You may not think of an ear, nose, and throat practice as your first destination for Botox® Cosmetic treatments, but Botox was first developed as a therapeutic medicine. It was only later that its aesthetic applications emerged. In fact, it’s commonly used to treat many disorders where involuntary muscle spasms create problems, including vocal disorders.
Dr. Scott N. Bateman of Sheridan Ear, Nose & Throat is a facial rejuvenation specialist, with plenty of knowledge about and experience with the power of Botox. In addition, Dr. Bateman uses dermal fillers to complement Botox and deliver effective full-face results. Even though both fillers and Botox are injectable, they each take their own approach to improving your appearance. Here’s what you need to know.
As your skin ages, it loses some of its elasticity and middle layer support. Elastin and collagen are two structural proteins that suffer from both time and sun exposure, and the results often show on your face.
Dry, loose skin reflects what looms below its surface. Some wrinkles on your face result from semi-permanent contractions of muscles responsible for making expressions. The worst culprits are between your eyes, on your forehead, and beside your eyes, the latter two commonly called worry lines and crow's feet, respectively.
It’s here that Botox works its magic. Tiny injections into certain expression muscles temporarily force their partial contractions to relax. As the muscles relax, so does your appearance. Your skin smooths since it was only revealing the active wrinkles caused by muscle contractions.
Not all the lines and wrinkles on your face result from muscle contractions. As your skin’s middle layer loses collagen, the surface begins to follow the hollows and contours left behind. Collagen volume gives cheeks their youthful plump and smoothness, and that lost volume may lead to sagging and unflattering contours. Botox can’t help here, since muscles aren’t to blame.
Dermal fillers provide a replacement for this lost volume. Many popular fillers including Restylane®, one of Dr. Bateman’s choices, use gels made with hyaluronic acid, a substance found naturally throughout your body. These gels fill in the gaps left by declining collagen production, adding volume, and smoothing your skin’s appearance.
Both Botox and dermal fillers provide temporary benefits. Lasting results require continued treatments. How long each lasts depends on both the product and your body’s response. Most people see relaxing effects with Botox for up to four months.
Dermal fillers depend on the product and formulation. Unlike Botox, dermal fillers typically come in product lines, with each formulation having specific treatment targets, such as filling lines or adding volume. You could see results lasting between six months and a year, with some products lasting longer still.
Both treatments are fast, with little downtime, if any. They can even be applied during the same appointment.
The best combination of injectable cosmetic treatments depends on both your skin and your aesthetic goals. Contact Sheridan Ear, Nose & Throat to schedule your consultation, either by phone at 307-672-0290, or with the convenient online booking tool.
