Most people know cosmetic dermal fillers and Botox® help reduce the signs of aging, rejuvenating your complexion while restoring your confidence, too. But when it comes to treatment, what many people don’t know is that they can have both Botox and fillers at the same time — and enjoy even better results.
Michele Meinhart, FNP, offers both dermal fillers and Botox injections to patients at Starkey Medical Esthetics, helping every patient achieve their goals and enjoy beautiful results. Here, learn when each product is used and when a combined treatment using both products makes sense.
Both Botox and fillers are used for similar issues, but the way they work and how they achieve those benefits differ substantially.
Botox is a neuromodulator, sometimes called a neuromuscular agent, which refers to the product’s ability to interfere with the nerve signals that control muscle movements. Wrinkles that form as a result of facial movements are called dynamic wrinkles, and they become more noticeable as we get older and years of repeated movements etch lines and folds into our skin.
Botox helps reduce the appearance of dynamic wrinkles by blocking the nerve signals between a specific muscle and your brain. When these signals are blocked, your brain doesn’t “tell” your muscle to contract, which means it doesn’t tug on your skin and cause wrinkles to form.
Frequently used to treat wrinkles and lines around your eyes and forehead, Botox can also be used to treat tiny lines around your lips and chin and to gently elevate your brows for a more alert appearance without brow lift surgery. It’s also used along the upper lip to provide gentle fullness by relaxing your lip muscles — the so-called Botox lip flip.
Fillers are used for different purposes — specifically to treat lines and wrinkles caused by natural age-related changes, sun exposure, weight fluctuations, and even genetics. These wrinkles are called static wrinkles because they form regardless of your facial expressions and muscle activity.
Fillers smooth these wrinkles by plumping them up and adding volume. That same effect is used to restore lost volume in your cheeks, around your eyes, and in your lips.
Different fillers are available for different needs and concerns. We offer several options, including the JUVÉDERM® family of fillers, Restylane® products, and BELOTERO BALANCE®. Each filler is ideal for different areas and applications, and we can help you select the ideal combination to help you reach your goals.
Both Botox and dermal fillers provide beautiful results when used on their own to target isolated concerns, like thin lips or crow’s feet around your eyes. But depending on your goals, those results can be even better when the two types of injectables are used together.
In fact, the benefits of using a combination of products are so striking, the combined treatment has earned itself a well-deserved nickname: liquid facelift. Using both Botox and dermal fillers allows us to treat both static and dynamic wrinkles wherever they occur. They also add volume and provide a gentle lift to both the brow area and the lower face, using fillers in your cheeks and other areas, for anti-aging effects from your forehead to your jowls.
Even better: Both Botox and fillers can be administered in just one office visit for greater convenience and faster results. Plus, treatments can be repeated to maintain your beautiful results over time.
Whether you’re having one type of injectable or both Botox and fillers, the key to getting the best results is having a custom treatment plan. At Starkey Medical Esthetics, every treatment plan is carefully tailored to every patient’s unique facial anatomy, aesthetic goals, and personal concerns to help you get the results you’re seeking.
To learn more about liquid facelifts and to learn how we can develop a custom treatment plan just for you, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Starkey Medical Esthetics in Salem, Virginia, today.
