Cosmetic injectables are the most popular nonsurgical aesthetic treatments performed in the U.S. every year. Dermal filler and BOTOX injections at our Chevy Chase, MD, and Annandale, VA, practices are procedures that both women and men get to minimize wrinkles and keep them looking youthful.
Even though patients who meet with our aesthetic specialists know they want to reduce signs of aging, they aren’t necessarily sure which treatment—or treatments—will best meet their needs. While sharing the same general goals, fillers and BOTOX work in very different ways to create the desired results.
We’ll explain how they differ in this blog post and point out that not even all fillers work the same way.
Dynamic vs. Static Wrinkles
Wrinkles develop for different reasons. BOTOX and fillers address different types of wrinkles, which is why it’s often necessary to combine both types of injections to get the results you want.
Dynamic Wrinkles
A lifetime of smiling, squinting, frowning, and furrowed brows—in other words, changing expressions—gradually creates fine lines and wrinkles. These include crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes, vertical worry lines (the “11s”) between the eyes, and horizontal forehead lines.
BOTOX minimizes these dynamic wrinkles by blocking the nervous system’s signals to the tiny muscles whose repeated contractions cause these lines. This relaxes the muscles that cause wrinkles. The key is to choose a skilled injector who makes precise injections, understanding the dose needed to smooth the wrinkles and create natural-looking results.
Static Wrinkles
So, what causes lines such as nasolabial folds or wrinkles and dark circles under the eyes? They’re caused by a combination of the natural aging process (as our skin produces less collagen and elastin) along with sun exposure and other environmental factors. These so-called static wrinkles can be erased using smooth gel fillers such as those in the JUVÉDERM® product line. These specialized fillers are formulated to address specific concerns.
For example, JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® is designed to restore volume to the cheek area. While JUVÉDERM and many other fillers are made with hyaluronic acid and can last from 9 months to 2 years, RADIESSE® fillers use calcium hydroxylapatite as its active ingredient. It not only adds volume but also stimulates the production of new collagen.
Which Treatment Is Right for You?
As you can see, many of us can probably benefit from a combination of BOTOX and fillers because our faces tend to age in multiple ways.
Because BOTOX temporarily limits the movement of muscles that cause wrinkles, patients in their 20s are starting to get preventative injections to delay the development of those “expression lines.”
If you’re interested in fillers or BOTOX in the Washington, DC, area, you can contact us using the online form to request a consultation. You can also contact our practice offices by phone at (703) 560-2850 (Annandale, VA) or (301) 652-7700 (Chevy Chase, MD).