Can You Look Younger Without Surgery?

Many people in West Chester want to look younger but are hesitant to go under the knife in order to change their appearance. Fortunately, they have other options. Halloween has come and gone so wearing a mask is off the table, but injectable dermal fillers can be used year-round and offer a safe and effective alternative to surgery.

What are Injectable Fillers?

Injectable fillers are made up of soft tissue that is injected into the skin. This fills in lines and wrinkles and adds volume, helping to turn back the clock and soften the ravages of time, giving you a more youthful appearance. The typical procedure takes half an hour or less and offers results that may last as long as a year.

Dermal fillers are made up of a variety of substances, including:

• A natural protein found in skin and tissue.
• Hyaluronic acid. A natural lubricating gel produced by the body to plump the skin. Juvedérm® and Restylane® are popular products containing HA.
• Calcium Hydroxylapatite. A biodegradable mineral found in bone. Radiesse® is a popular product made with CaHA.
• Poly-L-lactic acid. A synthetic material created from alpha-hydroxy acid and frequently used in medical procedures involving dissolvable stitches and bone screws. It is the main ingredient in Sculptra®.
• Human fat.

All of these substances are absorbed by the body over time, so you will have to return for regular injections in order to maintain lasting results.

Polymethylmethacrylate beads are also sometimes used. These small, round, plastic particles are not absorbed by the body, so they offer permanent results. The type of filler best for you will depend on your particular needs.

Each dermal filler injection takes just a few seconds. Your West Chester doctor will inject the filler, massage the area, and evaluate the immediate result. More filler may be injected at each site as needed.

Botox

Botox is a prescription drug made from the Clostridium botulinum bacterium that is used to temporarily paralyze muscle activity. When injected into the skin, it blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles, preventing them from contracting. This causes facial wrinkles and creases to relax and soften. Botox is most useful in treating forehead and frown lines and crow’s feet. It is often used in conjunction with dermal fillers to help reduce signs of aging resulting from sun exposure, smoking, and gravity.

Like injectable fillers, Botox offers temporary results. You’ll need maintenance injections on average every three to twelve months.

Risks and Rewards

No treatment is completely risk-free, but serious complications from injectable dermal fillers and Botox are rare. You may experience infection, bruising, swelling, redness, pain, tenderness, numbness, rash, itching, skin nodules, abscesses, open sores, blurred vision, flu-like symptoms, and allergic reactions. In the vast majority of cases these side effects are temporary and clear up within a week. Most people find this an acceptable risk for a solution that offers immediate results lasting up to a year.

If you’re interested in learning more about injectable dermal fillers or Botox to help reverse the signs of aging, contact your West Chester cosmetic facial specialist today!