As the holiday season gets underway, you’ll likely be spending lots of time preparing for parties and other end-of-the-year celebrations. But between attending holiday gatherings and planning parties of your own it can be difficult to make time for yourself. And with so many social occasions on your calendar, the pressure is on to look your best. Fortunately, injectables offer an ideal solution to this common predicament.
With dermal fillers and neuromodulator injections such as Botox, you can look your best while making the most of the holidays. Read on to discover how you can get a head start on the holidays with injectables.
Injectables Explained
Injectables fall into two general categories: dermal fillers and neuromodulators. Dermal fillers include Restylane, Perlane and Emervel, while Botox, Dysport and Xeomin are so-called neuromodulators. While all injectables help produce a rejuvenated appearance, they have different results. Patients often choose a combination of fillers and neuromodulators to achieve optimal results. Explore your options below to see which injectable treatments can help you look your best this holiday season.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are typically used to smooth out stubborn lines and wrinkles like the nasolabial folds, vertical lip lines, marionette lines and eyebrow furrows. Most dermal fillers contain hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally occurring substance found in your own skin. When injected, the gel-like dermal fillers fill in surface depressions and help the skin stay hydrated and plump.
In addition to treating lines and wrinkles, dermal fillers are also used to fill in areas that have lost volume. When strategically injected into areas such as the undereye hollows and the temples, dermal fillers allow patients to attain a youthful and well-rested appearance without undergoing surgery. These versatile treatments can also help contour the cheeks, so patients can define their cheeks without having to resort to cheek implants or more invasive procedures.
Dermal fillers are not permanent, but they are convenient options for temporary rejuvenation. Patients can expect their results to last between three and twelve months depending on the specific type of filler used, where it is injected, and how the body responds to treatment.
Benefits of dermal fillers include the following:
- softer marionette lines, nasolabial folds and vertical lip lines
- plumper lips and restored volume to cheeks, temples and other areas that have lost volume
- virtually no downtime
- treatment is quick
Neuromodulator Injections
While dermal fillers work by filling in surface depressions, neuromodulator injections work differently. Muscle contractions in the face make our expressions possible, but over time these repeated contractions lead to wrinkles. Movement-related wrinkles, sometimes called “dynamic wrinkles,” used to be quite difficult to treat because they were caused entirely by facial muscles—not just skin laxity or volume loss. To solve this problem, neuromodulator injections weaken the underlying muscles that cause wrinkles. When the muscles are relaxed, the corresponding wrinkles soften or disappear.
Neuromodulator injections are commonly used to reduce the appearance of forehead lines, crow’s feet, lines across the nose (sometimes called “bunny lines”), and the vertical lines between the eyebrows (referred to as “11 lines”). Like fillers neuromodulator injections do not produce permanent results, giving patients the flexibility to either maintain their results or let them fade with time. The effects of Botox, Dysport and Xeomin will generally last between four and six months.
Neuromodulator injections offer the following benefits:
- they can improve crow’s feet, forehead lines and other movement-related wrinkles on the face
- they are non-invasive and involve no downtime
- treatment usually takes just minutes
What to Expect During Treatment
Cosmetic injectables produce only minor discomfort. You may be given a topical anesthetic before the treatment to make the process as painless as possible. Many injectables also have a local anesthetic in the formula.
The actual injections usually only take minutes to perform depending on your cosmetic goals. Following your treatment you can expect minor swelling, bruising, or redness, but these are not long lasting.
The results of dermal fillers such as Restylane, Perlane and Emervel will be immediate, but neuromodulator injections will take a week or so to “settle” and produce their full effects. If you’re planning on getting injectables for this season’s festivities, it’s best to schedule your treatments at least a couple of weeks in advance of your engagements. This will allow you plenty of time for the results to take full effect.
When it comes to the holidays, there’s no better way to prepare than with injectables. This quick in-office treatment will have you looking refreshed and rejuvenated during a typically stressful time. Ready to take the next step? Contact experienced plastic surgeon Dr. Eric Pugash to discuss which injectable treatment you’d like to explore.