With age comes wisdom, maturity … and fine lines. Although you can’t turn back the hands of time or halt the aging process, you can reclaim a more youthful appearance through a variety of cosmetic enhancements, including dermal fillers and Botox®.
At VCI Med Spa, located inside our vascular surgery practice Tinley Park, Illinois, our team of aesthetic nurses 一 under the leadership of our medical director, board-certified vascular surgeon Dr. Eugene Tanquilut 一 offers both Botox Cosmetic and a variety of dermal fillers to our patients who are ready to say goodbye to fine lines and wrinkles.
But which treatment is right for you?
Botox Cosmetic is one of the most popular injectables. In fact, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons ranks Botox and dermal fillers as the top two most requested minimally invasive cosmetic treatments.
Botox contains a purified form of the botulinum toxin, which gently relaxes specific facial muscles. This enables Botox to effectively treat dynamic wrinkles — those caused by repetitive facial movements. If you see wrinkles that form only when you frown, smile, or raise your eyebrows, you have dynamic wrinkles.
The FDA has approved the use of Botox Cosmetic to treat forehead wrinkles, crow’s feet, and eyebrow furrows.
Although there’s no downtime with this treatment, you may experience some redness. You can reduce your risk of post-injection bruising by avoiding antioxidants and blood-thinning supplements — such as ginseng, green tea, and vitamin E — prior to your appointment. Side effects are temporary and should dissipate quickly.
Most people start to see the effects of Botox within a week. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, typical results last about 3-4 months, at which time you can return to VCI Med Spa to receive another treatment.
While Botox targets dynamic wrinkles, dermal fillers address a different type of wrinkle: static wrinkles, which are caused by a loss of collagen, sun damage, and the natural aging process. Fillers can reduce the appearance of fine lines, but they can also restore volume to your cheeks and lips.
There are many different brands of fillers and lines within the brands that target specific areas. For instance, Juvéderm® XC zeroes in on the fine lines around your mouth and nose, while Juvéderm® Voluma® XC restores lost volume in your cheeks.
These injectables address such issues by “filling” in the creases with materials such as hyaluronic acid, a substance that naturally occurs in your body. Hyaluronic acid acts like a sponge, drawing water to your skin, increasing hydration, suppleness, and volume.
Depending on which filler you choose, you can reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds, minimize fine lines around your lips, restore volume in your cheeks, and plump up your lips. The results of fillers can last anywhere from 6-24 months, depending on which type and brand you receive.
We also offer LipLase laser plumping, which can complement fillers and create additional volume and skin-smoothing effects.
You don’t need to choose between Botox and fillers. If you have both dynamic and static wrinkles, you can receive both Botox and fillers — even at the same appointment.
Are you ready to explore your options in your free 1:1 consultation? Call VCI Med Spa at 815-799-4455, or use our secure online form to get in touch with us today.
