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How to Determine Which Injectable Procedure Suits Your Goals

Looking in the mirror lately and seeing things you’d like to change? Whether it’s stubborn lines between your eyebrows that make you look worried (even when you’re not), or loss of volume that’s making you appear more tired than you feel, there’s a solution that fits your needs.

Today we’re breaking down the world of injectable treatments in plain English—no medical jargon, just straight talk about what works for different concerns so you understand your options and come to your consultation informed.

Neurotoxins: Your Solution for Expression Lines

Neurotoxins work by temporarily relaxing specific facial muscles to reduce the appearance of dynamic wrinkles, like the furrows between your eyebrows when you concentrate or the crinkles around your eyes when you smile.

What Neurotoxins Can Do

Some of the many things that can be targeted or accomplished with neurotoxins include:

  • Forehead lines
  • Frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines or “11s”)
  • Crow’s feet
  • Bunny lines (wrinkles on the sides of the nose)
  • Chin dimpling
  • Drooping mouth corners
  • Lip lines (smoker’s lines)
  • Facial asymmetry
  • Jaw slimming (masseter reduction)
  • Lip flip (rolling the upper lip outward for a fuller appearance)
  • Gummy smile correction
  • Brow lift
  • Nose tip lift
  • Neck bands (platysmal bands)

Popular Neurotoxins

At Prizant Dermatology, we offer three excellent options:

BOTOX®: The Tried-and-True Choice

The name everyone knows, BOTOX® has been smoothing wrinkles safely since 2002. Many patients choose BOTOX® for its proven track record and reliable results.

Jeuveau®: The New Kid on the Block

Often called “Newtox,” Jeuveau® is a newer neurotoxin that has gained popularity with younger patients. It works similarly to BOTOX® but may offer slightly different benefits for certain patients.

XEOMIN®: The Pure Approach

What makes XEOMIN® special? It’s highly purified, which means it’s just the active ingredient—no extra proteins. This makes it an excellent choice if you’ve used other neurotoxins in the past and feel they’re not working as well anymore.

Typical Results

  • First signs of improvement: 3-7 days
  • Full results: 2 weeks
  • Duration: 3-4 months or longer with regular maintenance

Dermal Fillers: Restoring What Time Takes Away

While neurotoxins work on expression lines, dermal fillers have a different job: they replace lost volume and fill in deeper wrinkles. This is done by injecting a gel-like substance underneath the skin.

What Dermal Fillers Can Do

Dermal fillers can be used to:

  • Smooth smile lines around the mouth
  • Restore volume to hollow cheeks
  • Enhance lip fullness
  • Improve lip border definition
  • Soften deep facial creases
  • Correct temple hollowing
  • Minimize tear troughs (under-eye hollows)
  • Enhance and lift the cheeks
  • Augment and reshape the chin
  • Contour the jawline definition
  • Reshape the nose (nonsurgical rhinoplasty)
  • Fill acne scars

Popular Dermal Fillers

We offer several types of fillers, each designed for specific areas and concerns:

Juvéderm®

The Juvéderm family of dermal fillers is a collection of hyaluronic acid-based injectables. Each product is formulated with different properties to target specific areas and concerns. These fillers are popular for their natural-looking results, long-lasting effects, and minimal downtime.

Restylane®

Restylane is another collection of hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers with a range of products tailored to specific needs, such as smoothing wrinkles and folds, enhancing lips, and restoring volume to the cheeks. Restylane was the first hyaluronic acid filler to be approved by the FDA, and it continues to be a widely used option.

Typical Results

  • First signs of improvement: immediate
  • Full results: 2 weeks
  • Duration: 6-18 months, depending on the product and treatment area

Sculptra®: The Bioremodelling Injectable

Instead of immediately filling areas, Sculptra® works with your body to stimulate natural collagen production. It helps your skin rebuild itself from within. While results take longer to appear, they can last longer, too. It’s a wonderful solution for patients seeking gradual, long-lasting, and natural-looking improvement.

What Sculptra Can Do

Sculptra’s many uses and treatment areas include:

  • Temple hollowing restoration
  • Cheek augmentation and lifting
  • Jawline definition
  • Chin enhancement
  • Pre-jowl sulcus filling
  • Facial asymmetry correction
  • Pan-facial volume restoration
  • Deep wrinkles and folds

Typical Results

  • First signs of improvement: 4-6 weeks
  • Full results: 3-6 months
  • Duration: up to 2 years

PRP Therapy: All-Natural Skin Rejuvenation

Innovative treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy harness your body’s natural regenerative abilities. We take a small sample of your blood, concentrate its healing properties, and inject it back into areas that need rejuvenation. Your body does the rest, stimulating collagen production and improving skin quality.

PRP can be used alone or in combination with other injectable treatments for enhanced results.

What PRP Can Do

When used for facial rejuvenation, PRP can help with:

  • Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Acne scarring
  • Large pores
  • Skin texture irregularities
  • Mild skin laxity
  • Crepey skin
  • Collagen production
  • Cellular turnover
  • Blood circulation
  • Overall skin health

Typical Results

  • First signs of improvement: 4-6 weeks
  • Full results: 3-6 months
  • Duration: 6-12 months

A Few Important Factors to Consider

Timeline for Results

Some treatments deliver instant gratification, while others take a gradual approach. Consider whether you need results for an upcoming event or if you’re comfortable waiting for a slower transformation.

Duration of Results

How often are you willing to return for touch-ups? Factor in not just the initial treatment, but also the time investment in maintenance treatments.

Budget

Some injectables are more affordable per treatment but require more frequent touch-ups. Others have a higher upfront cost but last longer. Choose what fits into your financial comfort zone.

Recovery and Downtime

Most injectables have minimal downtime, but your schedule and lifestyle still matter. Think about your work and social commitments when planning your treatments.

Natural vs. Noticeable Results

Be honest with yourself about the kind of results you want. Do you prefer people to notice a dramatic change, or would you rather they simply comment that you look refreshed?

Treatment Combinations

Sometimes the best approach is a combination of treatments. You might start with neurotoxins to address dynamic wrinkles, then add fillers for static lines and volume loss. Or you could combine immediate results from fillers with the long-term benefits of Sculptra.

Dr. Prizant can help you develop a strategic plan that layers different treatments for optimal results.

Have Questions About Injectables? Meet With Dr. Prizant

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution in aesthetic medicine. The best treatment plan is one that fits your unique needs.

During your consultation, Dr. Prizant will help you evaluate your options based on factors like:

  • Your facial anatomy and movement patterns
  • Current concerns and prevention goals
  • Lifestyle and maintenance preferences
  • Budget and time considerations

Remember: The best injectable treatment is the one that makes you feel confident while still looking natural. Let’s work together to find your perfect solution. Call our Pittsburgh office at 412-363-7546 to schedule your consultation.

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