The Truth about Wrinkle Injections
If you think that your wrinkles make you look old and anti-wrinkle creams are not working, it might be time to consider wrinkle injections. There are several different options for these injections and before beginning any wrinkle treatment you should consult with your doctor to make sure that it is going to help your condition and not cause you any harm.
Botox
The best-known wrinkle injection is Botox. Short for clostridium botulinum, Botox keeps wrinkles from forming by blocking muscle contractions. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given approval for Botox to be used for this type of treatment. If you have big wrinkles under your eyes, Botox might be the answer for you.
Botox is most successful with frown lines and wrinkles which form across the forehead. It also gets rid of crow’s feet. Many people have found that Botox is not successful at removing laugh lines or wrinkles around the mouth. Botox should not be used in the upper lips. It can cause what is known as a droopy lip which can even badly affect the way you speak.
Don’t expect Botox to work immediately. You won’t come home after Botox wrinkle injections with the total elimination of wrinkles. In fact, you may not notice the full results for around three weeks. The effects will last for approximately three months but then you have to get another treatment. Botox is longer lasting than many other wrinkle treatments.
Injections of Hylaform
Hylaform is another substance known as a dermal filler which is used for wrinkle injections. It is very popular in European countries and has been approved in the USA by the Food and Drug Administration. It is derived from animals (rooster combs) and might cause allergies in some users.
Like most wrinkle injections, Hylaform treatments have to be repeated. You should have a new injection every 6-12 months to stay wrinkle-free. The side effects of Hylaform are redness and bruising. It works most effectively in the cheeks and lips.
Restylane
Restylane is very similar to Hylaform--the only real difference is the fact that Hylaform is animal-derived and Restylane is not. Restylane is actually made from streptococcus bacteria. It is excellent in its control of wrinkles but like most wrinkle injections, needs to be repeated every six months or so.
Restylane can have side effects for some people and one in two thousand people are hypersensitive to the injection. You may have a bump at the injection site, along with redness and pain. The worst reaction is inflammation known as granuloma, which can become serious and even require surgery.
Juvederm dermal filler
This is the most recent technological breakthrough in wrinkle injections. It is an injectable gel which produces immediate results. Like the other fillers, Juvederm lasts from six months to one year. It is particularly effective against smile lines and parentheses (between the nose and mouth). Also similar to other injections, there can be bruising and redness to the skin at the injection side.
If you have the money--$300 to $100 per treatment, you can greatly improve your looks with injections of these dermal fillers. Make sure you only go to a professional who knows how to inject properly and is trained in the use of fillers. Usually, this requires you find a dermatologist trained in wrinkle injections or a cosmetic surgeon. Talk to him or her about the various benefits and side effects before beginning treatment.
There is no question that you can improve your looks by getting rid wrinkles. Just remember that you are not really slowing the aging process as much as overriding it.