Wrinkles, creases, folds. Ugh. Gravity, lifestyle choices, and the sun all have a hand in beating up our skin. To fight back, we offer our patients various injectables that can fill or erase wrinkles and creases.
There are basically two ways to go about it. Certain wrinkles, called dynamic wrinkles, are formed when muscles under the skin contract. Crow’s feet are prime examples of dynamic wrinkles. Neuromodulators, the king of which is Botox, lessen these wrinkles by stopping the muscles that cause the wrinkles from contracting for four months or so.
The other method of addressing wrinkles and creases is to fill them from below. This is the method of erasing wrinkles that are called static wrinkles. Static wrinkles are present all the time. The filler is injected into the dermis (the second layer of the skin) and it fills the area, pushing the wrinkled skin back upward and plumping the area.
At Elite we use Juvederm and Radiesse. Here’s what each of these popular fillers do.
How Juvederm works
Juvederm is a hyaluronic acid filler. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the human body that is responsible for hydrating and plumping the skin. It does this by binding with water molecules in the area. Juvederm is effective on creases and lines around the forehead, nose, and mouth. It can improve facial scarring from acne. It also is used to plump and define the lips.
Juvederm results last from six to nine months. Somewhere around that time the body usually absorbs the filler.
How Radiesse works
Radiesse is made from calcium hydroxyapatite micronized granules mixed in a water-based gel. You can think of this as synthetic bone structure. This provides support to the skin and the microspheres also stimulate the body to produce new collagen in the area. Collagen is the protein in the body that is responsible for providing structure to the skin.
Radiesse results endure, lasting up to 18 months.
Interested in addressing some of your facial wrinkles and creases with Juvederm or Radiesse? Call Elite Plastic Surgery at (616) 459-1907 and let’s talk.
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