Décolleté Collagen Clinical Study
This clinical study, conducted by Dr. Hikaru Ishii, investigates the effects of natural fish skin collagen supplementation on the shape and structural support of the décolleté area. It is grounded in the hypothesis that ECM (extracellular matrix) integrity represents a shared biological foundation for both healthy longevity and beauty.
Background
In 2011, while supporting the recovery of a young female patient with rib fractures through increased collagen supplementation, Dr. Ishii made an unexpected clinical observation involving morphological improvements in the décolleté area. This discovery led to a small clinical observation study involving 14 participants at a women's clinic in Aoyama, Tokyo, which yielded meaningful results.
This observation evolved into a broader hypothesis: the Cooper's ligaments of the breast are rich in elastin, and when ECM integrity is reinforced, it may prevent sagging and contribute to a better-defined décolleté contour.
Current Research Status
| Research Resumed | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Total Subjects | 50 (including participants from 2011 study) |
| Evaluable Results | 26 out of 30 subjects (86.7%) showed measurable improvement |
| Final Results | Expected by June 2026 (all 50 subjects) |
| Patent | Full U.S. patent application planned upon completion |
| Principal Investigator | Dr. Hikaru Ishii, M.D., Ph.D. |
Research is ongoing. This page will be updated when final results become available.
Collagen Source
The collagen used in this research is derived from natural cod fish skin through enzymatic processing. Scale-derived collagen, which is widely distributed in the market, undergoes an acid extraction process that compromises its structural properties and is therefore unlikely to achieve meaningful ECM reinforcement (per the expertise of Dr. Daizaburo Fujimoto, Professor Emeritus at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology).
Dr. Ishii obtained a European patent in 2011 for the use of natural fish skin collagen in improving arterial health. The décolleté collagen research is a direct extension of that work.
For elastin, naturally derived elastin from bonito (skipjack tuna) arterial bulbs is considered optimal in our research formulations.