There are two different types of lines on the face. Those caused by the contraction of muscles (dynamic rhytids) and those that are present all the time regardless of the muscles contracting (static rhytids). Most static rhytids have their origin in loss of cutaneous and subcutaneous volume that occurs as we age and from our weight status.
Botox addresses dynamic rhytids by relaxing the muscles that cause them. For example, in the frown it relaxes the two corrugator muscles and the procerus muscle and in the forehead it relaxes the frontalis muscle. Some muscles that contribute to lines, like in the cheeks, can’t be relaxed safely because they have other functions like chewing
Fillers replace volume in two ways or a combination of the both. In one way they place a substance within or just below the level of the skin that is generally slowly broken down by the body. Different products are broken down at different rates which is why they last different amounts of time. The more movement in an area also generally increases the rate of breakdown. There are other fillers that basically work by stimulating your own body’s production of collagen. These generally take longer to get the desired effect (several different sessions) but also frequently last much longer.
If you are not sure what your lines are caused by or what products might suit you the best, ask and we will discuss it.
