There’s little doubt that Botox® Cosmetic revolutionized the way Americans think about aesthetic treatments that help them look younger. Botox and other products derived from the botulinum toxin type A account for over 7 million procedures every year, making it the most popular cosmetic procedure performed today. The top five plastic surgeries combined add up to less than one-third of that number.
However, Botox is only the tip of the injectable treatment iceberg. Dermal fillers continue to gain more ground as consumers realize the benefits injectables offer. However, though both Botox and fillers such as Juvéderm® and Radiesse® use fine needles as a delivery method, they work in completely different — but completely complementary — ways.
When you choose injectables for your aesthetic plan, you want to partner with a specialist. Dr. Richard Blanchar and the team at Bayview General Medicine know how to get the results you’re after, using the right products to meet your needs. Confused about Botox and fillers? Here’s what you need to know before making your decisions.
Both Botox and dermal fillers help to correct some of the appearance issues caused by changes to your skin. At some point during your 20s, you begin to lose collagen, a nourishing component of your skin’s middle layer. It provides the full, smooth look your complexion enjoyed in its youth. That layer also holds elastin, a component that gives skin its stretchiness. It, too, starts to fade. Your skin becomes dry and less elastic.
These changes in your skin make you susceptible to gravity and the changing topography of your face. As voids appear in the collagen matrix, your skin collapses into these contours, creating fine lines and wrinkles. Dermal fillers literally fill these gaps using a range of formulas. The Juvéderm formula features hyaluronic acid, a natural component of your skin that supports and moisturizes. Radiesse stimulates new collagen growth with calcium-based microspheres. Both products add volume back into the skin, smoothing the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
The muscles in your face define your expressions and, of course, your skin follows the contours of these muscles. As you get older, some expression lines become semi-permanent, as the muscles beneath them never fully relax. The usual problem spots are on your forehead, worry lines on your brow, and crow’s feet beside your eyes.
Rather than acting on your skin, Botox injections cause expression-line muscles to relax, so that your skin smooths, reducing the contours that make you look worried or older than your years. Refinements to Botox application techniques mean that your face and its movements look natural but with fewer active wrinkles showing through.
Botox and fillers work very well together, and our aesthetic specialists at Bayview General Medicine uses them to customize an injectable plan for you. Contact Dr. Blanchard and our team today to schedule your cosmetic procedure consultation. You can call the office directly or use the online appointment tool. Book now.
