Cosmetic injectables offer cutting-edge solutions to age-old problems. From smoothing out dynamic wrinkles like crow’s feet and frown lines to filling in loose, sagging skin and static creases, these products can address a range of age-related issues in almost no time at all.
Best of all, injectable treatments do not require painful incisions, weeks of healing time, or the risk of scarring. Many of the most popular injectables are also largely comprised of naturally-occurring substances. Because of this, they aren’t prone to causing serious side effects or allergic reactions.
If you’re looking for a way to instantly revitalize your face, you’ll want to start by learning more about the benefits and drawbacks of each injectable type. Given that many of the most popular injectables will provide temporary results that last several months before wearing off, there’s virtually no risk of getting stuck long-term with aesthetic changes that you don’t like. In fact, for the most popular injections, there tend to be very few risks at all.
Hyaluronic Acid-Based Dermal Fillers
Hyaluronic acid (HA) exists naturally in your body. It can be found in your joints and tissues where it provides hydrating benefits for comfort, health, and mobility. Water molecules are drawn to and accumulated by HA. When cosmetic injectables are made from this substance, its hydrating benefits and the noticeable plumping effects of water accumulation can produce remarkable changes and rejuvenation in loose, heavily lined skin.
HA-based dermal fillers provide a number of impressive benefits within just three to seven days of injection. As these solutions attract and retain water molecules, they can quickly erase deep creases at the nasolabial folds, minimize the appearance of loose and sagging skin along the jawline, and eliminate deep hollows in the cheeks. Ultimately, these products restore the facial fullness that is necessary for maintaining a smooth and youthful appearance.
Additionally, the hydrating effects of these products leave the surface of the skin supple, dewy, and glowing. By hydrating the skin from the inside out and at every level, HA-based dermal fillers are able to produce incredibly subtle, natural-looking changes.
Because HA-based fillers contain a substance that the body produces naturally, these solutions have a very low likelihood of causing adverse reactions or allergies. Secondary ingredients and strategic restructuring of HA molecules, however, may affect how your body responds to these injections. For instance, basic HA-based fillers last for just six to nine months given that the body can easily recognize these products and break them down.
Cross-linked HA, or HA in which large and small molecules have been carefully linked together, can last quite a bit longer. While the risk of an allergic reaction to all HA-based fillers is statistically low, the risks associated with cross-linked products may be greater for some patients. Cross-linked HA and secondary ingredients are often meant to provide enhanced or extended benefits but can make some patients more sensitive to the injections.
If you are prone to allergic reactions or have never used these products before, a small, test amount of each new solution can be used to determine your tolerance level.
Injectable Neurotoxins
Not all injectables are designed to address volume loss. Instead, some are meant to relax the muscle tension that is responsible for the formation of dynamic or motion-related wrinkles and creases.
Whenever a person smiles, frowns, or makes other facial expressions, the resulting tension places stress on the smooth layer of collagen that supports and defines the skin. This is how crow’s feet, frown lines, and other dynamic wrinkles are formed.
Injectable neurotoxins work by temporarily immobilizing the expressive muscles that ultimately cause the smooth, supporting collagen layer to become compromised. Once these muscles are released, tension is reduced and the collagen layer lies smooth. Best of all, using injectable neurotoxins doesn’t eliminate a person’s ability to smile, frown, or make other emotive expressions. Strategic injection of these products ensures that only select muscles are relaxed.
These popular anti-aging solutions are derived from botulinum toxin. As such, people who have known allergies to this bacteria, or to products derived from it are advised to pursue other cosmetic treatments.
During your consultation appointment, Dr. Buckingham can help you learn more about the primary and secondary ingredients within any cosmetic injectable you’re considering. Moreover, your medical history will be reviewed, and you will be asked about all past side effects and allergic reactions. These efforts ensure that cosmetic treatments are streamlined for meeting the unique needs of every patient.
Preventing Possible Side Effects
Although cosmetic injectables are non-invasive treatments, there are still a number of common side effects that patients can expect. Fortunately, these effects are often mild and generally very short-lived. Moreover, there are a number of ways to reduce or prevent them to help ensure a shorter, safer, and more convenient healing process.
For instance, injectable treatments may lead to slight bleeding, bruising, or swelling in the targeted area. To minimize these side effects, patients should avoid drinking alcohol or taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin or Ibuprofen just ahead of treatment. Patients who have never used facial fillers before are often advised to use basic, shorter-term products first, before progressing to cross-linked, longer-lasting formulas. This gives new clients the opportunity to assess how well their bodies react, before committing to more significant facial changes. To find out if cosmetic injectables are right for you, or to learn more about our current range of non-invasive anti-aging procedures, call Buckingham Center in Austin, Texas today at (512) 401-2500.
