Part of the aging process is the inevitable development of fine lines and wrinkles around your nose or mouth. Although totally normal, these wrinkles aren’t fun to deal with – especially if you feel these visible signs of aging make you look tired or older than you feel. Fortunately, at DFW Center for Aesthetics and Cosmetic Surgery in Southlake, TX, we know injectable treatments like Belotero Balance can reduce your wrinkles and help you feel more confident about your appearance.
What Is Belotero Used For?
If you want an easy and effortless way to look young and rejuvenated, dermal fillers are generally good options. Belotero is an FDA-approved injectable that is designed to rejuvenate your appearance by smoothing the appearance of wrinkles in the mid-face. This injectable can be used to minimize fine lines and nasolabial wrinkles, which are the deeper wrinkles from the corners of the mouth to the outside of the nose.
But unlike some other dermal fillers, Belotero Balance actually has a few unique uses that many other dermal fillers don’t. This particular filler is commonly used to correct issues such as:
- Acne scars
- Thin lips
- Hollow cheeks
- Sharp jawline
- Forehead wrinkles
- Under-eye hollows
- Crow’s feet
- Smile and laugh lines
- Frown lines
- Chin wrinkles
How Does This Treatment Work?
As an injectable treatment, the process for this dermal filler is much more simple than plastic surgery. The key to this treatment is a series of small injections placed in areas of the face where volume loss has created wrinkles. The unique filler formula will instantly restore skin volume to smooth away the appearance of fine lines or to contour your appearance.
In general, the amount of filler necessary for your treatment will depend on a few factors, such as the severity of your wrinkles and the results you are looking for. Our goal is to give you natural-looking results, and since it takes this filler a few days to “settle”, you may want to come for a touch-up appointment if you find that the initial treatment didn’t create as much volume as you desire.
Why Do Wrinkles Happen?
After a certain point, developing fine lines and wrinkles becomes an inevitable process. As we age, certain factors and biological functions in our skin create the circumstances in which wrinkles and skin laxity can develop. Some of these factors include:
Skin Composition
One of the most important factors that determine wrinkle placement and depth is the natural composition of your skin. Around the mid-20s, our skin starts to produce less collagen and elastin, two important proteins that support skin structure and firmness. We also start to lose hyaluronic acid as we age, a sugar-based molecule that keeps skin moist and plush.
As the composition of your skin changes, the visible signs of aging begin to appear since your skin becomes weaker and less elastic. Over time, repeated facial expressions, stress, and lifestyle habits will cause creases to form on your more lax skin, which eventually develops into wrinkles.
Lifestyle Choices
Believe it or not, but your lifestyle choices can have a huge impact on the texture and appearance of your skin. For example, unprotected sun exposure creates free radicals in your skin cells, which then harm the basic structure of your skin and cause proteins like collagen to break down prematurely. Sun damage also affects the superficial appearance of your skin, such as dark spots and sun damage.
Other lifestyle choices like smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and an unhealthy diet can also cause proteins in the skin to deplete more quickly, which can then result in wrinkles at an earlier age.
Why Can’t Skincare Products Fix Wrinkles?
Although skincare products are marketed as a low-cost way to correct the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, the truth is that these products are temporary fixes that can’t improve wrinkles in any significant way.
Most over-the-counter products containing collagen, retinoids, and hyaluronic acid can accelerate the turnover of surface skin cells or plump skin surface appearance – but because wrinkles are caused by depletion in the sub-dermal layers, topical creams and moisturizers won’t be able to fully address wrinkles. That said, certain specialized skincare products can be used as a way to maintain your desired results day-to-day after a dermal filler treatment.
Why Dermal Fillers Are a Better Option
Luckily, you don’t have to rely on skincare products to help correct your wrinkles – and you don’t need to suffer through painful plastic surgery, either. Dermal fillers are one of the current golden standards in aesthetic care specifically because they are so effective for restoring the appearance of skin for several months without any downtime or significant skin risks. The minimally invasive nature of dermal fillers means that even those who have very sensitive or easily scarred skin are potential candidates.
How Does Belotero Work?
Contemporary dermal fillers are incredibly advanced and backed by science. Broadly speaking, dermal fillers are usually water-based gels that deliver skin-plumping ingredients to the sub-dermal layers of your skin, which fills in the gaps caused by the natural aging process. Most of the time, dermal filler appointments can be completed within 30 minutes and with no need to schedule time off work or your normal activities. You can also expect results to last for six months or longer.
