Seeing those first few lines and wrinkles on your face can come as a surprise. You might look in the mirror at the end of a long day and see a crease between your eyebrows that wasn’t there before. Or, you might notice that your nasolabial folds look more defined all of a sudden.
These days, you have a lot of nonsurgical options for treating unwanted lines and wrinkles. Injectables such as fillers and Botox can help to create a smoother appearance for months at a time. In fact, there are so many different injectable options out there that choosing the one that’s best for you can be very daunting.
This beginner’s guide to injectables is here to help you understand the differences between the options out there, and provide pointers to help you choose the treatment that’s right for you.
What’s the Difference Between Botox and Fillers?
People often talk about dermal fillers and Botox together, but it’s important to understand that there’s a big difference between these two types of injectables. Fillers treat one type of wrinkle while Botox treats another type. They also work very differently from one another.
Botox smooths lines and wrinkles that develop as a result of repetitive muscle movements over time. If you have an expressive face, you might start to notice lines forming across the forehead, at the corners of your eyes or between your eyebrows.
Originally, Botox was FDA-approved to treat only the small vertical lines between the eyebrows. Then, it was approved to treat crow’s feet–the lines at the corners of the eyes. Most recently, the injectable was FDA-approved for use on the horizontal lines across the forehead.
The active ingredient in Botox works by temporarily blocking nerve signals to certain muscles. As long as the treatment remains in effect, you won’t be able to make the movements that lead to the formation of certain lines. The result is a smoother, more youthful look.
Fillers, on the other hand, come in a variety of types. They are meant for correcting wrinkles and lines that develop as a result of facial volume loss and the effects of gravity. In some cases, fillers are designed to restore volume loss in areas such as the cheeks.
Some fillers are made from hyaluronic
What Happens When You Get an Injection?
Typically, the process of getting an injectable treatment is quick and easy. For the most part, the procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes. Your provider might give you the option of numbing the area with cream first, but you can also go forward without any anesthetic. Many people describe the feeling of getting an injection as a feeling of tiny pricks on their face, similar to how it feels to pluck your eyebrows.
There’s usually no need for downtime after an injectable treatment, although your provider might recommend that you avoid certain activities for a short period of time. After Botox injections, for example, you’ll want to avoid bending over or tilting your head down for a few hours.
How Do You Choose the Right Injectable?
Choosing the right injectable starts with knowing what your overall goals are. Next, you’ll need to have an understanding of what each type of treatment does. If you’re not sure what you want, speaking with a trained injector can help you determine the option that’s right for you. In some cases, it might be that your best bet is to have more than one type of injection.
How Do You Choose the Right Injector?
When choosing an injector, it’s important to look at skill level, experience and past results. You can ask your family and friends for recommendations or check out reviews or forums online to see who comes highly recommended.
It’s also a good idea to learn about the provider’s background. Be sure to ask lots of questions. Are they a board-certified surgeon or doctor? If not, are they practicing under the supervision of a board-certified medical provider? Where did they get their training? How long have they been performing injections? How many do they perform in an average week?
Injectable treatments may not require the same amount of skill as a complex plastic surgery, but they’re more difficult than they look. It’s important to choose a qualified provider.
How Long Do Results Last?
Fillers and Botox don’t provide permanent results. How long your results last depend in part on the type of filler used and on your body. Some people have a faster metabolism than others and will metabolize the ingredients in the filler more quickly. The location of the injection can also determine how long the results last.
Generally speaking, you can expect results to last anywhere from three months for Botox to up to two years for certain types of dermal filler. If you are happy with what you get from an injection, you have the option of repeating treatment as the results start to fade.
Dr. Paul Vitenas and the staff at Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique in Houston, Texas offer a range of injectable options, from Botox to Juvederm. To learn more, call (281) 810-9083 to schedule a consultation today.