We’ve come a long way since Hollywood’s early days when makeup artists used melted paraffin to smooth fine lines before applying makeup to the faces of yesteryear’s stars. Today, we have drawers full of products to hide facial imperfections and early signs of aging—if you know how.
When you need a quick fix to cover up facial imperfections, use these expert tips:
- To hide fine lines, apply a small amount of wrinkle-filling serum to your finger and gently tap it into the lines. Cover with liquid concealer. Avoid powdering the area.
- To obscure dark circles under the eyes, use your finger to gently tap a hydrating eye cream over the area. Apply foundation to your face. Finish by smoothing a slightly darker than normal concealer to the shadowed area under the eyes.
Concealers, wrinkle serums and hydrating creams do an okay job when you need a quick fix for a minor facial problem; but they only provide fleeting solutions that require daily maintenance. Botox, Dysport, skin fillers, and professional skin care programs can provide longer-term and more effective relief from fine lines, facial wrinkles, blemishes, skin discoloration and other prickly skin issues that erode your confidence in your appearance. For more information, download our free Botox/Dysport & Fillers Patient Guide today.
And for out testosterone crowd, botox isn’t just for women. It’s also the No. 1 cosmetic surgery procedure for men. Download our Men’s Guide to Cosmetic Surgery and find out how cosmetic surgery can make you look younger and feel more confident in your appearance.
Today, women are turning to Botox and skin fillers to combat the facial wrinkles, lines and slight sags that accumulate as we age. Botox and fillers have become so popular that some people are touting them as “the new face lift” or “liquid face lifts”. Such claims or implications are misleading and can cause confusion among consumers who wish to improve their facial appearance, leading them to anticipate results that these cosmetic surgery products cannot deliver.
Common misunderstandings about cosmetic Botox and filler treatments and what they can and cannot do emphasize the necessity of consulting with an experienced board-certified cosmetic surgeon before undergoing any cosmetic procedure, even non-invasive Botox treatments. Depending on your facial appearance goals, an experienced cosmetic surgeon may recommend a surgical procedure (face lift, brow lift, eyelid lift, etc.) or nonsurgical Botox and filler treatment or a combination of procedures.
It is important to realize that facial lift and Botox or filler treatments are not interchangeable. Botox and Dysport are used to treat facial lines by relaxing underlying muscles so they cannot contract. Dermal fillers are used to add fullness to facial features and soften deep folds and creases by adding volume. Today, many women in their 30s and 40s use Botox and filler treatments to address lines and wrinkles early. While this can put off the need for a face lift, eventually loss of elasticity and the pull of gravity may make a face lift your best option.
Get the answers to your questions about Botox and fillers by download our free Botox/Dysport and Fillers Patient Guide today.
The word “Botox” has become associated with a facial treatment designed to rid you of unsightly lines and provide a smoother, more youthful, appearance. But a Botox treatment from a Cleveland cosmetic surgeon may actually just be part one of the procedure. Often a combination treatment with both Botox or Dysport and cosmetic fillers will better achieve the results desired.
A more youthful you
For many women and men seeking to correct sun damage, reverse the appearance of aging, or simply enjoy a more vibrant look, the Botox/filler combination is one that, in some cases, can work better than either treatment by itself.
The positive effects of Botox and Dysport can last up to 6 months. Fillers vary, and can last from 6 months to a year or longer, after which you may consider follow-up treatments from your Cleveland cosmetic surgeon. But wherever and however often you have Botox/fillers, the treatment doesn’t affect the way you smile, speak or otherwise use your face. You’re still “you” – only more youthful-looking!
Affordability
Botox/filler procedures may become part of your cosmetic regimen when you explore the financing options offered by a Cleveland cosmetic surgeon. You may find that the cost is less than your gym membership or your budget for latte's!
Learn more about how Botox/Dysport and fillers can enhance your appearance. Download this free patient guide to help you on your way and see actual results from patients.
Cosmetic surgery use is shifting from damage control to prevention. Women (and an increasing number of men) are embracing cosmetic procedures at younger ages to combat aging and prevent skin damage. It is becoming common for adults in their 20s and 30s to include regular non-invasive cosmetic treatments like Botox and fillers in their normal skin care regimens, although people between the ages of 35 and 50 still comprise the largest cosmetic surgery demographic in the U.S.
According to 2011 statistics released by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, adults ages 35 to 50 accounted for 43% of all U.S. cosmetic procedures — more than 4 million – last year. The number of cosmetic procedures obtained by young adults ages 19 to 34 (20%) and adults between the ages of 51 and 64 (28%) showed no change from the previous year. Cosmetic surgeries for adults 65 and older decreased by 1% and increased only marginally for those ages 18 and younger.
