Can You Believe She Has 4 Syringes of Filler?
The popularity of injectable cosmetic procedures like neurotoxins (Botox®) and dermal fillers (Restylane and Juvéderm) continues to expand, especially in this current age of social media. Patients of all ages are drawn to the immediacy and the non-invasive nature of these anti-aging treatments.
A common concern or fear that board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Anureet Bajaj hears during consultations with patients is that injectable treatments look fake. The reality of this is that we only ever notice filler results that look unnatural—we never notice the people who have had an injectable treatment done well because their provider knows how to create natural-looking results.
In this blog, we’ll discuss why our faces change as we get older and give you tips on using fillers and Botox to make your face look more balanced and natural.
What Are Some Components of Facial Aging?
One aspect of facial aging is the loss of volume in our facial fat compartments, usually the temple, cheeks, around the eyes, and the mouth. The process of losing youthful definition in the face can begin as early as a patient’s thirties and can be exacerbated with weight loss.
Another component of facial aging involves fine lines and wrinkles. When our skin is young, it can bend and move with the ability to be able to snap back and become smooth again as soon as our expression changes. As we age, the elasticity and collagen in our skin begin to deplete, leaving it susceptible to expression lines that become etched into our skin, especially along the forehead, mouth, and eyes.
These are the areas that neurotoxins and fillers can really affect and create a more refreshed appearance. However, the cheeks, forehead, eyes, and mouth are also key characteristics that define the face. If they are altered too much, this is what creates the fake appearance.
What is Botox®, and How Does It Work?
Overactive facial muscles, like the ones we use to smile, frown, scowl, or concentrate, produce dynamic wrinkles. Over time, these dynamic wrinkles turn into static wrinkles, which are the lines we see even when the face is at rest. Botox® contains a purified neurotoxin that temporarily disrupts the nerve communication sent from these muscles, preventing them from being able to contract.
This simple intervention allows the skin above the muscles to relax and the wrinkles to smooth.
What are Dermal Fillers, and How Do They Work?
Juvéderm and Restylane are two types of dermal fillers that we use at Bajaj Plastic Surgery.
Juvéderm includes a variety of hyaluronic acid cosmetic gel fillers that are used to smooth wrinkles and deep creases, and provide facial volume where it has become lost. They are also used to add definition and volume to thin or thinning lips. The hyaluronic acid ingredient delivers nutrients to the skin, as well as hydration, and acts like a cushioning agent that looks and feels like natural facial tissue.
Restylane is made with the same active ingredient—hyaluronic acid. However, Restylane is more granular in consistency, whereas Juvéderm is smoother. For this reason, Juvéderm is often used to address fine lines and wrinkles in smaller areas of the face, such as smile lines. Since Restylane remains in a fixed position when injected, it is more adept at adding volume to sunken areas of the face.
Depending on your aesthetic goals and facial features, Dr. Bajaj will recommend one or a combination of both to achieve your ideal results.
Before- and- After Injectable Results
In these before and after photos, our patient is shown in her immediate post-procedure results and the results of her three-week follow-up appointment. She had filler injected into her temple, cheeks, nasolabial folds, chin, and lips. Dr. Bajaj focused on a subtle softening of her already beautiful and unique facial features, lending to her results looking natural, soft, and complimentary rather than overdone.
Achieve Natural and Rejuvenating Results at Bajaj Plastic Surgery
At Bajaj Plastic Surgery, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Anureet Bajaj performs all of her own injectable treatments rather than having a nurse practitioner or an aesthetician do them for her. One of the main reasons she prefers to do them herself is that she enjoys the artistry behind injectable treatments and being able to create results that complement and enhance her patient’s natural beauty. To learn more or to schedule a consultation today, call us at (405) 810-8448.