If you’re looking to renew your skin and remove unwanted lines and wrinkles, Valley Dental Care is happy to offer two possible solutions: Botox and Juvederm. But how do you know which one is for you? Botox has been around for quite some time and millions of Americans have had great success with it! However, Juvederm boasts a newer, more natural approach. When weighing your options, we recommend you consider these factors:
How They Work
Wrinkles and lines are often caused by the contractions in our facial muscles. These allow us to frown or squint. However, with extended use, these muscles create folds in the skin. To remedy this issue, Botox treatment blocks the nerve impulses in your facial muscles and allows them to relax. To do so, we use FDA-approved injections of Clostridium botulinum bacteria. By preventing these muscles from contracting, the crease in the skin is able to reduce in the spot of the injection. Patients have been using this method for over 20 years and generally love the results!
Juvederm, on the other hand, takes a slightly different approach. It uses injections of hyaluronic acid instead of the botulinum toxin. This is thought to be more natural, as this sugar-based compound is already found in your skin. Over time, our bodies lose their ability to create hyaluronic acid, which is intended to naturally restore nutrients and moisture to our skin cells and makes them more firm, plump, and elastic. The Juvederm treatment fills wrinkles and lines with this substance to restore their youthful appearance.
What They Treat
Botox is not solely a cosmetic treatment, but has functional benefits as well. Patients may receive this treatment to help with TMJ, headaches, migraines, and more. Though, of course, it can also be used to remedy wrinkles and lines. The Juvederm gel, on the other hand, is primarily used to reduce lines around the forehead, nose, and mouth. It can also contour the face and reduce the appearance of scars.
The Appointment
Botox appointments are quite quick. We simply apply ice on the injection site to numb it. You’ll hardly feel a thing! The process only takes about 15 minutes in total. Juvederm can take a bit longer—about 30 minutes on average. We’ll apply a topical anesthetic to the injection site to ensure you don’t feel anything during the treatment. That said, patients often find that the gel-like consistency of Juvederm makes treatment quite comfortable.
Recovery
With Botox, there is virtually no recovery time at all! Simply get the treatment and carry on your normal activities right afterwards. After the Juvederm treatment, though, it is best to avoid touching or massaging the face. You may continue to apply make-up so long as you do not use products that contain alcohol. It is also recommended that you avoid extreme temperatures during the recovery period.
Results
No matter which treatment you decide to go with, your results will look fantastic. For Botox, you can expect it to take about 5-10 days for the treatment to take full effect. Your results will last anywhere from 3-6 months, depending on the area of treatment. Juvederm offers much longer lasting results than most dermal fillers. While most can expect the treatment to last for 6-9 months, it is possible for your youthful looking skin to last for up to a year.
Want to learn more about how you can get younger looking skin? Call our dental offices in Aurora or Oswego today to schedule your appointment!