Continuing with the topic of cosmetology, today I'll talk about collagen synthesis stimulants. I'm not a cosmetologist and haven't had such procedures performed on myself, BUT from a physiological perspective, I definitely believe these procedures have some harm, which outweighs the harm from the fillers mentioned in the previous post. Without further ado, here are some photos.
The most popular of these products is Radiesse. It's calcium hydroxyapatite in a special gel. The gel isn't particularly important to us, but calcium hydroxyapatite is the main component of our bones and teeth (enamel).
So, some smart guy (in a good way) once conducted experiments and realized that if you inject this mineral into the skin, the fibroblasts freak out a bit and start isolating it with collagen, which they then boost. This happens for the same reason as with fillers (read the previous post)—mechanical receptors that respond to tissue stiffness are activated. So, while regular fillers with stabilized hyaluronic acid are only slightly stiffer than the tissue (depending on the filler and where you inject them), Radiesse (particles of calcium hydroxyapatite) "scares" the cells so much that they decide to tightly seal the injection site with collagen.
This occurs through the activation of TGF-β (Transforming Growth Factor Beta). I've already written about this factor. But the physiology of this process is more likely that the cells around the injection site decide that a bone fracture has occurred, since in a healthy, intact body, calcium hydroxyapatite isn't found in the skin, only in the bones. And when a fracture occurs, this substance likely signals fibroblasts to repair the damage.
So, what happens to someone who injects themselves with something similar year after year? Nothing good. The injection sites will harden, and the tissue will become more rigid. Of course, there won't be any "cement," but there will be significant fibrosis. More injections means more fibrosis. And that means accelerated aging. At the very least. At the very most, various localized inflammatory processes in old age.
I know cosmetologists read this. And they might argue with this, but these are the facts. Whether you like them or not (usually not).
I've spoken to surgeons who've confirmed these processes. Moreover, here's a photo from a Ukrainian surgeon who performs facelifts. As I understand it, this drug is a big problem for him, as it works on the facial fascia during lifting. Raddies simply "cements" the tissue it pulls. The photo shows a facial incision during surgery performed by a female cosmetologist who has injected this drug multiple times. The fibrous area is clearly visible.
(c) Photo from the channel https://t.me/chernovarzt
