If your appearance doesn’t match the age you feel, you may benefit from minimally invasive rejuvenation treatments like BotoxⓇ or dermal fillers. These products can help you turn back the clock by improving fine lines and wrinkles caused by aging, the sun, pollution, muscle movement, and volume loss. Injectable rejuvenation treatments achieve natural-looking results without the downtime and risks of traditional cosmetic surgery. The treatments are so popular that Botox and dermal fillers accounted for the top two minimally invasive cosmetic procedures in 2018.
While you may be impressed with the results of your friend’s rejuvenation injections, it’s important that you use the treatments that are right for you. Not all rejuvenation treatments are the same. Products differ in the types of flaws they target and the length of time they last.
With so many treatment choices, you’ll achieve optimal outcomes if you visit an expert Botox and dermal fillers specialist like Laura Riehm, MD, of Skin Deep Laser MD in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Riehm is a medical aesthetics specialist with extensive experience with many types of rejuvenation treatments. She achieves success by customizing a treatment plan that’s most appropriate for the condition of your skin, the results you desire, and your circumstances. With the right rejuvenation treatment, you’ll continue to look like yourself, only younger.
Find out more about the types of results you can achieve with Botox or dermal fillers and which treatment may be right for you.
Botox
Botox is a brand name of an injectable treatment that contains botulinum toxin, a byproduct of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Dr. Riehm injects very small amounts of Botox into the facial muscle where a wrinkle exists. Botox blocks nerve signals from reaching the muscles, which prevents the affected muscles from contracting, so they remain relaxed. When the muscles under your wrinkles relax, your skin looks smoother on the surface and wrinkles disappear.
In addition to Botox, Dr. Riehm administers XeominⓇ, another brand of botulinum toxin. While both Botox and Xeomin work the same way, Xeomin is a purer compound because it’s manufactured without accessory proteins. Both Botox and Xeomin have FDA approval for cosmetic use.
Botox and Xeomin produce similar results. After treatment, initial changes occur within three to 10 days, with full results visible within 5 to 14 days. Both treatments can be used to correct these cosmetic conditions:
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Crow’s feet around your eyes
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Forehead creases
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Deep lines between your eyebrows
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Skin bands around your neck
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“gummy “ smile
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“Golfball” chin, or “orange peel” chin
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Migraines and headaches
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Bruxism (excessive grinding of teeth at night)
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Smoker’s lines on upper lip
Both Botox and Xeomin provide temporary improvement of wrinkles that can last up to three to four months before you have to return for retreatment. However, everyone has a unique experience, so it’s not unusual for treatments to last for slightly shorter or even longer periods.
Dermal fillers
Dermal fillers are injectable gels. Many are made from hyaluronic acid, a material that exists in your body naturally. When it occurs in optimal supply, hyaluronic acid acts as a cushioning agent and can attract up to 1,000 times its weight in moisture.
As you age, you deplete your natural supply of hyaluronic acid. The decrease in hyaluronic acid results in a loss of skin structure and volume, making your wrinkles more visible.
Dermal fillers restore your levels of hyaluronic acid, resulting in increased moisture and plumpness in the areas where they’re injected. They can be used to achieve these types of results:
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Increase fullness of thin lips or shallow contours
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Soften vertical lip lines, crow’s feet, and lines around your mouth and nose
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Reduce facial wrinkles, folds, and creases
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Improve recessed scars
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Restore cheeks
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Reduce jowls
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A “liquid facelift”
At Skin Deep Laser MD, Dr. Riehm offers the following brands of FDA-approved hyaluronic acid dermal fillers: JuvedermⓇ (for severe wrinkles and folds around the mouth and nose), Juvederm Voluma XCⓇ (for deep injection into cheek areas), RevanesseⓇ Versa™ (for lips), and Belotero BalanceⓇ(for deeply set lines and wrinkles).
Dr. Riehm also administers RadiesseⓇ (for deeper lines and wrinkles). This injectable doubles as a filler and a rejuvenation treatment because it consists of calcium hydroxylapatite, a naturally occurring substance that stimulates the production of collagen. RadiesseⓇ is a filler that also improves the quality and appearance of your skin over time.
Dr. Riehm chooses the dermal filler that best suits the condition of your skin and the results you desire. Depending on your circumstances, you may require more than one type of dermal filler to reach your goals.
You will notice results immediately after your treatment though you may also experience temporary swelling or redness at the injection site. Results vary widely, with the average dermal filler treatment lasting from six months to 2 years before retreatment is necessary to maintain your new look.
Find out what type of rejuvenation treatment can help you correct the cosmetic effects of aging. Schedule an appointment online or call our office for a consultation.
