You can erase years off your complexion without the risks and downtime associated with cosmetic surgery. In just one short office visit, Botox® and dermal fillers can restore your youthful appearance by improving the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
As more people become familiar with the dramatic, natural-looking results that these treatments deliver, demand for injectable treatments has increased. In a ranking of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2019, Botox and fillers ranked in the top two spots.
Determining which cosmetic treatments are appropriate for your needs requires working with an experienced Botox and dermal fillers specialist. Winnie King, MD, a board-certified physician who maintains a private aesthetics and wellness practice in Shenandoah and Houston, Texas, has extensive experience using injectable treatments to help men and women erase the signs of aging. Dr. King combines professional and aesthetic skills to ensure that your results maintain your natural appearance, only younger.
Choosing between Botox and dermal fillers depends on your goals and the type of cosmetic problem you’re correcting. Find out more about the ways that these cosmetic treatments work and how they can help you turn back the hands of time.
Botox
Wrinkles can occur as the result of repetitive movements like frowning, squinting, and smiling, that make your skin crease in the same areas over and over again. As you age, your skin loses elasticity and its ability to bounce back to a normal expression after you make these types of movements.
Botox is the brand name of an FDA-approved injectable medication containing botulinum toxin, a byproduct of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This toxin causes botulism, a form of muscle paralysis.
Cosmetic applications of this toxin utilize its paralyzing properties to relax the muscles under your skin that cause a wrinkle. When very small doses of Botox are injected into the muscles under a wrinkle, the treated muscles become paralyzed and remain in a relaxed state. The effect keeps the skin above the treated muscle smooth and wrinkle-free, giving a youthful appearance.
A Botox treatment takes just a few minutes to administer. It is used to improve moderate to severe forehead lines, frown lines between your eyebrows, and lines caused by crows’ feet. After your treatment, you’re free to return home or resume normal activities immediately.
Results from Botox can appear as soon as 24 to 48 hours after treatment, though it can take up to 14 days to see its full impact. The effects can last up to four months, with results varying by patient. You have to maintain a schedule of retreatments to maintain your new look.
In addition to Botox, Dr. King offers another FDA-approved brand of botulinum toxin called Dysport®. Like Botox, Dysport is an injectable that delivers results by paralyzing the muscles that cause facial wrinkles. Dr. King can help you determine which brand is appropriate for your goals.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are injectable gels made from hyaluronic acid, a substance that occurs naturally in your body. This cushioning agent provides moisture and plumpness, which help your complexion look youthful.
As age depletes your natural supply of hyaluronic acid, it causes a loss of volume and skin structure, which makes your wrinkles more visible. When dermal fillers are injected beneath your skin, they counter the effects of aging by “filling” areas hollowed by the natural loss of hyaluronic acid.
There are several brands of FDA-approved dermal fillers. Dr. King offers products by Juvéderm® and Restylane®. The product or combination of products you receive depends on the areas and conditions being treated.
Dermal fillers can be used to:
- Smooth lines that run between your eyebrows (glabellar lines)
- Smooth lines that run from the sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth (marionette lines, smile lines, and parentheses)
- Enhance and plump thin lips
- Reduce vertical lip lines
- Restore facial volume and fullness caused by skin sagging
- Reconstruct facial deformities or asymmetrical facial features
- Smooth a chin crease
Each procedure takes between 15 minutes to an hour to administer. While you can resume normal activities immediately after a dermal filler procedure, you must avoid strenuous exercise for the first 24 hours. Dermal fillers deliver immediate results that last from six months to a year before retreatment is necessary to maintain the effects.
Minimally invasive cosmetic treatments like Botox and dermal fillers can help you look the age you feel. Find out more about the impressive results you can achieve with these products. Call our Shenandoah or Houston office today for a consultation.