Botox Injections and Dermal Fillers Explained

Over time, several changes develop on your skin due to aging. For example, your facial muscles become less plump and elastic. Your jawline retracts, and you may also experience loss of high cheekbones and descent of the nose. As the skin stretches and becomes less elastic, it causes wrinkle, sagging, and other familiar signs of aging. The deflation and movement of facial fat further accentuate the signs of aging; this is usually a cause of cosmetic concern for most people. The good news is that Dr. Martha Viera uses Botox injections and dermal fillers to help smooth lines and replenish lost volume, restoring your youthful appearance.

What are Botox injections?

Botox is an injectable treatment popular for reducing facial wrinkles, but it is also used for medical purposes. For example, healthcare providers may use Botox injections to treat excessive sweating, neck spasms, an overactive bladder, and lazy eye. Botox uses a toxin produced by a microbe that causes a life-threatening type of food poisoning. It works by blocking nerve signals that cause muscle contraction, thus, causing temporary relaxation of facial muscles that cause wrinkles on your forehead and around the eyes.

How safe is Botox treatment?

Generally, Botox injections are relatively safe when performed by a doctor who is experienced in administering the treatment. The injections need to be placed precisely to avoid complications, so you want to select your doctor carefully. After treatment, you may experience pain, swelling, and bruising at the injection site; this is expected and usually improves without treatment. Other possible side effects and complications of Botox include:

• Flu-like symptoms or headache
• Droopy eyelids
• Excessive tearing or eye dryness
• Crooked smile

It is unlikely for the toxin to spread to other body parts; when this happens, you may experience vision problems, muscle weakness, breathing problems, trouble speaking, and loss of bladder control. Call your doctor right away if you experience these effects after receiving Botox.

What are dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers are gel-like substances injected beneath your skin to address different cosmetic concerns. For example, dermal fillers can help smoothen deep under-eye circles, lip lines, and nasolabial folds and add volume to your lips. Dermal fillers can be composed of naturally occurring or synthetic substances, including hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring polysaccharide in the skin and cartilage. It is one of the most common compounds due to its numerous benefits, including its natural appearance. Another advantage of hyaluronic fillers is that a special solution can dissolve them if the person dislikes the appearance or in case of an adverse event.

Depending on the specific chemical makeup of hyaluronic acid fillers, they can last for six months or longer before the body absorbs them. During treatment, healthcare providers mix HA fillers with a numbing agent (lidocaine) to reduce discomfort.

Other dermal fillers compounds include poly-lactic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, polymethyl methacrylate, and autologous fat. Each of these substances has its benefits and limitations, so you need the guidance of an experienced, board-certified dermatologist to choose the right type of dermal filler.

If you have any concerns regarding Botox and dermal fillers, consult your specialist at Martha Viera, MD.