The power of injectables
Injectables are a class of treatments which aim to correct contour deficiencies in the face and could serve as an alternative to surgery. These treatments can address cheeks, lips, the chin, lines around the eyes and eyebrows, and even unwanted shape of the nose. Safe, effective, and FDA approved, cosmetic injections are corrective option available to almost everyone.
Volumizers
There are two classes of injectable treatments: volumizers and muscle relaxers. They differ in their mechanisms of action and corrective purposes. Volumizers such as Restylane and Juvéderm are gel substances composed of cross-linked hyaluronic acid molecules that work to lift, plump, and fill in areas of the face that have lost tissue over time. Hyaluronic acid is a native substance in the skin which keeps skin hydrated and firm. Therefore, volumizers are not registered by the body as foreign bodies, eliminating the possibility of a negative reaction. These products are a substitute for what was once underneath the skin, that being fat, but has been lost to aging. Volumizers remain in the skin for about 9-12 months after which they become absorbed by the body’s hyaluronidase enzymes. We at Advanced Plastic Surgery offer a liquid facelift which uses volumizers as an alternative to a surgical facelift in patients with subtle or early signs of aging, who are not quite ready for a surgical intervention.
Muscle relaxers
Muscle relaxers, on the other hand, are low concentrated derivatives of botulinum toxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Products such as Botox, Dysport, and Jeuveau work by paralyzing motor nerve endings of muscles responsible for the creation of wrinkles in the face. They do not target sensory nerves, so the patient will not lose any feeling in injected areas. The effects of these injections are visible for 3-4 months. Unlike fillers, muscle relaxers cannot fill in contour deficient areas of the face, but they can prevent the visibility and further accentuation of existing fine lines. Muscle relaxer and volumizer treatments CAN be injected together in one visit!
Don’t be afraid of unnatural look!
The fear many patients face when deliberating injectables is that after the treatment, they will be “stuck’ looking unnatural and unlike themselves. The skin will be too taut, too smooth, too full and humanoid. Unless they intend on achieving an unusual look, the way to avoid over injection is ensuring that the injector understands the proportions of the face. At Advanced Plastic Surgery, injections begin in low doses, for even the smallest amounts of filler or muscle relaxer can have a profound difference on one’s facial features. In the case of volumizers, the product can be molded and shaped under the skin by the injector to realize a desired look. If the patient is satisfied with the treatment, subsequent injections can be of the same dose. If the patient requests a more pronounced change in facial anatomy, the following treatments can have higher doses. The key to finding the “sweet spot” for dosing is trusting your vision in how you would like your face to look and listening to the recommendations of the healthcare professional administering your injections.
Nobody can dictate the way you would like to look
It is also important to address the perceived social stigma surrounding muscle relaxer and volumizer injections. The truth is that no one can dictate the way you would like to look. If your aesthetic endeavors are safe, informed, and well thought out, you should not feel ashamed or vain for investing in a service that can restore your self-confidence. The inevitable process of aging should not be a factor that stops you from looking and feeling beautiful, whole, and yourself! Do not let the perceived stigma of injectables be an obstacle in achieving your desired look. As one of our patients puts it: “If it makes you happy, then why not?”