Collagen is essentially just a naturally-occurring protein in the body that breaks down over time, so there are generally few complications involved. Patients typically come in, undergo a 30 to 60 minute procedure and leave the same day. Collagen is the main protein of connective tissues. It is responsible for skin elasticity and its degradation leads to wrinkles that accompany aging. Collagen makes skin stronger, thicker and more supple, which is what makes skin smooth, firm and strong - and young looking. But unfortunately as we age the skin losses collagen and your body gradually produces less and less. Collagen hydrolysate is produced by enzymatically breaking down bovine gelatin to smaller protein fragments. Collagen has been around since the early seventies. Those peace loving beauties that opted for fuller lips often had their faces injected with bovine fat. Collagen supports the epidermis and keeps the skin looking firm and young. Collagen has great tensile strength, and is the main component of fascia, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bone and teeth. Along with soft keratin, it is responsible for skin strength and elasticity, and its degradation leads to wrinkles that accompany aging. Collagen from chickens is quite a good source and this type is particularly suited to joint relief. Bovine collagen is the most potent and closest in type to our own. Collagen has a multitude of functions in the body, including keeping the organs in place, and it would not be able to do this without sufficient C vitamin levels. Collagen protein is the cement that virtually holds everything together. Your ligaments, tendons, bones and skeletal muscles are all held together by collagen, as well as smooth muscle tissue like your blood vessels, digestive tract and organs. Collagen also fills out the cornea where it is present in crystalline form. Collagen in its natural state exists in a triple chain helix along with a constant periodicity between aligned triple chains. The triple helical configuration of collagen is sometimes referred to as a fibril and the fibrils align with an axial periodicity of about 640 A. Collagen can also reduce oxidation damage to joints and therefore stimulate reduction in joint pain, tenderness and swelling.
Original source: http://itsabeauty.wordpress.com/?p=9