In the decade since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Botox for cosmetic use, demand has skyrocketed it to the top spot as the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure in the U.S. Last year, 5,670,788 Botox and Dysport procedures and 1,874,322 dermal filler treatments were performed in the U.S., according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
The desire to work longer, stiff job competition that rewards youthful appearance, increasingly active post-50 lifestyles, and a noticeable increase in men and women dating later in life is driving the multi-generational interest in the use of Botox/Dysport and dermal fillers to fight the natural effects of aging.
A modern-day Fountain of Youth, Botox, Dysport and dermal fillers like Restylane, Juvederm and Radiesse have the power to turn back the clock and make us look and feel years younger. Affordable and conveniently available from board-certified Cleveland cosmetic surgeons, these non-invasive injectable anti-wrinkle treatments are winning fans of all ages, both female and male.
Consumers often think Botox will fix all their problems, but cosmetic surgeons actually use a variety of injectable products to address aging issues.
Botox and Dysport are both forms of botulinum toxin Type A which “freezes” underlying muscles, preventing them from contracting and wrinkling the skin. Used to treat frown lines between the brows and on the forehead, as well as crow’s feet, these products are most effective against dynamic wrinkles, those caused by facial movement. There is no down time, but it can take one to two weeks for muscles to fully relax and final results to be visible. Although results vary by individual, Botox typically last 4 to 5 months; Dysport, up to 6 months.- Dermal fillers, including Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, Radiesse and Sculptra, add volume to facial skin, “filling” and plumping facial lines and creases. These products are used to fill in the deep lines and creases that develop around the mouth, and plump deflated lips. There is no down time and the final effect is immediately visible. Depending on the product and patient, results can last from 6 months to a year or more.
Next time: How much do Botox/Dysport and filler treatments cost?
When you look in the mirror, whose face stares back? Is it the smooth, unlined face of your 20- or 30-something self? Or do you see a flash of your mom in the mirror? We all live in a mental time warp. Mentally, we still feel 20-something even though our calendar age is closer to 40. It’s human nature to think of ourselves as being one, two, even three decades younger than the number of candles on our last birthday cake.
After the initial shock of discovering the first gray hair or early shadow of crow’s feet, most of us to suffer a mental disconnect with our mirror image. Those little signs of aging still bother us when we’re putting on our mascara or blotting our lipstick; but as soon as we turn away from the mirror, our image of ourselves is replaced by the younger woman who lives in happy perpetual youth of our mental fantasyland.
Unfortunately, you can’t fool yourself forever. Eventually, the day of reckoning arrives. In one awful rush, your mental age catches up to your physical age and you see an older face staring back when you look in the mirror. The faint lines at the corners of your eyes have become mature crow’s feet, your laugh lines have deepened into parenthetical creases, those ghostly worry lines on your forehead have furrowed into wrinkles. Seemingly overnight, you have become OLD; and the realization leaves you feeling sadly deflated.
Fortunately, there is an affordable solution. Botox/Dysport and dermal fillers can banish signs of aging and turn back the clock so you look as young as you feel.
Next time: The difference between Botox/Dysport and fillers
People often lump Botox and Dysport into the same category as Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse and other dermal fillers, considering all of these non-surgical wrinkle-reducing treatments to be dermal fillers and frequently confusing their use.
When Angelina Jolie’s full, pouty lips were all the rage, people who wanted to emulate the actress’ sensuous look visited their Cleveland cosmetic surgeons asking for Botox treatments. Had their cosmetic surgeon taken them at their word, those patients would have been incredibly disappointed. Botox actually works to flatten and smooth wrinkles in the skin. Cosmetic surgeons use dermal fillers or volumizers such as Restylane and Radiesse to plump and add volume to the skin.
Botox/Dysport and dermal fillers are all injectable non-surgical cosmetic treatments used to smooth away facial wrinkles and lines, but there are significant differences in the way these different products work.
As we explained in an earlier post, Botox and Dysport are not dermal fillers. These products relax your facial muscles so that your skin cannot scrunch up and form wrinkles. It takes a few days for these products to reach full effectiveness. Some dermal filler treatments, on the other hand, can produce an immediate effect. Dermal fillers including Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse, and Sculptra are injected under the skin to fill in and plump up deep facial lines and folds.
Even among dermal fillers there are differences in the way different products affect the skin. To learn more about what causes wrinkles and the various injectable non-surgical treatments available to reduce them, download our free Patient Guide to Botox/Dysport & Fillers. We are currently offering $100 off combination treatments of cosmetic injectables. Click the link for complete information!
Using cosmetic wrinkle treatments like Botox and Dysport, Cleveland cosmetic surgeons can smooth away the wrinkles and lines that occur as we age and our skin begins to lose its youthful elasticity.
