How you feel about your appearance affects nearly all parts of your life. Feeling good about how you look can make you more confident and change how you interact with others. Two modern cosmetic procedures have helped millions look younger and more refreshed.
At Oral & Facial Surgery of Mississippi, Dr. Michael Nichols and his staff offer Botox® and dermal filler injections. These injectables can both give you a smoother, more attractive appearance, but they typically treat different problems.
Here, we describe what each one is best for and what you can expect.
Botox has become one of those brand names that’s become synonymous with an entire class of products, like Kleenex and Jacuzzi. In our office, we offer BOTOX® Cosmetic, the original product first approved for cosmetic uses in 1989.
Botulinum toxin, the active ingredient in Botox, is a protein that blocks a chemical that triggers muscle contractions. When you have Botox injections, the muscles that cause wrinkles can’t contract as strongly, so your wrinkles begin to fade.
Some wrinkles form because you make the same facial expressions thousands of times, similar to folding a paper in the same way repeatedly. Over time, the fold lines become permanent — and wrinkles do too.
Botox is best for wrinkles caused by expressions. For example, if you have horizontal wrinkles on your forehead when you raise your eyebrows, or “11” lines between your brows, Botox may be a solution. Botox can also treat crow’s feet and frown lines, among others.
Some wrinkles result from sagging skin, and Botox isn’t an appropriate treatment for those.
Dermal fillers are injections that can restore lost volume, soften creases or deep wrinkles, plump lips, to name just a few uses. We offer several fillers, recommending the best one for you depending on your situation and goals.
For example, if your cheeks are beginning to look hollow, we may suggest a filler for volume loss, such as Voluma®. If you’d like to plump your lips or want to smooth vertical lip lines, we may guide you toward Vobella®, the first dermal filler specifically for lips.
Dermal fillers do what the name says, filling the space under your skin to add volume. Different fillers work in different ways. Those containing hyaluronic acid provide hydration and immediate volume; those with poly-L-lactic acid gradually rebuild structures beneath your skin.
Other ways in which the two injectables differ include:
Regardless of the anti-aging treatment you get, your choice of provider matters. Both injectables are safe as long a skilled and highly trained professional administers them.
If you’d like to learn more about the injections we offer, call our office in Flowood, Mississippi, today.
