Since there are so many options available for getting a rejuvenated look, finding the right wrinkle treatment can sometimes be confusing. Contrary to what many people assume, not all face-smoothing injectables are the same. Botulinum toxin-based muscle relaxers like BOTOX® are meant to treat one wrinkle type, while another type is best handled with dermal fillers like Juvederm®. Our Milwaukee, WI-based ReFresh Aesthetic Center team can help you determine which type of injectable would best work for you. In the meantime, here’s how these cosmetic treatments compare:
Neuromodulators
Many of the wrinkles that occur on your face are caused by repetitive facial expressions made each day while conversing with others or expressing emotions. The thin skin around the eyes and the wide expanse of the forehead are continually squeezed and pulled due to the contractions of underlying facial muscles, which form creases whenever we squint, smile, laugh, raise our eyebrows, or frown. These wrinkles are called “dynamic wrinkles” and are best improved with treatments that target the facial muscle movements themselves.
Botulinum toxin injectables such as BOTOX® help to temporarily decrease targeted muscle contractions, so that the skin doesn’t form into creases with every raise of the eyebrows. They do this by disrupting the flow of messages sent from the brain to the muscles via the nervous system. By relaxing the muscles and softening wrinkles, you get a more energized and refreshed appearance. BOTOX® is commonly used and FDA approved for wrinkles around the eyes (“crow’s feet”), vertical lines between the brows (frown lines/“11’s”), and horizontal forehead lines (worry lines).
Dermal Fillers
Static wrinkles are lines that are etched into the skin, even in areas not routinely caused by muscle activity. These indentations are caused by age-related depletion of collagen, elastin, water, fat, and other important components of the skin, as well as ultraviolet radiation and other environmental damage. Dynamic wrinkles can eventually become static lines as the skin gets thinner and weaker.
Injectable fillers are ideal for treating static wrinkles, as they do not impact muscle activity in the face, but literally fill in empty space in the skin. Many fillers are made up of soft, gel-like materials that physically add volume to and blend in with the underlying layers of skin. They reduce the depth of static wrinkles and folds in the center or lower areas of the face, such as nasolabial folds and vertical lip lines. Dermal fillers are also used to provide lift and contour (cheeks and jawline) or add volume (lips, temples, cheek hollows), resulting in a more refreshed or youthful version of you.
Learn more about how aesthetic injectables like BOTOX® or Juvederm® at ReFresh Aesthetic Center can give you smoother, more youthful looking skin with little to no downtime. Call us at 414-964-1111, or send a message to request a consultation.
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