Weigh Your Options With Guidance From a Master Injector In Pittsburgh
You’ve seen celebrities and your own friends seemingly turn back time with injectables. So naturally, you’re curious about the difference it could make for your own skin.
But if you haven’t spoken with a master injector yet, you may not know what type of injectable is right for you and your skin goals.
Will dermal fillers help you, or is Botox® the better option?
What Is a Dermal Filler?
Dermal fillers are an injectable that restores volume in areas that have lost fullness. Losing fullness in your face is a normal part of aging. Fillers smooth wrinkles and enhance your facial contours, changing volume and shape.
Fillers are made of a naturally occurring substance in your body called hyaluronic acid, or HA. Common brand names of dermal fillers are Restylane® or Juvederm®.
How Is Botox® Different?
Whereas the phrase “dermal fillers” describes numerous brands, Botox® is the name-brand of purified botulinum toxin, a wrinkle relaxer. When injected into your face, Botox® relaxes your muscles and prevents them from contracting. It is these contractions that lead to wrinkles over time.
Another common brand of wrinkle relaxer is Dysport®, the name brand of abobotulinumtoxinA.
Dermal Filler Placement and Results
Dermal fillers are often used in various parts of the face, including nasolabial folds that run from your nose to the corners of your mouth and marionette lines, which extend from your mouth to your chin.
To add volume, dermal fillers can be injected into your cheeks and lips for more definition and fullness. You don’t have to have an invasive surgery to enhance your jaw or change the shape of your nose; dermal fillers can do that, too.
Dermal fillers can last months to a year, but their longevity depends on the type of filler your injector used and the areas of your face that they treated. You can get longer-lasting results with regular maintenance treatments.
Botox® Placement and Results
Master injectors use Botox® to treat dynamic wrinkles. These are the lines, creases, or wrinkles that form because of repetitive muscle movements, like frowning, smiling, and squinting.
Botox® can also be used for “lip flips,” to address a gummy smile, or to relax your jaw muscle for a softer facial contour.
Areas of the face and neck where Botox® can be effective are:
- Horizontal lines across your forehead.
- Vertical frown lines between your eyebrows; Dysport® is effective for these “eleven lines” as well.
- Crow’s feet on the outside corners of your eyes.
- Fine lines around your mouth.
- Horizontal lines around your neck.
Similarly, “baby Botox®” delivers the same results. The name simply refers to smaller doses of purified botulinum toxin – “baby” amounts – for people who want to reverse signs of aging, but don’t yet have deep wrinkles.
It takes a few days to notice results of your Botox® injections, with peak effects four to six weeks after injection. These results last up to four months. You’ll need a regular regimen to maintain your results.
When Is Dermal Filler or Botox® the Right Choice?
You could be a candidate for dermal fillers like Juvederm® and Restylane® if you’re looking to add volume to areas of your face. Botox® might be better suited for your goals if you want to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on your face and neck.
But in the debate between dermal fillers vs. Botox®, medical providers with master injector credentials sometimes recommend a combination of the two to create a holistic plan to improve your appearance. Both types of injectables placed in strategic areas of your face can help you look your most radiant and youthful.
Talk to a Medical Professional to Find Out Which Injectable Is Right For You
If you’re weighing dermal fillers vs. Botox® vs. baby Botox® vs. Dysport®, the master injectors at Cosmetic Laser Centers℠ can help you navigate your choices and create a customized treatment plan tailored to your skin and goals.
With two Pittsburgh-area locations, our medical staff specializes in a spectrum of skincare services that leave you looking and feeling like the best version of yourself. Our team is dedicated to bringing your inner beauty outward, so when you look in the mirror you recognize the person you’ve always been and have always wanted to be.
Contact us at (724) 935-4200 to schedule a consultation at our Pittsburgh practice or at our Warrendale location between Wexford and Cranberry.