The Secret Ingredient: Hyaluronic Acid
Belotero Balance is a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler that is designed to produce natural-looking results. This particular formula is based on a cohesive polydensified matrix, which creates a flexible, ultra-smooth gel that easily integrates with your skin’s natural structure to create seamless results. Hyaluronic acid is considered a hypoallergenic ingredient since it can be found naturally in the skin, which means that this filler is well-tolerated by the vast majority of people.
What Can You Expect From Your Treatment?
Because this dermal filler is such a quick treatment, you will not need to arrange for time off work or even do much to prepare for your treatment. We may encourage you to temporarily stop taking blood-thinning medications and supplements, as well as avoid alcohol consumption, for at least one to three days before your appointment.
Your treatment itself will be very comfortable. A fine needle will be used to inject the filler directly into your areas of concern and you will have the option of using a topical numbing cream before your appointment starts so your treatment is as comfortable as possible.
What Is Your Recovery Like?
One of the best things about a dermal filler treatment is the fact that you will not have any significant downtime. While some people prefer to take the rest of the day off after their treatment, many other patients return to work or complete other tasks. You can most of the time resume all of your normal daily activities, such as exercise, within 24 hours.
During your short recovery period, you will be encouraged to avoid sun exposure, heat, hot water, strenuous activity, and touching or rubbing your skin while your filler is still settling. You should also be sure to avoid drinking alcohol for at least 24 hours ager your treatment.
When Will You See Results?
In general, you will be able to see immediate results from this treatment since the infusion of the gel filler into your skin will instantly increase skin volume and smooth the appearance of wrinkles. However, it usually takes up to seven days to see the full results of your treatment.
How Long Do Results Last?
The results of most dermal fillers can last for about six to 12 months, and this filler is no different. Most patients can expect to enjoy results for at last six months. Some factors may determine how long your results last. For example, the amount of filler used during your treatment can affect your results and the areas where the treatment is used. In general, dermal fillers also last longer in facial areas that do not move frequently, such as the cheeks or the under-eye area.
Is This Treatment Safe?
Yes, this dermal filler is considered safe and is approved for use by the FDA. Because of the unique properties of hyaluronic acid, this filler has a good safety profile and is not considered high-risk for the vast majority of skin types and skin tones. This treatment is a safe and effective anti-aging solution.
Will You Have Natural-Looking Results?
Yes, the results of your treatment will be natural. In part, this is because of the way we approach your treatment since we focus on creating noticeable, yet subtle improvements to your appearance. But this dermal filler also produces natural-looking results thanks to how hyaluronic acid works with the rest of your body.
In particular, scientific studies have proven that collagen production increases in the presence of hyaluronic acid, so the results of your treatment will encourage natural collagen production that will seamlessly fill the hollow areas of your face. Additionally, you will have a full range of expression after your treatment; you’ll just look younger while you laugh and smile.
Is This Dermal Filler Better Than Others?
It’s hard to say whether one dermal filler is better than another since they all have their advantages. In general, dermal fillers made with hyaluronic acid, including Juvederm, tend to produce more natural-looking results, but other fillers like Restylane may produce results that last longer. Whether or not Belotero is the right filler for you will depend on the condition of your skin, as well as what your aesthetic goals are.
Are You a Good Candidate?
Adults who want to improve the overall appearance of their skin by softening fine lines and wrinkles are likely good candidates for this dermal filler treatment. Most candidates are between the ages of 30 and 50 and have moderate to severe facial wrinkles or skin laxity. Because this filler can be used on virtually every area of the face, it’s a good option for most people with various appearance-related concerns.
Many candidates for this treatment include those who do not want to undergo plastic surgery to correct visible signs of aging, as well as those who are not qualified for Botox or other aesthetic treatments. There are only a few factors that may make you ineligible for this treatment, such as:
Allergies
Although hyaluronic acid is considered hypoallergenic, you will not be considered a candidate if you have a history of severe allergic reactions. You should also not use this treatment if you have gram-positive bacterial allergies.
Temporary Skin Conditions
You cannot use this treatment if you have had a cold sore, fever blister, pimple, rash, or skin infection within two weeks of your treatment. You should also not use this treatment if you are recovering from a sunburn. Please reschedule your treatment if you have any of these skin conditions.
Restore Your Confidence With Belotero Balance
As inevitable as aging is, there are also plenty of options to slow the aging process down – or even rewind the clock entirely. Dermal fillers can smooth the appearance of your skin, increase skin volume, and help you look as young as you feel. Please contact DFW Center for Aesthetics and Cosmetic Surgery in Southlake, TX to schedule your consultation today.
