Collagen injections are used to minimize facial creases and wrinkle lines by replenishing collagen loss associated with aged and sun damaged skin. In 2003 a new form of collagen derived from fetal skin cultures was FDA-approved. This is called Cosmoderm (for superficial lines) and Cosmoplast (for deeper creases). It replaced the previous bovine collagen (cow-derived) which had been widely used for more than 20 years. It has the advantage of less allergic risk and does not require prior skin testing. Its effects generally last about 3 months, similar to the previous collagen product. The material comes premixed with a local anesthetic, which makes injection more comfortable than other fillers, such as Restylane. However, it is still recommended that patients pre-apply a topical anesthetic cream 30-45 minutes before their procedure to minimize discomfort. We can also keep you informed on up-to-date status of other newer dermal filler substances as they are FDA-approved that may be more effective and longer lasting than collagen.