March is here!
With March being the end of summer, the start of the new tax year, as well as the last month of the first quarter of 2020, I thought I’d add a bit of spice to this blog by giving it a “dermatic” title …….” To fill or not to fill that is the question”? Don’t mind me being ‘punny’, but some “dermatic flair” is often just what the doctor ordered.
Many of us have had to face questions in our lives about our external appearance. These “voices” become stronger especially when we hit the age bracket where gravity starts to take its toll on some body parts, and it takes that much more effort to keep that waistline intact and keep your face from sagging along with your tummy. Some of the questions which arise are: “do I ‘age gracefully’ or should I go for some aesthetic treatments?” “Do I get dermal fillers or rather Botox, or maybe even thread lifting?” “What is the difference between Botox and fillers?” “What do I need to do to keep my skin healthy and fight the ageing process?”
Just this past week I received an interesting comment on my lip dermal fillers advert “fake is fake”. I was saddened to think that some people might feel insincere or counterfeit for using a modern anti-ageing treatment. To age naturally is terrific, but this also requires hard work. To prevent ageing like tree-bark, would include using proper skin products and sun-protection, which are also supplementary, into your skin regime.
Unfortunately, the number of people who “age gracefully” are minuscule, and the majority of people struggle with the effects of ageing. The result often being sad-looking faces, angry-looking faces, sagging faces or even a combination of all three. Botox, dermal fillers or threads can assist in softening your facial features and help you age gracefully, indeed. This all becomes relevant when understanding that facial features and body language can have a significant effect on interpersonal relationships.
It gives me great satisfaction to see the joy on my patient’s faces when they suddenly have voluptuous lips. To quote a recent patient of mine, “I have lips for the first time in my life!”
To lift those sagging jowls not only lifts your face but often boosts your soul. It is so fulfilling when my patients dance with joy in my consulting room after seeing their results. Some even pop in to show me their new dress and hairstyle, or to rave about the lovely experience they had while getting a jawline facial thread. Not to mention, receiving emails from patients to let me know that they look forward to a “looooooong ageless relationship with me”. All these gestures make what I do more than just a job, but a passion for seeing people reach their maximal potential in all spheres of life.
One of the highlights of my aesthetic profession is to walk a journey with my patients, including designing long term aesthetics treatment plans tailored to their unique needs. These plans may include skin rejuvenation treatments such as micro-needling, chemical peels and skin filler boosting, to restore the natural glow and health of the skin as well as addressing some of those fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation spots.
The aesthetic enhancement plan may also include gradual facial augmentation, contouring and re-modelling treatments using dermal fillers and thread lifting as well as Botulinum toxin (Dysport® / Botox®) used to hone in on dynamic wrinkles.
People ask me “what is the difference between the Botulinum toxin and dermal fillers?” This month I will be sharing some useful information to help you make informed decisions regarding Botulinum toxin and fillers. Making the right choice will help you achieve your aesthetic goals and needs.
What is Botulinum Toxin (BOTOX) Aesthetic treatment?
- Botulinum toxin (Botox) is used in minute concentrations to soften wrinkles and it involves a relatively quick non-invasive treatment.
- The number of injections depends on your treatment objective and consideration of the targeted areas for care.
What is BOTULINUM TOXIN used for?
- Frown Lines
- Crow’s Feet
- Forehead Wrinkles
- Bunny Lines
- Lipstick Lines
- Marionette Lines
- Chin Dimpling
What is Hyaluronic acid DERMAL FILLERS?
- “To fill or not to fill that is the question” – Dermal fillers are non-invasive injectable treatments used for plumping the skin, boosting skin quality, filling fine lines and deep wrinkles, facial contouring and creating more youthful and modern facial features.
- Hyaluronic Acid fillers (HA), a substance which occurs naturally in the human body, has an anti-ageing effect by stimulating new collagen production and improving hydration.
- Dermal fillers are injected with a fine needle into the areas requiring enhancement, filling or contouring.
What are DERMAL FILLERS used for?
- Laugh lines/ Nasolabial folds, which are fine lines running from the nose to be borders of the lips
- Loss of cheek volume
- Thin lips
- Sagging corners of the mouth
- Chin wrinkles and contouring
- Marionette lines, which are vertical lines running from the lip borders to the chin
- Creases between the eyebrows
- The tear trough or the area below the lower eyelid
- Undefined jawline
- Acne scars
- Smoothing out earlobes
- Buttocks augmentation
- Penile enlargement
WHEN WILL I SEE THE RESULTS AND HOW LONG DO THEY LAST?
BOTULINUM TOXIN
The results of treatment may be noticeable within a day or two with the full effect seen within 7 to 14 days. The Botulinum toxin treatment effect usually lasts around four months. Still, the duration is dependent on factors such as the skin condition, sun exposure and smoking.
DERMAL FILLERS
Besides possibly a bit of swelling, the results are immediate. Fillers usually last around 18 months but is dependant on various factors such as the type of dermal filler used, as well as aftercare.
WHAT TO DO BEFORE TREATMENT?
To decrease bruising or bleeding, avoid blood-thinning medication or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at least one week before treatment. These include ibuprofen, diclofenac or mefenamic acid.
WHAT DO I DO AFTER TREATMENT?
Avoid strenuous exercise as well as direct sunlight for 24 to 48 hours.
Keep the treatment area clean and avoid touching the treated area unnecessarily.
HOW OLD MUST I BE TO START USING BOTULIMUN TOXIN AND / OR DERMAL FILLERS?
The severity of your wrinkles/lines and not your age is the deciding factor as to when to start treatments. Read my blog post on Anti-Ageing Techniques.
DO MEN USE BOTULINUM TOXIN AND/OR DERMAL FILLERS?
An increasing number of men are choosing to undergo anti-ageing treatments, including botulinum toxin treatments and Dermal fillers.
HOW LONG DOES THE PROCEDURE TAKE?
The actual injections are relatively quick, and you can return to your daily routine following on the treatment with the exceptions specified above.
So, to answer my question above “To fill or not to fill?”
My opinion is that external beauty does count, and if you have to “fake it to make it” by fine-tuning here and there, why not?
I look forward to helping you be the best version of yourself by going on your aesthetic journey with you.
