Generic name: Human collagen
Brand(s): CosmoDerm 1, CosmoDerm 2, CosmoPlast
Maker / Website: Inamed (www.allerganandinamed.com)
Cost: about $300-$700 for the initial 1.0 cc, additional amounts may cost less
Allergy test required: No
Durability: 3 to 6 month
Function / Purpose:
CosmoDerm 1 is used to treat fine lines, wrinkles, shallow scars and thin-skinned areas.
CosmoDerm 2 is used to treat moderate lines, wrinkles and scars. CosmoPlast is used to treat pronounced lines and wrinkles, scars, and thicker-skinned areas.
Summary:
Human injectable collagen (CosmoDerm 1, CosmoDerm 2, CosmoPlast) is similar to bovine collagen in terms of its uses, durability and other properties but has one important advantage: lower risk or allergic and other immune reactions (about 1.3% compared to up to 7% for bovine collagen). It does not require allergy testing. However, human collagen tends to be more expensive. CosmoDerm 1, CosmoDerm 2 and CosmoPlast are derived from human tissue culture, purified and prepared in the form of a buffered saline suspension. The anesthetic lidocaine is added to reduce the pain of injection.
Contraindications:
As per Summary of Safety and Effectiveness Data submitted by the manufacturer to the FDA: "CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast Human-Based Collagens must not be used in patients with severe allergies manifested by a history of anaphylaxis. CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast Human-Based Collagens contain lidocaine and must not be used in patients with known lidocaine hypersensitivity. CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast Human-Based Collagens are contraindicated for use in breast augmentation, and for implantation into bone, tendon, ligament, or muscle."
Details:
Human collagen (CosmoDerm 1, CosmoDerm 2, CosmoPlast) has been developed as an alernative for people who seek collagen injections but are allergic to bovine collagen. (About 3-7% of people are allergic or react adversely to bovine collagen.) Allergy test is not required for human collagen. Depending on the variant, human collagen can be used to correct fines lines, wrinkles, deep lines and furrows, pitted scars and so forth. CosmoDerm 1, CosmoDerm 2 and CosmoPlast are derived from human tissue culture, purified and prepared in the form of a buffered saline suspension. The anesthetic lidocaine is added to reduce the pain of injection. It is more expensive than bovine collagen but carries much less risk of allergic or immune reactions (reportedly 1.3%). It lasts about as long as bovine collagen, which is 3 to 6 month.
The existing range of brands allows selecting a product optimal for the size of the 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 human collagen products differ in various characteristics (such as degree of cross-linking) and target different problems:
- CosmoDerm 1 is used to treat fine lines, wrinkles, shallow scars and thin-skinned areas.
- CosmoDerm 1, CosmoDerm 2 is used to treat moderate lines, wrinkles and scars.
- CosmoPlast is used to treat pronounced lines and wrinkles, scars, and thicker-skinned areas.
