One of the most common and effective ways to de-age your appearance without plastic surgery is with injectables. Of these, Botox® and fillers are the most common; both can be injected in a quick office visit, and both have effects lasting several months or more.

At her practice in Columbia, Missouri, Dr. Bonnie Friehling provides Botox and fillers to help enhance your look, taking years off of your appearance and restoring a youthful glow. Here’s a rundown of the two main types of injectables and their differences.

Botox Cosmetic and Xeomin®

A happy side discovery made by eyecare researchers in the ‘70s revealed that a derivative of the botulism toxin could safely paralyze small muscles in the face. This had a cosmetic benefit by eliminating the appearance of certain kinds of wrinkles caused by muscle contraction (dynamic wrinkles).

Botox and its cousin, Xeomin, are capable of minimizing wrinkles across the forehead and vertically (frown lines), as well as around the eyes (crows’ feet). We use a very small needle to apply the injectable along each line or wrinkle being treated. We apply a numbing topical first, and you’ll usually feel almost nothing during treatment.

The paralytic stops the tiny nerves in the face from sending messages to the brain when you smile or frown, helping reduce the appearance of those dynamic wrinkles and making you look younger. The results can last up to a few months, and the injections can be repeated, as needed, to keep you looking your best.

Hyaluronic acid fillers

Your body makes a natural substance called hyaluronic acid (HA). When injected along the more static wrinkles in your face, like lines from nose to mouth (nasolabial folds) and mouth to chin (marionette lines), they plump out the creases and reduce the look of these tell-tale signs of aging.

We use three different filler brands (Radiesse®, Belotero Balance®, and Versa™). Several of the products in these lines can be used in combination to address specific areas of the face, including around the mouth and lips and around the eyes for a smoother, younger-looking you.

Fillers usually last a few months as well, before the body breaks them down and flushes them naturally out of your system. Botox or Xeomin and fillers can also be used together without ill effects, giving you a full range of facial rejuvenation options to mix and match for optimal results.

To learn more about your injectable treatment options, schedule a consultation with Dr. Friehling. Call the office at 573-446-1200, or visit the contact page for more information.