So you’ve got some wrinkles on your forehead and deep lines forming around your mouth…. You want a non-invasive procedure to improve their appearance but you’re not sure which injectable is needed to address your concerns. Believe it or not, you are not alone. Many patients, especially those who are new to aesthetic treatments, don’t know the difference between botox and fillers, and some have never even heard of Kybella (what’s that?!).
Botox
Botox works by temporarily relaxing the muscle that causes a wrinkle. When injected into a targeted muscle, it inhibits the muscle and nerve from communicating, resulting in a temporary relaxation of that muscle. The skin attached to that muscle will now have diminished movement, if any motion at all, resulting in less wrinkling. It is easy to see why Botox works great in areas where repetitive muscle movements cause wrinkles. The most common areas suitable for Botox treatment include the forehead, the area between the brows (called the frown lines), and around the eyes (crow’s feet). It can also be injected into certain muscles in order to create a brow lift, diminish “smokers” lines around the mouth, and to slim down a bulky masseter muscle (the muscle responsible for teeth grinding).
Fillers
Injectable fillers are typically a soft gel-like substance used to smooth out wrinkles and fill in skin folds. If they are being used to treat wrinkles or folded areas, they are usually injected into the deep layers of the skin, in order to provide support and structure to that area. This approach works well for treatment of lines around the mouth (think smile lines or nasolabial folds, marionette lines and smokers lines). Injectable fillers can also be used to create structure and support in areas that have become hollow. In this case, the product is typically injected deeply onto the bone or within the fat to build structure and add volume. This technique is great for sculpting the cheek bones or jaw line and chin, or to fill in hollow temples.
Injectable fillers can be used in other parts of the body as well. One of the most common areas for filler treatment outside of the face includes the hands. To read more about how fillers can be used to improve the appearance of the hands check out our blog about Radiesse here.
Kybella
Kybella is an injection made of deoxycholic acid, an enzyme that is naturally present in our gastrointestinal system. Deoxycholic acid in our gut breaks down dietary fat that we ingest. Kybella injectable is FDA approved for injection into the submentum (double chin) to reduce unwanted fat cells permanently. It also works great to reduce small areas of unwanted fat on the body as well, such as the bra fat area, or contour irregularities that may be present after liposuction or Coolsculpting.
As you can see, there are many different injectable options available to address your cosmetic concerns. While some cosmetic concerns might easily be corrected or improved with one treatment modality, other times the injectables listed above can be used together in order to create a beautiful result. Regardless of what your concern is, we would love to meet you! We offer complementary consultations for botox and fillers, and can come up with a treatment plan specific to your needs, goals and budget. Call (708) 524-1400 to schedule your consultation today!
