Botox® and Restylane®

What causes wrinkles?

Facial wrinkles and creases begin to appear as the underlying collagen and elastin fibers begin to break down and wear out. While this breakdown is part of the natural aging process, it can also result from excessive squinting, frowning, smoking and smiling. Until recently, many patients thought their only hope was a facelift.

Now, by combining two of the most popular, FDA approved wrinkle fighters, Botox and Restylane, your doctor can offer a simple, non-surgical alternative to a facelift. Your doctor uses Botox to prevent new wrinkles from appearing and Restylane to fill the ones that you already have.

What is Botox?

Botox is the latest advancement in botulinum toxin therapy. It is used to safely, simply and effectively improve the appearance of frown lines, forehead creases and “crow’s feet”. By relaxing these underlying muscles, Botox reduces the wrinkles. Botox is a remarkable treatment for dynamic wrinkles resulting from repeated use of facial muscles. Botox injections are safe and have been approved by the FDA for use in neurological disorders for over 30 years.

How does Botox work?

Botox actually prevents wrinkles from appearing by relaxing the underlying muscles so they don’t contract. Botox blocks impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial muscles that are related to expression lines. After treatment, the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled while the untreated facial muscles contract in a normal fashion, allowing your normal facial expression to be unaffected.

What is Restylane?

Restylane is a natural, synthesized and fully degradable FDA approved hyaluronic acid that has been used in Europe for years.

How does Restylane work?

Restylane contains hyaluronic acid in the form of a crystal-clear gel. It is injected into the skin to lift the lip, wrinkle or fold. Once in your skin, Restylane creates volume, resulting in a healthy and vital appearance. When injected into the lip it can restore a more natural and/or sensuous look. In contrast to other biodegradable implants, Restylane is not extracted from animals. This means no risk of allergic reaction. Therefore, Restylane is perfectly safe to use instantly without pre-testing.

What indications respond best to this combination treatment?

Botox is a great treatment for “Crow’s Feet”, forehead lines and the creases between the eyebrows. Restylane is most frequently used to treat deep smile lines, dimples, smoker’s lines around the mouth, marionette lines at the ends of the mouth, acne scars, cheek depressions, and facial scars. In addition to filling wrinkles, Restylane can be used to enhance the lip line and add fullness of the lips. Restylane injections are a safe, effective, time-tested, non-surgical wrinkle treatment that provide immediate results.

What can I expect after my Botox and Restylane Treatments?

Studies have shown that combining Botox with Restylane can prolong the results of your treatment.

Following Botox and Restylane injections, normal activities can be resumed immediately. Discomfort is minimal. The treatment sites may have a little swelling, which may last a few hours. There may be some slight bruising. Depending on the area treated, correction usually lasts from three to six months, and sometimes longer. If the lips are treated, initial swelling and tenderness may occur within the first several days, but subsides after two or three days.

Will treatment affect the way I apply cosmetics?

No. In fact, many patients are amazed at how much easier it is to apply their lipstick. Following treatment of the lips the little wrinkles that cause lipstick to “bleed” are gone.

If wrinkles make you look older than you are, a non-surgical facelift can smooth them out and give you a more youthful and pleasant appearance. Botox and Restylane injections can postpone the need for a facelift or brow lift.

This information is intended to supplement, not replace, a consultation with a board certified physician. To find out if you could be a candidate for one of these procedures or to learn more information about these procedures, we invite you to contact one of our doctors for a private consultation.

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