When you smile, laugh, frown, or look puzzled, you contract the muscles of your face. Over time, these contractions produce permanent furrows and deep wrinkles in the skin, especially around the eyes and mouth, between the eyebrows, and on the forehead. These lines can make you look older, sad, angry or tired.
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Injectable fillers can not only prevent you from deepening these lines during natural facial movements, they can also erase these marks of aging, leaving you looking younger and refreshed.
Injectable products, fillers such as JUVÉDERM® and Restylane®, and BOTOX® Cosmetic, help reduce certain facial creases. Injectables, such as JUVÉDERM®, Restylane® and BOTOX® Cosmetic are FDA-approved and safe for use by most patients. Many of the fillers are made from substances found naturally in the body, or synthetically made to mimic natural substances or stimulate collagen production. These fillers are injected directly into the skin of the targeted area to restore volume and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. At our Salem practice, we offer patients several different injectable filler options in order to provide the best possible results for their individual needs.
How Do Injectables Work?
Generally speaking, injectables work by introducing small amounts of a specific substance into the deeper layers of the skin. The mechanics of an injectable differ based on its time. The two primary forms of injectable treatments are neuromodulators and dermal fillers.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is the most well-known neuromodulator. This product is used to reduce the appearance of dynamic wrinkles and other concerns that are caused by muscle tension. Introducing a very small amount of botulinum toxin protein into the muscle, BOTOX temporarily lessens the muscle's movement. The relaxation of the muscle and the overlying skin can erase problems like crow's feet and frown lines. Because BOTOX works on the muscles, this product is also often used to achieve a nonsurgical brow lift.
Dermal fillers are used in the soft tissue beneath lines and wrinkles as well as in areas of the face or hands that have lost plumpness. JUVÉDERM® and Restylane® are two common families of dermal fillers and are the products that we use in our Salem, OR office. These products work by introducing hyaluronic acid to the skin. This naturally occurring acid rejuvenates the face or hands by binding to water molecules, which increase tissue volume beneath wrinkles and lines, and also scars. Dermal fillers are also used to plump the lips, contour the cheeks and jawline, and reduce the appearance of undereye bags.
When Will I see the Results of My Injectable Treatment, and How Long Will They Last?
Depending on the products that are used to refresh your appearance, you may get to enjoy immediate results! Dermal fillers immediately bind to water molecules in the skin, so we see your results build in real-time. This is rewarding and also advantageous because it significantly decreases the chances of overfilling an area. Swelling is a common side effect of dermal filler injections, though, so expect the fullness that appears to diminish somewhat over the course of a few days. The results of dermal filler treatment typically last one to two years.
Because BOTOX works on the muscles and has a mechanism of preventing the release of a specific chemical involved in muscle contractions, it typically takes five to seven days for the results of this treatment to develop. Once they do, they can last from three to six months. On average, patients return for touch-ups about every four months.
How Do I Know Which Injectable is Right for Me?
When you visit us for your consultation, we'll discuss your cosmetic goals and also will assess your skin and the underlying causes of the problems you'd like to address. Our conversation and examination will help us make the best recommendation for you. We use several products to bring out a more youthful side of your appearance! These include:
- BOTOX® Cosmetic. This popular injectable can be used around the eyes, forehead, and even the mouth, where dynamic wrinkles commonly occur. This treatment may be ideal for you if your cosmetic concerns are caused by the repetitive movement of specific facial muscles.
- Restylane®. This family of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers can correct a wide variety of concerns. Examples include nasolabial folds, undereye bags, and thin lips. Restylane uses a clear gel formula with precise manufacturing processes that link various-sized particles of hyaluronic acid to achieve natural-looking results in all areas of the face.
- Juvéderm®. Juvéderm is also a family of a variety of dermal fillers, all made using cross-linking technology within a clear gel base. Some of the common products used today include Juvéderm® Volbella® XC, Juvéderm® Voluma® XC, and Juvéderm® Vollure® XC.
Your experienced provider has considerable training and experience using our various injectables. They can help you understand which product or products are ideal for you, why, what you can expect, and more!
Consult Dr. Austin for Injectables Fillers!
If you have any questions or comments, or if you want to learn more about the services Dr. Edwin Austin provides, please call 503-561-7000 or submit an online form by clicking here. Our practice serves Salem and the surrounding areas of Oregon.
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