Fun Facts: Why Botox® and Dysport® Can Only Treat Certain Wrinkles
Let’s be honest, most of us don’t just want fewer wrinkles – we want the solution to be a quick and easy one, too. After all, time is valuable. That’s why Botox® injections have become so popular that they’re a household name, as have Dysport® injections—a similar product offered from a different brand. But it’s important to realize that Botox® and Dysport® aren’t the cure-all for wrinkles. In fact, they’re designed to address very specific types of wrinkles.
Botox® and Dysport® are typically ideal for crow’s feet, “frown lines” between the eyebrows, and forehead wrinkles. That’s because the primary cause of these wrinkles is tenseness in the underlying muscles. If you look in the mirror, you’ll notice that these wrinkles become deeper when you make many facial expressions, because the underlying muscles are contracting. Over time, these muscles become tense and they don’t smooth out as well as they used to when you were younger. Combined with the fact that the skin becomes thinner as you age, these contracted muscles create wrinkles that are present even when your face is relaxed.
To address these issues, Botox® and Dysport® are injected into the tense facial muscles, and they work by blocking the nerve signals that are telling the muscles to contract. As a result, the muscles relax and smooth out, reducing the wrinkles in your skin.
So why are these injections not typically used for wrinkles around the mouth, like smile lines or marionette lines? Because the primary culprit behind these wrinkles is the loss of skin firmness and volume. Instead, the best remedy for these areas is typically a different type of injection called facial fillers, like Restylane® and Juvéderm®. Instead of treating the muscle, these injections are actually designed to replace skin volume and “fill in” wrinkles to create a smooth finish.
Choosing the right facial rejuvenation technique is one of the most important steps toward getting the results that will help you be your most confident and beautiful self. To start discussing whether Botox® and Dysport®, facial fillers, a Band Aid Mini Facelift, or another procedure is the best wrinkle-reduction option for you, schedule your facial rejuvenation consultation. Or, for more anti-aging tips and facial rejuvenation information, follow me, Dr. John L. LeRoy on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.