Dr. David Magilke, Facial Plastic Surgeon and his professional staff want to help you understand cosmetic injectables and how they differ.
Botox®, Juvederm®, Dysort®, Restylane®, Radiesse®, Sculptra®, Xeomin®, and Belotero, are all considered cosmetic injectables. Years ago, Collegen was the only treatment offered to help “fill in” an aging face. Today three main companies, Allergan, Medicis and Merz offer products to improve wrinkles and loose skin with the goal of facial rejuvenation. It may be difficult to understand which product is right for you.
The first thing to understand is neurotoxins and dermal fillers are not the same and in fact, they each treat different issues. In simple terms, neurotoxins stop the muscle’s ability to furrow while dermal fillers “fill in” areas that have lost volume or naturally leave hollows on the face.
Neurotoxins: Prescription medication injected into the muscle which blocks the signal from the nerve to the muscles ultimately resulting in a reduction of muscle activity and temporarily preventing contraction of the muscles that cause dynamic facial lines. This decrease in muscle activity can be expected to last 3 to 4 months.
Neurotoxins on the market today are Dysport®, Botox® and Xeomin®
Dermal Fillers: Prescription medications injected into the facial dermis to replace lost volume and help restore youthful contours and smooth away moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds.
The two most common dermal fillers are Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and calcium based filler.
Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in your body. When injected into the dermis it acts like an inflated cushion to support facial structures and tissues that may have lost volume or elasticity due to normal aging. It also brings water to the surface of the skin to help keep it looking fresh and supple. HA fillers can be dissolved with an enzyme if necessary.
Juvederm® and Restylane® are best used for nasal labial folds or “parenthesis” and marionette lines.
Juvederm and Restylane are FDA approved for lip enhancement
Belotero is injected superficially to treat fine lines, common areas include lip lines and tear troughs.
Calcium based fillers such as Radiesse® are injected in the deep dermis providing lift and stimulating your own natural collagen to grow. This collagen growth can continue for several months, and many patients correction can last for a year or more.
Common areas of treatment are nasal labial folds, marionette lines and cheek enhancement.
Whether you are looking to “fill in” with dermal filler or “stop” with a neurotoxin, we highly recommend a thorough consultation with a physician before the actual treatment. A consultation with Dr. David Magilke will help you understand and decide what treatment is best for you. Allow only certified professionals to administer your cosmetic injectables!
