Is Botox Right for Me?
As you age, you may begin to find it more difficult to maintain youthful looking skin. Over time, you begin to lose elasticity, develop laugh or frown lines and generally begin to see signs of aging that you’d rather do without. However, undergoing surgery may be scary or more invasive than you’d like — never mind the long recovery times. If you want to stop the clock and eliminate a little bit of the damage done by time, injectables or dermal fillers, such a Botox, Dysport, Juvéderm or Restylane, might be a good alternative. Your finished results are more natural looking than other treatments and the entire process is shorter, giving you more time to do the things you want.
What Is the Difference Between Injectables and Fillers?
Medical providers often use the terms injectable and filler interchangeably. There is, however, a difference. The word injectable means any medication or substance that is injected into the body. An injectable reduces the activity of muscles in the face that cause wrinkles. Facial fillers are actually a type of injectable and fill the trouble areas with collagen. This helps to stimulate collagen growth, as well as plump and lift the skin to replace collagen loss.
When a medical provider uses the term filler, we are referring to the material that is used to fill wrinkles, lines or defects in the skin. There are many types of fillers depending on the exact problem that is being treated. Generations Family Practice Wellness Center uses a variety of products, including Juvéderm and Restylane. These products are perfect for treating facial lines, especially the lines going from the nose to the mouth or from the corners of the mouth to the chin. Other areas that can be treated with fillers include increasing the size of the cheeks and enhancing the appearance of the jawline.
Injectables treat different cosmetic concerns. There are many types of non-invasive, non-surgical injectables depending on the problems to be treated. Botox and Dysport, both used at Generations, are excellent examples of these. These medications act by paralyzing the muscles for a few months to decrease the active wrinkling of the skin, especially in the upper face around the eyebrows and forehead area.
Pre-treatment Consultation
Dermal filler injections are non-surgical and are typically completed during an office visit. Your initial treatment will begin with a consultation, during which you will meet with your Generations’ provider to discuss your concerns and goals.
Your provider will evaluate your area/s of concern and review your medical history. While the risks associated with dermal fillers are minimal, you need to fully disclose your medical history prior to treatment, as certain allergies, skin and neurological conditions, or medications can jeopardize your safety or results. For instance, you need to tell your Generations’ provider if you have been taking NSAIDs (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen) or blood thinners, as these can increase the likelihood of bruising.
Your Filler Treatment
Just before the actual Filler treatment, the area will be cleaned, and you may be given a topical anesthetic to numb the area prior to injection. Many filler products also contain lidocaine, a mild anesthetic, which is intended to help minimize discomfort during and after your treatment. Your Generations’ provider will then inject a precise amount of filler strategically beneath the skin.
Depending on the product and the areas treated, you should be able to notice results immediately after receiving filler injections. Some patients experience mild bruising and swelling, but these are temporary and should subside over the days following treatment. You will be able to go back to your normal activities right after treatment, but your cosmetic surgeon may ask you to take the day off from exercise or other strenuous activity.
How Long Do the Filler Results Last?
How long the effects of dermal fillers will last depends on the product, the area of treatment, and the patient. Generally speaking, the denser the product is and the more deeply it is injected, the longer it will last, although this is not a hard and fast rule. To maintain your results, your Generations’ provider will simply repeat treatment, adjusting the amount and techniques as necessary to ensure optimal results.
Hyaluronic acid fillers tend to be the most temporary option, and therefore are often recommended for first-time filler patients. These will typically last from 6 to 18 months. Injections to the lips will wear out a little faster than those to the nasolabial folds.
Synthetic fillers tend to last longer, as they are not absorbed by the body. They can be a great option for the right patient, but you’ll want to be ready to commit to results that will be there for several years.
Your Botox-type Injectable Treatment
Just before the actual Injectable treatment, you may be given a topical anesthetic to numb the area prior to injection, though many patients find this unnecessary, as the needles used to inject Botox are very thin and the injections are not very deep. Your Generations’ provider will reconstitute the botulinum toxin into a solution, and inject this solution into the muscle at strategic points. Most patients describe a pinching feeling during the injection, though not much pain.
You will be able to go back to your normal activities right after treatment, but your Generations’ provider may ask you to take the day off from exercise or other strenuous activity, and to keep your head upright for the rest of the day. Mild redness, swelling at the injection site, and bruising are the most common side effects.
Following treatment, you will not see results immediately. This is expected, so do not worry that treatment hasn’t worked. Depending on the patient, product used, and area treated, final results are typically reached 3 to 7 days after initial treatments. If this is your first botulinum toxin treatment, your Generations’ provider may initially inject a more conservative amount and touch up the results during a follow up treatment. This helps to ensure natural, optimal results without the risk of over-treating an area.
How Long Do the Results Last?
The wrinkle-reducing effects from Botox and other injectable treatments will vary depending on the patient, the area treated, and the product used, but results will typically last anywhere from 3 to 6 months. To maintain your results, your Generations’ provider will simply repeat treatment, adjusting dosage and techniques as necessary to ensure optimal results.
What type of Injectable Should I Use?
Every patient is different and the choice of injectable or filler is dependent upon your medical and cosmetic needs. With the help of an experienced, qualified provider, the treatment you receive can provide natural-looking enhancements to help you feel more confident in your appearance.
At the time of consultation, our Generations Family Practice Wellness Center team will review your medical history, facial anatomy and expectations and recommend the proper product for you! Call our office at 984-228-1521 for pricing and specials!
See the Injectable Difference
