We all want to look and feel beautiful, and to enhance our beauty and increased our confidence, many of us turn to spa treatments like injectables. In this post, we’ll look at the benefits Botox and dermal fillers can offer.
What is Botox?
Botox injections are shots made from a purified botulinum toxin and used by licensed health care providers that “block certain chemical signals from nerves that cause muscles to contract” for a limited time, reports the Mayo Clinic.
Neurotoxins like Botox work by temporarily weakening or paralyzing the muscles that cause wrinkles, resulting in a temporary smoothing effect. The most common use of these injections is to relax the facial muscles. In doing so, Botox can help reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles caused by facial expressions such as front lines, crow’s feet, and “11s” lines between the eyebrows. It also has some non-cosmetic uses such as for hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and prevention of teeth grinding caused by TMJ.
You will begin to see results within 3-4 days as your wrinkles begin to get less deep and fine lines fade. After 1-2 weeks, you enjoy the full benefits which can last around 3-6 months.
What are Dermal Fillers?
As you age, you naturally lose collagen, causing your skin to become thinner, lose elasticity and begin to sag. Dermal fillers help to diminish facial lines and restore volume and fullness in the face. The results are instantaneous—you will see visible results immediately following injection. However, it can take up to two weeks for any swelling to abate and the filler to settle and fully integrate into your tissues. During this period, the hyaluronic acid in your filler will begin to interact with the water in your skin, hydrating it and giving you a healthy, youthful appearance.
Most fillers are made a hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural substance broken down by the body over time.
Off-the-shelf fillers could also be composed of Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA), Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), or health care professionals can use fat from your own body.
Fillers can last up to 12 months or longer, depending on 1) the type of filler used, 2) the amount of filler injected, 3) injection location, and 4) the patient’s personal metabolism. Lip fillers will degrade with time, and periodic lip “touch-ups” or maintenance appointments are recommended every 2-6 months to help maintain the results of your lip filler.
Both Botox and dermal fillers are minimally-invasive cosmetic treatments given through injections, meaning they do not involve surgery. And it is safe to get Botox and dermal fillers at the same time. See more on our Injectables page.
Benefits of Botox Treatments
- Short treatment time (approximately 15 minutes)
- Fast results (begins working within three days)
- Natural looking, yet dramatic results
- No surgical risks
- Cost effective
Benefits of Dermal Fillers
- Increases collagen and elastin production
- Almost immediate and long-lasting results
- Can be used with other treatments
- Effects can be subtle
- Minimizes the look of scars
- No recovery time
When Should You Get Botox?
You should consider getting Botox if:
- You notice forehead furrows or frown lines
- You are forming smile lines
- You are concerned about the “11s” lines between the eyebrows
- You notice vertical lip lines
- You want to prevent wrinkles from forming
- Your dynamic wrinkles are mild to moderate
When Should You Get Dermal Fillers?
You should consider getting dermal fillers to help with:
- Hollowness of the cheeks, under eyes and on temples
- Sagging or deflated cheeks
- Deep folds from the nose to the mouth (nasolabial folds)
- Prominent lines from the corners of the mouth to the chin (marionette lines)
- Thin lips
- Vertical lines around the mouth
Botox and Dermal Fillers Available at Mira Spa + Salon in Reston
Mira Spa + Salon provides upscale spa and beauty treatments to men, women and children from our convenient location at 11638 Plaza America Drive in Reston, Virginia.
If you’d like to learn more about Botox and dermal fillers, or wish to schedule treatments, please contact Mira Spa + Salon at 571-313-8962 to set your consultation.