With age, the facial skin invariably becomes less supple and elastic. Several age-related structural changes can have a significant impact on how your skin looks as the years go by. Fortunately, injectables like Botox and Juvéderm are designed to correct these structural issues right at their source. If you have yet to experience the rejuvenating benefits of cosmetic injectables for yourself, you may be wondering how these two popular formulas stack up.
Why Use Botox And Juvéderm?
Cosmetic injectables are designed to minimize fines lines, creases, and evidence of facial volume loss that cannot be corrected with store-bought lotions and creams. While chemical peels and hydrating facials are great for brightening the complexion, minimizing the appearance of dark spots, and improving the skin’s texture and tone, these treatments are not intended to address superficial and advanced facial wrinkling. Botox is an injectable neurotoxin that smooths dynamic lines around the lips, eyes, and across the brow. Conversely, Juvéderm is a high-quality dermal filler that’s made to restore lost volume at the cheeks, at the jawline, and along the nasolabial folds.
In many ways, comparing Botox to Juvéderm is a lot like comparing apples and oranges. While both products are injectable and allow for entirely non-invasive anti-aging treatments, Botox is suitable for minimizing dynamic wrinkling, whereas Juvéderm is best for advanced, static wrinkling in mid-face areas. Botox is a wrinkle relaxer, and Juvéderm is a wrinkle filler. Moreover, given that they are meant to address two distinctly different age-related issues, there are many instances in which Botox and Juvéderm can be safely and effectively used together.
How Botox Works
The act of making facial expressions creates a lot of muscle tension throughout the years. Sadly, this tension will eventually have an impact on the smooth collagen layer that defines your skin and supports it. Over time, tiny cracks will begin to develop in this layer that ultimately manifests as wrinkles on the surface. Once these cracks have formed, these wrinkles will be apparent whenever the related expressive muscles are in use. For instance, when you smile, tiny creases called crow’s feet will show up around your eyes, and noticeable frown lines will appear every time you furrow your brow in displeasure.
Botox softens these age-related creases by relaxing the muscles that cause them. Once these muscles are temporarily relaxed, the supporting collagen layer will regain a smoother appearance. The effects of a typical Botox treatment can last between three and five months. After this time, injections can be safely repeated for those who wish to extend their results.
How Juvéderm Works
Juvéderm is designed to correct deep, static wrinkles. While crow’s feet and frown lines are only visible when the expressive facial muscles are engaged, advanced static wrinkles are visible all of the time. These can be deep creases at the nasolabial folds or deep creases that travel from the outer corners of your mouth to the edge of your chin. Rather than immobilizing muscles to reduce stored tension, Juvéderm replaces lost volume across the mid-face for a more plump, robust, and youthful appearance. Following injection, this hyaluronic acid-based solution attracts water molecules and retains them. This creates a plumping effect that minimizes facial hollows, fills in wrinkles, and leaves the skin hydrated.
Various versions of the Juvéderm formula are also used in many other cosmetic applications. For instance, Juvéderm is frequently used in non-surgical lip augmentation and non-surgical rhinoplasty. Much like Juvéderm anti-wrinkle injections, they do not require cutting, extended periods of downtime, or complicated recoveries.
Which Cosmetic Injectable Is Right for You?
At MDSkin, our entire team is committed to helping each patient find the treatment or treatments for their unique needs. Juvéderm and Botox are excellent treatments to address some of the most common age-related concerns. However, scheduling an appointment is always the best way to determine whether these or any other cosmetic injectables are right for you.