Botox, Juvederm and Juvederm Ultra Plus are all used to treat lines and creases, but each works differently, so you need to know the key differences.
Upper Face – Botox
Generally speaking, Botox is used on the upper areas of the face such as the “11’s” (frown lines) and “crow’s feet” (wrinkles on the sides of the eyes.) A purified protein (diluted form of botulism), Botox relaxes muscles so that when they are in motion – ie you are smiling, frowning or looking very confused – you don’t have deep creases moving across your forehead. And, if you start using Botox in your twenties and thirties, those lines may never even appear!
Eyes and Lips – Restylane
Restylane is a filler made of a hyaluronic acid, a complex sugar naturally occurring in our bodies. It has a large particle that size enables it to lift areas, build volume and smooth contours and is often used to plump up tear troughs, lift up corners of the mouth and give more contour to lips. A little goes a long way with Restylane and some bruising will last 48 hours post injection. It’s critical to get conservative injections from doctors who have a keen aesthetic eye.
Lower Face – Juvederm
Juvederm, also a filler made from hyaluronic acid, has a thinner consistency and spreads more easily than Restylane. Because of this, it is used all over the face – to plump lips, treat acne scars, soften forehead wrinkles, plump eyebrows, add volume to under-eye hollows – but it is especially effective in softening the nasolabial folds and adding volume to the cheeks and jawline. For smoothing the deeper creases, Juvederm Ultra Plus is injected into lower layers of the dermis. It has a higher viscosity so will offer more stability, add more volume and last a little longer than Juvederm.
My Face – Ask Drs. Lieberman and Parikh
Now that you know the basics on injectables, it’s very important to point out that these are general guidelines. As each face is unique, so is each treatment plan – Drs. Lieberman and Parikh will take your facial features, skin type and other health factors into account when creating a plan that’s just right for you.
