What Are Injectable Wrinkle Treatments?
One of the most effective non-invasive wrinkle treatments is the injection of botulinum toxin into the skin around the eyes (crow’s feet) and frown lines between and above the eyes. The toxin paralyzes the tiny muscles we use for facial expressions including frowning, thereby eliminating any lines we have formed. It can last 5-6 months between treatments, and for some people the muscles “learn” to relax even beyond that time.
What Are Injectable Fillers?
Dermal fillers contain gel-like substances that are injected beneath the skin to add volume, smooth wrinkles and soft creases, or enhance contours in the face in non-invasive, natural looking treatments. More than 1 million men and women choose recurring filler injections as a cost-effective facial rejuvenation treatment without the need for invasive surgery or downtime.
How Can Dermal Fillers Enhance My Appearance?
Dermal fillers are more commonly known as “wrinkle fillers.” However, they can do so much more for your appearance than just smooth out wrinkles! Some more common issues dermal fillers can help address include:
- Smooth out facial lines around the lower face (lips, nose, and chin)
- Enhance & restore facial volume loss due to sunken cheeks
- Diminish vertical lip lines
- Plump & enhance the lips
- Smooth lines around the chin
- Improve symmetry in the face
- Reduce the effects of sun damage
What Types of Dermal Fillers are Available?
There are many types and brands of FDA-approved dermal fillers available in the US. Here at NuBody Concepts, we carry all major filler and injectable brands and invite you to call us in Nashville or Memphis for an appointment.
Below are a few different types of fillers you may be interested in.
Hyaluronic acid
Brand names include: Captique, Esthélis, Elevess, Hylaform, Juvederm, Perlane, Prevelle, Puragen, Restylane Silk, Restylane Refyne, Restylane Lyft
HA fillers are a type of filler that use hyaluronic acid injections to improve the skin’s contour, reduce depressions from scarring and injuries, as well as treating small wrinkles. When using hyaluronic acid fillers, you could potentially see dramatic improvements for:
- Acne scars
- Cheek depressions
- Crow’s feet
- Deep smile lines that run from the side of the nose to corners of the mouth (also known as nasolabial furrows)
- Frown wrinkles between the eyebrows
- Marionette lines at the corners of the mouth
- Redefining lip border
- Scars including burns, acne and those caused by wounds
- Smoker’s lines
- Anxiety lines that run across your forehead
- Puffy lower eyelids
Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that your body naturally produces. Often, high concentrations of the acid can be found in your soft connective tissues and in the fluid around the eyes. It also can be found in cartilage and joint fluids and other skin tissues. Scientists have extracted and reformulated the acid to make it into one of the most popular types of facial fillers.
Polyalkylimide
Brand names include: Aquamid
Polyalkylimide dermal fillers are semi-permanent and are often used by board-certified plastic surgeons to:
- Treat deep set wrinkles (i.e. nasolabial folds or depressed scars)
- Plump thinner lips
- Enhance the cheekbones and jawline, replacing lost volume due to aging
- Treat facial wasting from HIV medications
Polyalkylimide injections have very little reaction with human tissue meaning that they are biocompatible and typically last longer than some other dermal fillers. They are also radio transparent. This means that you will not be required to take an allergy test prior to your treatment nor will they interfere with x-rays.
After your injection, a thin layer of collagen will begin to slowly form around the gel over the course of about a month. This product shows considerable stability over time and may even be removed if necessary.
Poly-l-lactic acid
Brand names include: Sculptra, Radiesse
Poly-l-lactic acid is a synthetic, non-toxic, biodegradable dermal filler that has been used for over 40 years as suture material. It is known as a stimulator filler and induces collagen production when injected into the skin.
Poly-l-lactic acid is known to work well treating lower facial wrinkles, and is often used to:
- Fill laughing lines
- Plump thin lips
- Treat deep nasolabial folds
Unlike other dermal fillers, this product does not produce immediate results. Instead, as your body is stimulated into producing its own collagen, the results will begin to appear gradually over a few months.
Most patients will experience the best results of these fillers after three monthly treatments. Each treatment will re-stimulate the face for the production of collagen. The full effects may not be seen completely for at least 4 to 6 weeks. Although it is considered semi-permanent, you may need to make maintenance appointments in the future.
Polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres (PMMA)
Brand names include: Bellafill
PMMA fillers are semi-permanent and are often used to treat more moderate to severe wrinkles, folds, and furrows around the cheeks and nose, particularly nasolabial folds. These procedures can also help fill in pitted scars or augment thin lips.
For those who may be seeking out surgical, rejuvenating cosmetic treatments, a plastic surgeon is often likely to recommend using PMMAs as an alternative – most often replacing certain procedures such as: collagen replacement therapy or hyaluronic therapy. For years, PMMA has been used in surgical implants. For this reason, your cosmetic surgeon may actually underfill in the first treatments and add more at a later date if needed.
PMMA may require a greater number of injections in order to create the volume a patient may desire, and may take up to 3 months before you may experience the full effects. The filler may also be noticeable under the skin. For the best results, ensure that your treatment is being performed by board-certified dermatologists or a board-certified plastic surgeon.
