Cosmetic injectables like Botox and dermal fillers are the most popular aesthetic treatments in the United States — by far. In fact, more than 13 million injectable treatments are performed each year, according to the latest data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
One reason why injectables are so popular is because they’re so effective at treating the signs of aging. Better still, those effects can be enhanced when both products are used to treat different types of issues — an approach so popular, it’s been dubbed a “liquid facelift.”
At Metroderm DC: Medical, Laser, and Aesthetic Dermatology Center, Edward Stolar, MD, Todd Perkins, MD, and Adrianna Gonzales, MD, FAAD, offer Botox and fillers to help patients at their Washington, DC, practice achieve truly custom results. Here, learn how these products differ and how they work together to help banish multiple signs of aging.
Botox is a neuromuscular agent that works on so-called dynamic wrinkles, those lines that form when you smile, frown, or make other facial expressions.
These wrinkles are associated with muscle movement, and Botox works by blocking the nerve signals that cause those muscles to move, preventing lines from forming.
Botox is frequently used to treat crow’s feet, forehead lines, the little lines that form between your brows, and “smoker’s lines” around the perimeter of your lips. It’s also widely used to achieve the popular “lip flip,” helping your upper lip look fuller by relaxing the surrounding muscles.
Dermal fillers work on static wrinkles — lines that happen as a result of sun damage (the most common cause of visible aging), genetics, stress, and good old gravity. Unlike dynamic wrinkles, these lines are not associated with facial movement and expressions.
When injected, fillers literally “fill in” lines and wrinkles so your face looks smoother, less stressed, and more youthful. Fillers are also used to restore volume that’s lost as we get older or to create fullness in the lips and other areas and for smoothing out scars.
While Botox and similar neuromuscular agents use the same underlying ingredient, fillers use different formulations, so they can be tailored to the area or issues that’s being treated, your goals, and other factors. Our team uses the most advanced fillers from the trusted brands Restylane® and Juvéderm™, so you can feel confident in your results.
Because neuromuscular agents and fillers work on different kinds of wrinkles, they complement each other beautifully. The answer to the question, then, is yes — you absolutely can have Botox and fillers at the same time.
By treating both dynamic and static wrinkles, our team customizes your treatment plan to treat multiple issues, including lines, folds, and hollowed-out areas where natural volume is lacking. This combination effect is why these treatments performed together are commonly referred to as a liquid facelift.
While surgical facelifts use similar incisions and techniques from one patient to the next, injectable treatments can be completely individualized depending on the type of filler used, where it’s injected, the “dose” used, and other factors, so you can feel confident in your results.
Injectable treatments are performed right in our office, and afterward, there’s no downtime, making them ideal for even the busiest person.
To learn more about injectables and how they can be used alone or together to help you achieve your aesthetic goals, call 202-659-2223 or book an appointment online with the team at Metroderm DC: Medical, Laser, and Aesthetic Dermatology Center in Washington, DC, today.
