Aging may be inevitable, but showing its visible signs doesn’t have to be. Wrinkle relaxers such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport®, and dermal fillers such as Juvéderm® and Restylane®, work in different ways, but they each can deliver fast results that leave you looking and feeling younger.
At Farrell Plastic Surgery and Laser Center, Dr. Deborah Farrell is one of central Pennsylvania’s premier laser and aesthetic medicine physicians. She wants her patients to be informed about the procedures they consider so they can choose the option that best meets their needs. This blog breaks down the differences between wrinkle relaxers and dermal fillers to help you make an informed decision.
What are BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport®?
One of the biggest causes of wrinkles is the repetitive contractions that your facial muscles make daily. You smile, frown, laugh, squint, and furrow your brow more times per day than you can count. Often, you do these things unconsciously. Over time, these recurring movements build up and cause wrinkles.
BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport® affect the muscles that control those movements to allow your lines and wrinkles to dissipate. They work by blocking signals from your nerves that tell those muscles to contract. Importantly, it doesn’t prevent you from smiling, laughing, frowning, squinting, or furrowing when you choose to.
BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport® can treat issues such as:
- Crow’s feet
- Frown lines
- Forehead wrinkles
What are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers such as Juvéderm® and Restylane® address one of the other leading causes of facial wrinkles. As you age, your production of the skin-strengthening compounds hyaluronic acid and collagen begins to decline. Collagen is a protein that keeps your skin elastic and voluminous, as well as helping it heal. Hyaluronic acid transfers nutrients to your skin from your bloodstream.
Once you hit your mid-20s, you produce about 1 percent less collagen and hyaluronic acid per year, and that production never naturally picks up again. Juvéderm® and Restylane® contain hyaluronic acid and help your body make more collagen.
Dermal fillers can treat issues such as:
- Loss of facial volume
- Moderate and deep wrinkles
- Sagging skin
- Loss of lip volume
Do Wrinkle Relaxers or Dermal Fillers Last Longer?
Neither wrinkle relaxers nor dermal fillers are permanent. BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport® results last about 3-6 months. Juvéderm® and Restylane® can last 6-18 months, with an average of about a year.
Although these aren’t permanent, their effects are cumulative. Every time you receive treatment, your wrinkles will be less pronounced when they come back.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
Dr. Farrell is dedicated to providing the natural anti-aging treatments you desire. She has decades of experience helping her patients attain a more youthful, vigorous look. Dr. Farrell will work with you to understand your needs and goals to create a comfortable treatment plan that delivers excellent results.
She serves Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, and nearby areas of Pennsylvania. Call (717) 732-9000 today to schedule a consultation.