Facial Rejuvenation
Facial Rejuvenation
The combination of time, gravity, and repeated contractions of our facial muscles contributes to loss of both facial volume and skin elasticity, which leads to the development of wrinkles, lines, and hollows in the face. The advent of BOTOX® and dermal fillers, such as the Restylane® and Juvederm® families of products, now give us minimally invasive and non-surgical methods to address these changes to help restore a more youthful appearance.
BOTOX® Cosmetic
BOTOX® has been FDA-approved for therapeutic use for over 20 years and in that time has been safely used “off-label” for the treatment of various facial wrinkles. In 2002, BOTOX® Cosmetic obtained FDA approval for the treatment of the wrinkles that develop between the eyebrows, otherwise known as glabellar lines.
BOTOX® Cosmetic consists of low doses of botulinum toxin, which decrease the movement of underlying facial muscles to eliminate unwanted lines and wrinkles such as glabellar lines, forehead lines, and crow’s feet lines. BOTOX® Cosmetic is especially effective for “dynamic wrinkles,” which are often the earliest manifestation of aging. Dynamic wrinkles are lines that are only seen when the underlying muscle is actively contracted. BOTOX® treatments usually last from three to six months, require very little recovery time. In fact, most patients will return to work the same or following day.
Dermal Fillers
Restylane® and Juvederm® are two different brands of FDA-approved dermal fillers made of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body. These products are obtained from non-animal sources and are safe and natural cosmetic fillers that help to reduce the appearance of deep lines, creases, and hollows in the face. Unlike traditionally used collagen fillers, Restylane® and Juvederm® products do not require any pre-treatment skin testing. The areas most commonly treated are the nasolabial folds (smile lines), melolabial folds (marionette lines), and tear trough deformity (hollows beneath the eyes). In addition, these products have also been very successfully used to augment the lips or elevate the eyebrows. Restylane® and Juvederm® treatment effects do fade with time, although the timing is variable from patient to patient. Most patients request re-treatment about every three to four months for the lips and about every six to nine months for other treatment areas.