In just days, wrinkles and lines disappear and we look and feel years younger – your self-esteem gets an instant boost! The before and after effects of cosmetic wrinkle treatments can seem magical. With a few injections, the deep furrows, unattractive lines and sagging wrinkles that marred your face and announced your age to the world are gone. It’s exciting to look in the mirror and see a smooth, youthful face staring back!
While Botox may be a more recognizable brand in wrinkle treatment, both Botox and Dysport can be used to accomplish the same cosmetic goals.
These non-surgical wrinkle reducers are often used to alleviate the deep frown lines that develop between the eyebrows as we grow older, as well as the corw's feet that accumulate around our eyes. Botox and Dysport may also be used to treat the worry lines that spread across our foreheads and can deepen into unattractive furrows with age. Of course, facial lines aren’t a strictly age-related problem. Repeated frowning or squinting caused by worry, computer eye strain or working in bright light can cause worry and frown lines to develop as early as your 20s and 30s.
Botox works by blocking release of the chemical that causes the facial muscles to contract, while Dysport works by blocking the nerve signal that tells facial muscles to contract. With both products, full effect is achieved in one to two weeks. The effects of Botox typically last 4 to 5 months; Dysport, up to 6 months. After discussing your appearance goals, an experienced Cleveland cosmetic surgeon will be able to recommend the product best able to produce the results you desire.
Download our free Patient Guide to Botox/Dysport & Fillers to learn more about what causes wrinkles and how they can be reduced with non-surgical injectable treatments. And don't miss out on our $100 OFF combination offer - click here to learn more!
Men are taking better care of themselves and the happy result is that they’re living longer. Women still outlive men by a few years, but men are bridging the gap.
According to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau, the average life expectancy for American men is 76.2; for women, 81.1; but the number of men over age 65 is growing twice as fast as the number of women. Federal actuarial tables indicate that men who reach their 85th birthday can now expect to celebrate their 90th! Gives you a reason to keep your youthful look as long as possible, doesn’t it?
With men living longer, they are also working longer which means continually competing with up-and-coming young bucks. As men move into their late 30s and beyond, natural aging and the force of gravity conspire to create small facial lines that gradually deepen into unattractive wrinkles and deep furrows.
Skin that was smooth and taut in your 20s becomes a little looser and, with the tug of gravity, a little slacker. Eyelids and jowls begin to droop, a harbinger of the folds and wrinkles to come. The first few signs of aging probably won’t hurt you in the business arena; a little “maturity” makes many men look “distinguished.” But as soon your brow lines deepen into furrows and your face starts to sag, you can expect the younger generation to start moving in for the kill.
Deep facial lines, baggy eyelids and sagging jowls make a man look older and tired. Cleveland Botox and Dysport treatments, as well as dermal fillers like Restylane and Perlane can erase the facial lines and wrinkles that develop with age. Non-surgical cosmetic procedures can shave years off your appearance, helping you maintain your youthful appearance and competitive edge.
To find out more about cosmetic surgery for men, click here to download your free copy of Dr. Poblete’s informative booklet, The Men’s Guide to Cosmetic Surgery.
Protecting your skin from harmful ultraviolet rays requires year-round vigilance. As we noted in our previous post, the risk of sun damage is just as great during gray and cloudy winter months as it is during sunny summer months. Fully 80% of damaging UV rays penetrates cloud cover. Even on the cloudiest, grayest days of winter, Cleveland cosmetic surgeons recommend that you apply sunscreen to protect your face and neck from damage. Exposure to ultraviolet rays causes premature skin aging and increases your risk of developing skin cancer.
In selecting a sunscreen, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends choosing a broad spectrum sunscreen product that protects against both UVA and UVB rays, has an SPF of at least 30, and is water resistant. You can apply sunscreen as a base coat under makeup or use one of the combination moisturizer or makeup products that contain sunscreen. If you use a combination product, make sure it provides the same skin protection as a quality sunscreen.
Your choice of sunscreen product will depend not only on personal preference but also on the part of your body you want to protect. Use these recommendations from the American Academy of Dermatology as a guide to choosing sunscreen products:
- Creams are the best choice for the face and neck as they become invisible as they soak into the skin. Creams are also a good choice for dry skin areas as they add additional moisture to the skin.
- Use gels in hairy areas such as along part lines and the edges of the scalp. Gels are also a good choice for protecting hairy male chests.
- Sprays are an effective way to protect scalp areas, but a fairly heavy coat must be applied.
If you have neglected the use of sunscreen if the past and want to find out about facial rejuvenation for wrinkle treatment, you might consider downloading our free Patient Guide to Botox/Dysport & Fillers. Our guide explains more about what causes wrinkles and how wrinkles caused by past sun damage can be reduced with non-surgical injectable treatments. And don't miss out on our combination offer - click here to learn more.