or better to wait.

This is a medical procedure and, like any other, it has risks. The ASPS lists, among others:

• Bruising, redness and swelling.
• Lumps, or being able to feel the product under the skin.
• Asymmetry, or under- or overcorrection.
• Acne-like breakouts, an itchy rash or infection.
• Skin loss from a lack of blood flow (necrosis).

According to the FDA, the most serious risk, though unlikely, is accidentally injecting into a blood vessel: it can cause skin loss, blindness or a stroke. Before you decide, we explain each risk to you and you sign an informed consent form.

For your consultation, have a list of your medical conditions, allergies, medications, vitamins and supplements, and tell us if you've had fillers, Botox or laser treatments before: the ASPS recommends discussing this at the consultation. Ask for the name of the product: you can look up its registration on the website of INVIMA, Colombia's food and drug regulator. Afterward, you may have mild swelling for 1 to 3 days. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises protecting your skin from the sun and not touching the area unless your doctor tells you to massage it, as can happen with poly-L-lactic acid. According to the FDA, if you have unusual pain, notice changes in your vision or see white, gray or bluish skin near the injection site, get medical care right away.