Our Smarty friends at CEENTA are hosting their popular “Spring Into Beauty” Event where you’ll get 15% off Botox + Fillers. Time to load up! We sat down with the CEENTA experts and have some questions answered about the procedures.
What is Botox?
BOTOX – as well as similar substances Dysport and Xeomin – are prescription medicines injected into facial muscles to decrease the appearance of wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing a person’s facial muscles.
What are Cosmetic Fillers?
Cosmetic fillers are substances like hyaluronic acid, found naturally in the tissues of the body, which are injected into skin areas to restore volume and suppleness. They eliminate fine lines, wrinkles, and creases.
How old do you have to be to get the injections?
The FDA has approved the use of BOTOX in patients 18 and older, and cosmetic fillers in patients 21 and older.
What is the ideal age for Botox?
The ideal age to start an injection like BOTOX is when you begin to notice wrinkles when your face is resting. It is normal to have dynamic wrinkles, or wrinkles that appear with facial motion (smiling, frowning, etc.). Most patients start BOTOX treatments in their thirties, although some may start as early as their mid-twenties. However, many people won’t have developed enough wrinkles to justify treatment so early. Also, regular BOTOX treatments at such an early age can become expensive as costs accrue over the years. Also, there is a chance that BOTOX overuse – for example, getting regular treatment starting in your mid-twenties – could lead to earlier resistance and reduced efficacy of BOTOX. However, switching to a different neurotoxin such as Dysport or Xeomin could overcome the tolerance, CEENTA facial plastic specialist Neela Rao, MD, said.
It is also important to note that BOTOX is best used a preventative measure and must be maintained every 3-4 months for optimal results. Those who begin treatment later in life can still benefit by preventing future wrinkles, but BOTOX will not reverse the appearance of deep-set wrinkles.
What is the Ideal Age for Fillers?
Most people begin to notice volume loss in their face around their thirties. However, areas such as the tear troughs (bags under the eyes) can appear at a younger age due to the skin being very thin in this area. Fillers are becoming increasingly popular in the lips, particularly in younger patients, and can be injected safely in adults of all ages. While fillers are ideal to restore youthful volume to the face, they can also help soften the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
What Else Can I Do to Keep My Skin From Wrinkling?
The best way to avoid wrinkles is to prevent them. Wearing sunblock daily – even in the winter – getting plenty of rest, reducing stress, and drinking lots of water are all important measures. Your genes also play a strong role in how your face ages. It is important to remember that wrinkles are a natural part of aging and demonstrate our emotions and expressivity. Not all wrinkles are bad!
What you will see with injections.
Fine lines, wrinkles, and creases will be softened and, in some cases, eliminated. This can give your face a more youthful look, or it can even change how our face moves or emotes. For example, people may have creases that make them look perpetually mad, even if they’re not. Removing those lines can make people look happy, which in turn makes people smile at them in response instead of frowning.
“We can change habitual facial messages that are not in harmony with our hearts,” CEENTA facial plastic surgery specialist Catherine Cuite, MD, said. “This can change a person’s entire day.”
What you will not see with injections.
Your skin will not stay supple and wrinkle-free forever. BOTOX and similar injections last about four months, while cosmetic fillers last six to nine. Once they wear off, you’ll need to get follow-up treatments.
BOTOX won’t address volume or suppleness. A cosmetic filler is needed for those concerns. Ideally, BOTOX and cosmetic fillers could be used synergistically to optimize your results.
Also, if your skin is sagging, BOTOX and cosmetic fillers won’t help tighten your skin. A procedure like a facelift, eyebrow lift, or skin tightening procedure could be a better option.
Sun damage and skin texture issues can also not be addressed with cosmetic injections. The SkinMedica products CEENTA sells can help with this.
If you think you’re at the right point in your life for cosmetic injections, schedule a consultation with a CEENTA doctor. Our specially-trained eye and ENT doctors in both North and South Carolina are skilled in cosmetic treatments and are ready and willing to help you look the age you want to look. Click here to make an appointment and get your 15% off discount. Hurry, offer ends 4/30!
Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates
