Comparing Injectable Treatments

Which Injectable Treatment Is Right for You?

Wrinkles and the deepening of natural folds and creases, particularly in the face, are a normal part of aging. However, many men and women come to Salmon Creek Plastic Surgery because they see these signs of aging. They feel vibrant and young on the inside, but they also feel that they look old and tired on the outside.

There are a number of ways we can lesson the appearance of these folds and creases. Often, patients assume BOTOX® is the answer. However, what many people need to address their concerns are “fillers,” any one of a number of clear gels that replace lost volume and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles when injected into or under the skin. We commonly use the Juvéderm^™ family of fillers (Voluma, Vollure, Volbella, Juvederm Ultra Plus) for this purpose.

These gels have different properties that make some better for fine lines, while others are preferred for deeper folds or for filling of the cheeks. They are made of a substance (hyaluronic acid) that we have naturally in our joints and will last anywhere between 12 to 24 months before being absorbed. They are highly effective and very safe, as well as being reversible.

So how does this differ then from BOTOX? Instead of replacing volume, Botox weakens facial muscles so that they do not bend the skin as strongly. This softens creases and lines in the skin. BOTOX typically lasts three to four months. Most often, we are using both strategies to achieve optimal results in our patients.

At Salmon Creek Plastic Surgery, our surgeons perform the injections personally. One of the benefits is that we have a thorough understanding of facial anatomy and understand that no two faces are alike. We strive to restore the youthful contours of the patient’s face – not create an unnatural or overdone appearance.

BOTOX^® relaxes the muscles that cause unwanted expression lines, specifically the muscles that contract during facial expressions (i.e., frowning and squinting). The ideal areas to treat are the deep creases found between the eyebrows, the crows feet wrinkles, and forehead lines.

More About Botox

JUVÉDERM® Collection of Fillers

JUVÉDERM® XC is an injectable gel that instantly smooths moderate to severe parentheses lines and wrinkles around your nose and mouth. It delivers results that last up to 1 year.

JUVÉDERM VOLLURE^™ XC softens moderate to severe parentheses lines and wrinkles by adding volume to the lines and wrinkles around your nose and mouth to produce subtle and long-lasting results for up to 18 months.

JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA^® XC is the most recent addition to the collection—tailored to add subtle volume to the lips and smooth the appearance of vertical lip lines.

JUVÉDERM^® Ultra XC adds more fullness and plumps thin lips—whether your lips have thinned over time or you simply want fuller lips.

Wrinkles and lines aren’t the only signs of aging. Over time, the cheeks flatten, and the skin may begin to sag. This is caused by a natural loss of volume in the cheek area, or what the experts call age-related midface volume loss. JUVÉDERM VOLUMA^® XC is designed to add volume beneath the skin’s surface to lift and contour the cheek area.