Injectables

This is a relatively common question that I get when people are just starting to learn about non-surgical treatments for the face. Botox^® and filler are actually two different families that are used to treat different processes in aging. Botox^® is a specific brand of of neuromodulator (medication affecting nerves and muscles function) that weakens facial muscles to reduce wrinkles. These wrinkles are created over time when we animate our face such as when we are surprised, frown, or squint. Filler is a substance that is injected into the skin or just below the skin in order to add volume to areas that may not be full enough. The most common placement for filler is in the lips to create a more voluptuous mouth.  You definitely do not want Botox^® injected into your lips! This would make talking, smiling, and possibly eating a difficult task!

SEE ALSO: Reverse Signs of Aging with Injectables

Botox^® and other similar products such as Dysport^®, Xeomin^®, and Jeuveau^® are used to treat dynamic wrinkles. Dynamic wrinkles occur when, at rest, there are no creases in the skin but with facial movement, wrinkles appear. The common areas that this occur are in the glabella region between the eyebrows (the frown lines), the forehead, and the lines around the eyes (also called crow’s feet). These products can also be used in other regions as well such as in the bands on the neck, for chin wrinkling, and even for headache relief. It is important to have a consultation with an experienced injector who can analyze your face and create the best plan for you. There is definitely an art and science to using these products and if not properly administered, there can be temporary unwanted muscle effects.

SEE ALSO: Am I a Good Candidate For Cosmetic Surgery?

Neuromodulators are incredibly safe drugs. They are probably more safe than most drugs found in your medicine cabinet. These drugs only work locally in the muscle they are injected

into. There is no evidence that they travel throughout your bloodstream and system and they have an incredibly high safety profile.

What’s more, they act only temporarily and the effects wear off at about 3 to 4 months although people may still see some affects beyond this time. Most patients are extremely happy with the results they achieve and are actually a little sad when their Botox^® starts to wear off! On the flipside, if the Botox^® was injected and results are not ideal, the effects will wear off and the patient will be OK.  Truly, it doesn’t hurt to try it!

This is another question that our practice occasionally gets from people who are new to Botox^® and filler. Dr. Lahar is able to perform this procedure in the office very comfortably. For Botox^®, Dr. Lahar simply cleans the skin with an alcohol pad and uses an extremely small needle to inject the medicine. It causes a minor welt much like a mosquito bite that will go away in about an hour. For filler, an anesthetic is used on the skin and allowed to sit there for a few minutes to help numb the skin. This allows Dr. Lahar to plump the lips or other areas very comfortably.

As their name suggests, filler is used to add volume to deficient areas. These deficient areas may be caused from aging or simply the patient is looking for volume enhancement. The lips are the most common area for people to ask for volume enhancement. As we age, certain areas of our face tend to lose volume. Some of the subtle changes can be addressed with filler but more significant changes may require surgery to get the best results. This is why a facial analysis is important to achieving the best result and help you reach your goals.

While lip enhancement is the most common filler location at Lahar Plastic Surgery, filler is also used to create subtle and powerful changes to the cheekbones, the jawline, nasolabial folds, and the temples. Understanding the anatomy in these regions is very important for safety as well as understanding what looks aesthetically pleasing.

Patients frequently say they don’t want an overdone look and some will even say they don’t want to ever try filler for this reason. Many of the results that concern people are actually occurring in patients who have had too many procedures or poorly performed procedures. This creates a bias in our minds that tells us that everyone who has these procedures looks strange. If someone looks great, no one thinks that they have had anything done but that it must be natural. Many of the looks of older celebrities that have maintained their appearance are through the use of subtle enhancements over time as opposed to big changes all at once. Dr. Lahar is very conservative about volume enhancement, particularly if this is your first time having any sort of injectable. He will not use more than one syringe at your first visit and will allow a week or two to pass by before adding any more volume if any is required. This will allow your anatomy to adapt to the filler and not be overcome by excessive volume.

Injectables References

• https://www.botox.com/
• https://www.dysportusa.com/