Key Takeaways
- Collagen-stimulating treatments encourage the body to produce new collagen over weeks to months. They’re generally considered where the focus is structural support and firmness rather than volume.
- Regenerative skin treatments are aimed more broadly at skin quality, including elastin and the environment within the skin. They’re usually delivered as a course, with changes developing gradually.
- The difference is emphasis, not a hierarchy. Neither is better than the other, ageing occurs across skin, fat, muscle and bone, and no single treatment covers all of it.
- Both carry risks and responses vary between individuals. Suitability, alternatives and whether to treat at all are assessed at consultation with an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
If you have been researching treatments for skin ageing, you may have come across terms such as collagen stimulation, bio stimulation and regenerative skin treatments.
They are increasingly used in aesthetic medicine, and understandably, the terminology can become confusing. While there can be some overlap in how different treatments influence the skin, collagen-stimulating and regenerative approaches are not necessarily trying to achieve exactly the same thing.
At Shape Clinic, we believe it is more useful to begin by understanding what is changing within the skin as we age and what you are hoping to address, rather than starting with a particular treatment.
Why does collagen matter as we age?
Collagen is one of the most important structural proteins found within our skin and supporting tissues. When we are younger, skin generally feels firmer and has greater structural support. As we age, changes occur in collagen and other components of the skin. These changes can contribute to skin becoming thinner, less firm and more prone to fine lines and creasing.
For women, hormonal changes around perimenopause and menopause can also contribute to changes in collagen and skin quality. This is one reason why treating facial ageing is not simply about replacing lost volume. Skin quality and the underlying structural support of the face also need to be considered.
What are Collagen-Stimulating Treatments?
Collagen-stimulating treatments are designed to encourage a biological response within the tissue that includes the production of new collagen. Rather than producing their intended effect solely through adding volume, these treatments aim to gradually influence the structure and support of the treated tissue.
Depending on the treatment and the individual, they may be considered where concerns include:
- thinning or crepe-like skin
- fine lines and wrinkling
- reduced firmness
- changes in skin support, laxity and mild sagging.
An important distinction is that collagen stimulation is gradual. The biological processes involved take time, so changes are generally assessed over the weeks and months following treatment rather than immediately afterwards. Different treatment approaches also have different protocols. Some may involve a course of treatment, while others may be performed at longer intervals.
What do we mean by Regenerative Skin Treatments?
The term regenerative is increasingly being used in aesthetic medicine to describe treatments intended to support biological processes involved in skin quality rather than simply changing facial shape or adding volume.
One of the other important proteins involved in skin quality is elastin. While collagen contributes to structure and firmness, elastin contributes to the skin’s ability to stretch and recoil, what we might think of as some of the natural ‘spring’ within younger skin.
Regenerative approaches may be aimed more broadly at skin quality and the environment within the skin, with changes generally intended to develop gradually rather than create an immediate transformation.
These treatments involve a course of treatments and, depending on the treatment, ongoing maintenance may be discussed.
Where does Rejuran fit?
One treatment we use at Shape Clinic as part of our approach to skin quality is Rejuran.
Rejuran is a polynucleotide treatment derived from purified salmon DNA fragments. Rather than thinking of it as a treatment designed to dramatically change facial volume or shape, we consider it within a broader skin-quality approach.
Depending on the individual, a practitioner may discuss Rejuran when assessing concerns such as skin texture, fine lines and overall skin quality. Treatment generally involves a series of sessions rather than expecting a significant change following one appointment.
As with any injectable treatment, suitability, expected outcomes, potential risks, treatment intervals and alternatives need to be considered individually during consultation.
Think about the skin you want to maintain, not simply the treatment you want today
Perhaps the most useful way to think about regenerative aesthetics is that it is generally a long-term approach to skin quality rather than a quick transformation. Small changes occurring gradually can be difficult to appreciate from one week to the next. This is why we assess skin over time and, where appropriate, use clinical photography to help evaluate changes objectively.
It also means expectations matter. The goal should not be to promise that skin will stop ageing or that everyone will achieve a particular result. Ageing continues, and treatment responses vary considerably between individuals.
Instead, the conversation is about understanding the changes occurring within your skin, considering the available options and deciding whether treatment has an appropriate role for you.
The Shape Clinic Approach
At Shape Clinic, we prefer to assess the face and skin as a whole rather than viewing individual concerns in isolation. Depending on what we see, recommendations may include skincare, energy-based or laser treatments, collagen-stimulating approaches, regenerative skin treatments or other options.
Sometimes the appropriate recommendation may also be to wait or not proceed with treatment.
If you are unsure whether a collagen-stimulating or regenerative approach is relevant to your concerns, a consultation with an appropriately qualified health practitioner allows your skin, medical history, expectations and treatment options to be assessed individually.
Important Information
Cosmetic aesthetic procedures have risks and outcomes vary between individuals. The information in this article is general educational information and does not replace an individual medical assessment. Treatment suitability, alternatives, expected outcomes, risks and ongoing treatment requirements should be discussed with an appropriately qualified health practitioner before proceeding.
Our range of Skin Treatments
Here at Shape Clinic, we have a range of skin treatments for all types of conditions and concerns.
