The days have passed when we had to gracefully accept the impact of aging on our faces. Breakthroughs in modern science have given us numerous treatment options to turn back the clock with facial aesthetics and rejuvenation.
Non-invasive treatments in the form of injectables are an excellent example, and the most popular are BOTOX® and dermal fillers like Juvéderm®. While they seem similar because they are both injectable and administered by a licensed professional, the way they work and the results they achieve are different.
The Difference between BOTOX and Juvéderm
Let’s review BOTOX and Juvéderm to review their effects and discuss what you need to know before booking an appointment at our Vienna, VA, dental office.
BOTOX Smooths Lines and Wrinkles
BOTOX is the brand name for a substance called botulinum neurotoxin. Trained professionals administer very small quantities of BOTOX to improve facial aesthetics by temporarily immobilizing or relaxing muscles and targeting wrinkles caused by facial expressions.
Areas most commonly targeted with BOTOX are wrinkles around the eyes (crow's feet), frown lines on the forehead (11 lines or angry 11), and wrinkles above the lips. Dysport and Xeomin are other brands of botulinum neurotoxins available.
Dermal Fillers Restore a Fuller Facial Appearance
To understand how Juvéderm dermal fillers work, it helps to know what happens to your skin as it ages. When you’re younger, your skin has plenty of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid that helps it maintain a firm, hydrated appearance. Because aging inhibits our body’s ability to replenish these substances, our skin begins to sag and become dry, allowing folds and wrinkles to become more pronounced.
Dermal fillers contain either hyaluronic acid or collagen that plumps the skin as your body naturally did when you were younger. Fillers like Juvéderm restore lost facial volume and smooth the skin, giving way to a fuller, more elastic, hydrated, and youthful facial appearance. This makes dermal fillers an excellent solution for wrinkles, such as lip lines that are not accentuated by muscle movement.
Is BOTOX or Juvéderm Right for You?
Generally speaking, if your wrinkles become more noticeable with facial expressions like smiling or frowning, BOTOX is likely the right solution. If wrinkles are prominent whether or not you’re making facial gestures, fillers might be the better choice.
At Vienna Family Dental, we are pleased to offer the services of an injection specialist who visits our office once a week. She specializes in injectable facial treatments that give you a fresher, more youthful appearance.
Please call our Vienna, VA, dental office to schedule an appointment to see how we can help you.