Dermal Filler: Bovine collagen (ZyDerm 1, ZyDerm 2, ZyPlast)

Generic name: Bovine collagen

Brand(s): ZyDerm 1, ZyDerm 2, ZyPlast

Maker / Website: Inamed (www.allerganandinamed.com)

Cost: about $300-$400 for 1.0 cc, extra $100-$150 for each additional cc

Allergy test required: Yes

Durability: 3 to 6 month

Function / Purpose:
ZyDerm 1 is used to treat fine lines, wrinkles, shallow scars and thin-skinned areas. ZyDerm 2 is used to treat moderate lines, wrinkles and scars. Zyplast is used to treat pronounced lines and wrinkles, scars, and thicker-skinned areas.

Summary:
Bovine collagen (ZyDerm 1, ZyDerm 2, ZyPlast) is the oldest dermal filler in existance. Depending on the variant, it can be used to correct fines lines, wrinkles, deep lines and furrows, pitted scars and so forth. It is a suspension of purified bovine collagen suspended in a saline solution. It is less expensive than most other dermal fillers. On the other hand, its effects are relatively short-lived. Also, since bovine collagen is a foreign protein for humans, the incidence of alergic reactions is about 3-7%. Therefore, allergy test is required before treatment.

Contraindications:
Bovine collagen is contraindicated in people allergic to it or people with connective tissue diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, dermatomyositis and others.

Details:
Bovine injectable collagen (ZyDerm 1, ZyDerm 2, ZyPlast) has been around longer than any other dermal filler. In fact, it was the first dermal filler approved by the FDA, which occurred in 1982. Notably, it is the least expensive of various types of collagen-based fillers, and it is cheaper than many other types of fillers. Unfortunately, around 3-7 percent (estimates wary widely) of people develop an allergy due to small but important structural differences between human and bovine collagen. As a result, every patient considering bovine collagen treatment requires a skin test to determine sensitivity. Only if no reaction is observed at the injection site after four weeks, the treatment may proceed.

Importantly, people with connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and dermatomyositis appear more likely to develop an allergic reaction to bovine collagen. It is prudent to avoid bovine collagen injections in people with such conditions. There have also been reports of connective tissue disease arising for the first time after bovine collagen injections. However, a causative link between the injections and connective tissue disease has not been established.

Injectable bovine collagen is used mainly for wrinkles of varying depth and depressed scars. The existing range of brands allows to select a product optimal for the size of target wrinkles or scars.

Since collagen is gradually degraded by the body's enzymes, the effects tend to disappear after 3-6 month and the treatment must be repeated to maintain results.

Injectable bovine collagen products differ in various characeristics (such as degree of cross-linking) and target different problems:

• ZyDerm 1 is used to treat fine lines, wrinkles, shallow scars and thin-skinned areas.
• ZyDerm 1, ZyDerm 2 is used to treat moderate lines, wrinkles and scars.
• ZyPlast is used to treat pronounced lines and wrinkles, scars, and thicker-skinned areas.

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Related Links

Collagen-based fillers
eMedicine: Collagen Injections
Index of fillers
Research studies of dermal & soft-tissue fillers
eMedicine: Dermal Fillers
Database of board certified skin rejuvenation doctors

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