Aesthetics

Preventative Wellness MD of Hartford Connecticut – Facial Rejuvenation & Aesthetics Serving Glastonbury * West Hartford * Farmington * Avon * New Haven County * Branford * Guilford * Madison * Fairfield County * Westport *And neighboring areas

Safely brighten your look and outlook with Botox and Dermal Fillers

Aesthetic Services

Botox and Dermal fillers are a great way to improve wrinkles, decreased volume, and other facial changes associated with aging with minimal discomfort and no downtime.

Botox

What is Botox?

Botox Cosmetic is a purified protein produced by Clostridium botulinum bacterium. It is a nonsurgical physician administered treatment that can temporarily reduce moderate to severe frown lines between the brows and crow’s feet around the outer eye area.

During treatment, very low doses of Botox Cosmetic are administered via a few tiny injections directly into the muscles that cause wrinkles. The treatment takes about 10 minutes and no recovery time is needed. You will see results in 2-10 days and results can last up to four months. Results may vary.

How does Botox Cosmetic work?

Frown lines between your brows form over time due to muscular activity. Botox Cosmetic is injected directly into the muscles between your brows. Botox works by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses to the injected muscles. This reduces the activity of the muscles that cause persistent lines to form. It decreases the ability of facial muscles to contract.

How long does Botox Cosmetic last?

You will see marked improvement in moderate to severe frown lines within 2-10 days. Lines will continue to improve for up to a month and results can last up to four months. Results may vary.

Is treatment with Botox Cosmetic painful?

You may feel a small amount of discomfort when the needle pierces the skin when the toxin is injected. This will last for only a few seconds. A very fine needle is used for the injections, providing optimum comfort. Discomfort is usually minimal and brief.

Is Botox Cosmetic safe?

Botox is FDA approved. It is possible to have an allergic reaction, but no systemic reactions have been reported and no long-term complications are associated with its use.

Botox should not be used in women who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, and breast-feeding women as there are no controlled studies in these groups.

It should also be avoided if you have a hypersensitivity to any ingredient in the formula or albumin. It should not be used in those with a neurological disease.

The most common side effects are discomfort, swelling, redness, and bruising. Transient headache, flulike symptoms, and occasional numbness of the forehead lasting 2 to 3 weeks have been reported. A minor temporary eyelid droop can occur in 2% of injections that usually lasts 2-3 weeks.

Pretreatment instructions:

• Avoid alcoholic beverages 24 hours prior as this may increase bruising.
• Avoid anti-inflammatory or blood thinning medications like aspirin, Motrin, Advil, and Aleve for two weeks prior.
• Also avoid any supplements that can increase bleeding like Vitamin E, gingko, garlic, green tea, ginseng, and fish oil.
• Schedule your Botox appointment at least two weeks prior to a special event.

Post-treatment instructions:

• Avoid straining, heavy lifting, and vigorous exercise for 3-4 hours following treatment.
• Avoid manipulation or rubbing of area for 3-4 hours.
• Do not lie down or bend over for 3-4 hours following treatment.
• It can take 2-10 days to take full effect.

Dermal Fillers

What are dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane, Perlane, and Radiesse are safe and natural fillers that restore volume and fullness to the face and correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds like those between the nose and mouth (nasolabial area). Some fillers can be used to restore fullness to the lips.

What are dermal fillers made of?

Dermal fillers are made of non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the human body and is used to provide volume and fullness. It is a crystal-clear gel that is biodegradable and biocompatible with human hyaluronic acid.

Radiesse is made from calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres suspended in a gel carrier. Once injected it provides immediate volume and correction, but continues to work by stimulating the body’s natural collagen.

Are dermal fillers safe?

Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the human body. No allergy testing is required before use. The most commonly reported side effects are temporary redness and swelling at the injection site. These effects resolve in less than seven days.

Dermal fillers should be avoided in those who have a history of allergies to gram-positive strep bacterial proteins and severe multiple allergies.

An allergic reaction may occur and is generally self-limited.

The most common side effects are discomfort, swelling, redness, bruising, and discoloration. Besides allergic reaction, reactivation of herpes/cold sores, lumpiness, and infection may occur. Localized necrosis or sloughing of skin due to blood vessel occlusion is a rare complication.

How long do dermal fillers last?

Dermal fillers can last from six months to two years based on the filler that is used.

How are dermal fillers different from Botox?

Dermal fillers are natural, cosmetic filler that can increase the volume and also diminish wrinkles. In contrast, Botox is a medication that blocks nerve transmission and relaxes the under muscle temporarily improving the appearance of wrinkles.

Are the injections painful?

Dermal fillers are injected directly into the skin in tiny amounts by using a very fine needle, resulting in minimal discomfort. Some fillers have lidocaine mixed with them to decrease discomfort. To decrease discomfort, the treatment area may also be anesthetized topically prior to the procedure.

Post-treatment instructions:

• Avoid aspirin, Motrin, ginkgo, garlic, fish oil, and vitamin E, two days to one week after treatment
• Avoid vigorous exercise, sun, and heat exposure for three days after treatment
• Avoid makeup or lipstick application until the next day if possible.
• Do not touch, press, rub, or manipulate the injected area for six hours after treatment.
• Remember one side may heal faster than the other side.