Botox^® Cosmetic & Facial Fillers

Facial Aging Treatments | Botox® Cosmetic | Facial Fillers | Facial Filler Treatment Questions

Facial Aging Treatments

Patients often seek treatments for facial aging that is not surgical and minimally invasive. In addition, patients who have had surgery seek methods to maintain their surgical results as long as possible while minimizing the effects of aging.

Although the media often likes to link the now household terms of “Botox®” and “Restylane®” it is important to note that these treatments are not similar at all. Botox® is designed for the elimination of dynamic lines and to soften static lines. Restylane® is designed to fill static lines and deep nasolabial folds, and augment the lips.

Static Lines: Static lines are facial wrinkles, or rhytids that appear at rest. This means that the lines are present when the patient is not smiling, frowning, etc. They occur as a result of the weakening (loss of elasticity of collagen links) and loss of plumpness (subdermal atrophy) of skin with age. They are best treated with dermal fillers (Restylane® or Perlane) and skin resurfacing (chemical peels or laser skin resurfacing) and/or the removal of excess skin with a facelift (rhytidectomy).

Dynamic Lines: Dynamic Lines are the result of the folding of skin static lines during facial animation (frowning, smiling, etc.). Dynamic lines can be softened with surgical and laser treatment, but never eliminated because they are a result of facial muscle movements. The only way to dramatically soften or eliminate dynamic lines is with Botox® treatments at intervals of 3-4 months regularly. This is especially true of smile lines around the eyes.

Botox® Cosmetic

BOTOX® Cosmetic can be used to make a dramatic improvement in the lines of expression we see on our foreheads, between our eyebrows and around our eyes. BOTOX® is a purified protein administered in a simple non-surgical procedure that temporarily improves the appearance of moderate to severe “frown lines”.

During treatment, very low doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic are administered via a few tiny injections. “Frown lines” are caused by overactive facial muscles. BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected intramuscularly, blocking the chemicals that cause facial muscles to contract, thereby relaxing them. You can expect to see results within days after treatment. The appearance of “frown lines” may continue to improve for up to a week. Visible results can last up to 4 months. Individual results may vary, so be sure to talk to Dr. Lee about what you can expect.

BOTOX® has been used therapeutically for over 75 years to treat a variety of medical conditions. Only licensed and trained healthcare professionals have the experience necessary to administer BOTOX® Cosmetic.

For more information visit the BOTOX® Cosmetic website.

Facial Fillers

Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring substance in the skin that provides fullness and elasticity in youthful appearing skin and lips. Over time as one age, the loss of hyaluronic acid can lead to the development of more prominent wrinkles, skin folds, as well as thinning lips. There are several facial fillers on the market today that can help restore lost volume to smooth away these facial features and augment lips.

Types of Facial Fillers

Radiesse® is a dermal filler that achieves wrinkle reduction by replenishing lost volume. With Radiesse® wrinkle filler increases your own natural collagen to smooth out the signs of aging. That’s because Radiesse® wrinkle filler’s unique formulation stimulates collagenesis – the production of new collagen – which results in increased volume for natural-looking wrinkle correction that may last a year or more in many patients.

Restylane® is composed of non-animal hyaluronic acid, which is present in all living things. In your skin, the naturally-occurring hyaluronic acid creates volume and fullness, resulting in a youthful appearance. Restylane® is injected into the skin in the form of a clear gel. Once in the skin, Restylane® works together with your body to volumize the areas that have thinned and wrinkled over time.

The difference between Restylane® and other permanent implants is Restylane®’s unique ability to bind with water. When the molecules dissolve, they turn into water. The body can then easily excrete it through it’s own natural excretory systems. When the molecules have dissolved you are left with the freedom to decide if the area will be re-injected, leaving you in control of when the aging process may begin.

Perlane does a great job of filling deep lines while Restylane® is used in fine lines or in thin-skinned people. These products last for between six and nine months, although individuals will have varied results. Perlane is an excellent treatment for wrinkle correction, lip enhancement, smile lines, and deep folds.

Juvéderm is a crystal-clear, non-animal, biodegradable gel based on a natural substance, called hyaluronic acid. The gel is injected into the skin in tiny amounts with a very fine needle. The result is instantaneous and produces a long-lasting, natural enhancement, gentle and safe to your skin.

Lip Filler

For many people fuller and more sensuous lips comes high on their wish list. With Juvéderm, you can enjoy more pronounced lips or a soft pouting look.

Lip augmentation can be carried out in two steps: pouting and contouring. To create a more pronounced mouth and fuller lips, Juvéderm is injected into the inside of the upper and/or lower lip. This is often combined with the marking of the contour of the lip by injecting the gel along the lip line. Redefining this edge leads to a more youthful and appealing look. It also prevents lipstick “bleeding” into the small lines around the lips. The lines that go up towards the nose (philtrum ridges) can be defined by injecting the gel into them. To achieve the optimal result, a combination of these steps is often used.

After the injection, the lips often become a little swollen. This means that the result directly after the treatment may not be the final result. The swelling typically resolves spontaneously within a few days or up to a week.

Filler for Areas Around the Mouth

Prevelle Silk™ is a colorless hyaluronic acid gel that contains a small quantity of a local anesthetic (lidocaine) to provide pain relief at the injection site. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the human body, which moisturizes (hydrates) and cushions the skin. PREVELLE Silk™ is naturally broken down by your body over time. PREVELLE Silk™ is injected into facial skin, using a very fine needle, for correction of moderate to severe wrinkles and folds (e.g., areas around the nose and the mouth). The gel plumps the skin to smooth away wrinkles and folds.

Commonly Asked Facial Filler Treatment Questions

Does it Hurt?

Most people do not require anesthesia, though it is available. Immediately following the treatment the area will be swollen and red. This is completely normal, and will disappear in a day or two.

Will it Disturb my Body’s Natural Balance?

No. Because of Restylane®’s careful design, it works with your body, not against it. The implant is injected into the tissue and allows for passage of oxygen and hormones. Because of this ability for free passage through the gel, the skin stays healthy, for the entire time that the Restylane® is present.

What Can I Expect After the Treatment?

Immediately following the treatment, the area will be slightly swollen and red. This will disappear shortly after. Other reactions are highly unlikely, however, about 1 in 2000 patients treated have experienced swelling, redness, or soreness for several weeks after the treatment. The risk of this happening to you is very low, but please consult a physician if you are concerned.

What Does the Procedure Involve?

The physician will inject the area with the Restylane® implant, using a sterile needle. When injected, the wrinkle above the implant is lifted. The procedure generally takes about 30 minutes with results appearing almost instantaneously.

How Long Will My Results Last?

The exact period of time that you can enjoy your filler is entirely individual, however, the majority of patients have about 50-80% of the effect remaining after 6 months. The exact amount of time depends on your skin’s structure, lifestyle, age, and degree of perfection desired. Most people choose to have a touch-up done within a year of their original treatment.

Perlane, like Restylane®, is a dermal filler and is a long-lasting gel that is injected into the skin with an ultra-fine needle. Perlane can lift and add volume and help diminish fine lines. Perlane is a natural substance called hyaluronic acid, it is a completely safe treatment. The hyaluronic acid in Perlane simply supplements the body’s age-depleted hyaluronic acid to plump up the lip or to raise the skin and ‘fill in’ the particular wrinkle being treated.

The length of time a treatment maintains its effect is very individual and depends on many factors, such as your age, skin type, lifestyle, and muscle activity, as well as the injection technique. Most patients choose to have a follow-up treatment six to twelve months after the initial treatment of wrinkles.