Cosmetic Fillers, Botox® & Restylane

Botox® Versus Restalyne®.. Which is right for me?

Have your facial expressions begun to cause wrinkles on your forehead and have crow's feet put years on your face? To maintain a long lasting younger appearance on your face, non-intrusive cosmetic therapies and injections are usually the treatment of choice. Generally these solutions add volume and smoothen out wrinkle lines. Among them Botox® and restylane are quite common, both having their own features and applications making one the better choice for your condition and requirements. Procedure performed at The Dermatology Center at Old Bridge.

Restylane is a new injection filler that has advantages over other injections existing on the market. Restylane is an FDA approved non-animal, biodegradable, crystal clear gel that is based on a natural substance, hyaluronic acid, which adds facial curves, fills depressions, levels facial wrinkles and shapes lips. Allergic reactions are fewer as this acid is produced by our body itself. Restylane is also suggested to those people who want to enhance appearance and fullness of lips.

Botox® (botulinum - a toxin) injections are another method to regain your smooth and soft look. Botox® injections are FDA approved and are a simple treatment that, according to ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), is the fastest growing treatment available. Wrinkles crop up with the use of facial muscles. Botox® is injected into targeted muscle with a fine needle and simply inactivates those muscles that produce wrinkles. Botox® is mainly used to counteract crow’s feet, frown lines, laugh lines, and forehead lines and is injected in small doses. Botox® injection can also be used for migraine headaches. It also decreases sweating on palms, under arms, and at hairlines.

Although both of these treatments are effective and FDA approved, Restylane, as a natural substance does not require pre-testing for allergic reactions. Soothing effects of restylane can last up to one year whereas Botox® effects last for 3 to 6 months. Although Botox® treatment causes minimal pain it may cause a slight temporary bruising at the injection site. It also cannot improve wrinkles of sun-damaged skin. Botox® cannot be used during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or used on neurology patients.

Both products are equally good but their applications vary with the patient’s condition, requirements, and circumstances under which the product has been used.

Providing Botox® and Restylane Injections

Why Botox®?

If you are experiencing wrinkles or expression lines on the face, forehead or around the eyes, Botox® will help these symptoms to gradually fade giving you a more youthful and refreshed appearance. Botox® significantly repairs deep lines and wrinkles (visible signs of stress and aging) due to squinting, laughing , frowning, smoking, and anxiety.

What is Botox®?

Botox® is an FDA approved muscle-relaxing agent used to gradually reduce undesirable wrinkles and lines. Botox® is derived from the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum that has traditionally been used by ophthalmologists in the treatment of blepharospasm. The tightening of facial muscles controlled by the brain is inhibited by injecting Botox® into the affected area leaving the appearance of the overlying skin smooth and unwrinkled.

The Botox® Treatment

The Botox® Treatment typically takes approximately 10 minutes. It is not necessary to anesthetize the area to be treated due to insignificant discomfort associated with the procedure. The discomfort can be compared to that of being pricked by a pin. Botox® is injected into the area affected by visible lines with a very thin needle. The Botox® causes the muscles initiating the lines and wrinkles to relax which reduces the appearance of undesirable wrinkles and lines on the skin. The skin's reaction to the muscles is what commonly causes wrinkles. Life's daily routines can commence immediately following Botox® treatment. The results of the Botox® treatment may be seen as soon as 3 days following treatment. The greatest results will be visible in 10-14 days. After the initial treatment results will last from 3 to 4 months before they begin to gradually fade away. Additional Botox® treatments should be sought to extended desirable results by an additional 4 to 8 months.

Are there side effects from Botox®?

Normally any side effects are slight and short-lived. Temporary bruising (resolves itself within 2 to 3 days) Minor relaxation of an eyelid (very rare-return to physician) Unbalanced Expression (very rare-return to physician) Botulin toxins (Botox®) includes proteins. The body's natural ability to produce antibodies which safeguard against proteins can reduce the positive effects of Botox®.

Botox® with a facelift

Botox® may be used in combination with a facelift, laser resurfacing and skin rejuvenation, however, it is not meant to be a replacement for the desired results of a facelift.

What is Restylane?

Restylane is a long lasting natural substitute to the traditional bovine collagen injection which is used to soften facial lines, wrinkles and folds (caused by the aging process), plump up the appearance of lips and to fill in scars.

Restylane is hyaluronic acid (a natural biodegradable substance) that has rare occurrences of allergic reaction due to it's non-animal associated basis. Hyaluronic acid is simply a sugar molecule that is compatible with human hyaluronic acid which already exists in the human body. As a result, it is not necessary to undergo skin sensitivity testing prior to injection treatment.

Restylane Treatment

For your comfort, the area to be treated is anesthetized using a topical cream or anesthetic block. The Restylane is then injected gradually under the skin to fill in lines, wrinkles or folds. The lip treatment requires injection around the lip area. Results are immediate leaving your wrinkles with a smooth soft appearance and leaving lips fuller.

Results of Restylane Treatment

Treatments last much longer than the traditional collagen filler. The lasting effects of treatment are dependent on your age, skin structure and lifestyle. Treatments may last six months to one year. Initially a second treatment may be required after two to four weeks to achieve the results you desire. Restylane will restore volume and fullness to skin that has experienced a gradual breakdown of elastin fibers and collagen. You can resume your daily routine immediately after treatment. Replenishment of
Restylane may be done as needed because of its natural qualities.

Side Effects of Restylane?

Redness and swelling at the site of the Restylane injection are most commonly sited. Typically these conditions subside within a few hours to one or two days. The results of your treatment, smoother softer
skin and full lips, are immediately evident.

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