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BOTOX® Cosmetic
Juvéderm™
Perlane®
Radiesse®
Restylane®
Sculptra™
Chemodenervation & Soft Tissue Augmentation with Injectable Fillers
As we age, our faces begin to show the effects of volume loss, increased skin laxity, gravity, sun exposure, and years of facial muscle movement such as smiling, frowning, and squinting. The underlying tissues that keep our skin looking youthful and plump begin to deteriorate -- often leaving frown lines, crow’s feet wrinkles, nasolabial folds, radial lip lines, marionette lines and a pre-jowl sulcus, thin lips, and other lines related to loss of elasticity, loss of volume and underlying muscle movement. Softening of these lines and wrinkles, and the restoration of fullness in the face can often be achieved nonsurgically through treatment with injectable fillers and/or chemodenervation.
Injectable fillers can soften facial lines and creases, plump thin lips, enhance the lip margin, improve cheek fullness, enhance aging or irregular contours of the face, and improve the appearance of some depressed scars. Use of soft tissue fillers can produce a marked improvement in restoring facial fullness and a more youthful appearance. The most popular injectable fillers are based upon natural substances derived from the human body; some are synthetic forms of these substances (Juvéderm™, Perlane®, and Restylane®), and others contain synthetic, biocompatible compounds (Radiesse®). The differences in fillers vary not only in their composition but also in their preferred application and the duration of their results.
Soft-tissue fillers, such as collagen, hyaluronic acid, synthetic calcium hydroxylapatite, poly-L-lactic acid, and other products can help fill in lines and creases to restore a smoother, more youthful-looking appearance. When injected beneath the skin, these fillers can soften facial lines and creases, add a fuller more sensuous look to the lips, enhance the lip margin, improve cheek fullness, enhance aging or irregular contours of the face, and improve the appearance of some depressed scars. Injectable fillers may be used in conjunction with other procedures such as Fraxel laser resurfacing, FotoFacial rejuvenation, chemical peels, or aesthetic surgical procedures. According to The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 1,972,193 injectable filler treatments were performed in the US in 2006; 1,593,554 of which used a hyaluronic acid product, making this the second most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure – a 33% increase from the previous year.
Lines and wrinkles of the upper third of the face are caused by repeated contraction of the underlying facial muscles, in addition to other causes of facial aging discussed above. Chemodenervation is used for the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles caused by overactive facial muscles. The injections relax the facial muscles and reduce the visible lines and furrows. The use of BOTOX Cosmetic is ideal for improving lines and wrinkles of the forehead, frown lines between the eyebrows, and crow's feet wrinkles around the eyes. In 2006, The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported 3,181,592 BOTOX treatments performed in the United States; making this the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure.
Facial rejuvenation is very individualized. Effective and safe use of BOTOX and soft tissue fillers requires a physician with specialized training and a thorough understanding of facial anatomy -- to recommend and inject an appropriate filler. It is important to discuss your expectations with a board-certified plastic surgeon that has experience with many types of non-surgical facial procedures. Your doctor will help you select a treatment option based on your goals, your anatomy, and your lifestyle.
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