If you're considering Botox in PEI, it helps to understand the difference between relaxing a muscle and adding volume. Botox and Dysport are neurotoxins that may soften lines caused by repeated muscle movement, while dermal filler may help with lost fullness or shape.
At Desired Medical Aesthetics in Charlottetown, Marley Giddings, Nurse Practitioner, offers both neurotoxin and hyaluronic acid dermal filler. You don't need to choose a treatment before your consultation. Describing what you notice gives her a useful place to start.
When movement creates the line
Think about the lines that appear when you raise your eyebrows or bring your brows together. Lines beside the eyes can also become more noticeable when you smile. These are common examples of expression lines, where the muscles beneath the skin contribute to what you see.
Neurotoxin temporarily relaxes selected muscles, which may soften those lines. The area and amount used are chosen after an assessment of the concern you want to address.
A line that shows mainly during an expression is different from one that remains visible when your face is relaxed. That distinction helps guide the discussion, although looking in a mirror cannot tell you everything about which treatment is suitable. The assessment matters.
You can read more about neurotoxin treatment before your visit. If you're considering injections for the first time, our guide to your first neurotoxin appointment explains the next steps.
When volume or shape is the concern
A cheek that looks less full or a lip border you would like to define raises a different question. Dermal filler is a gel placed beneath the skin to add volume or change the contour of a suitable area. Desired Medical Aesthetics uses hyaluronic acid dermal filler.
Common areas to discuss include the lips and cheeks, as well as the chin or jawline. These are examples of where filler may be considered, rather than a list of areas everyone would benefit from treating.
For instance, wanting a little more lip fullness doesn't automatically mean wanting a different overall lip shape. Being specific about that distinction helps the conversation. You can also explain what you would prefer to keep as it is.
Filler and neurotoxin work differently. Adding volume does not relax a muscle, and relaxing a muscle does not replace lost volume. Choosing between them starts with the cause of the concern, rather than which treatment name sounds more familiar.
Why the same area can need a different approach
The location of a line alone doesn't determine the treatment. A concern near the mouth, for example, might involve movement or a change in the surrounding shape. Surface texture can be part of the picture too.
That is why a photo or a friend's treatment plan cannot give you a reliable treatment recommendation for your own face. Two people can point to a similar-looking area and have different reasons for noticing it.
It also helps to separate the change you want from the treatment you think you need. “I'd like this area to look less hollow” is more useful than arriving certain that a particular product belongs there. Marley can assess the area and explain whether the proposed approach makes sense.
There is no requirement to treat every visible line. Your preferences matter, including how much change you feel comfortable with and whether you want treatment at all. A plan can be limited to the concern you came to discuss.
What to compare before deciding
The timing is different for each treatment. With neurotoxin, results generally start in 3 to 5 days, with the full effect around 2 weeks. Results last about 3 to 4 months.
Dermal filler gives an immediate change, although swelling takes a few days to settle. Filler can last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the product, area and metabolism. That broad range should not be read as a promise for a particular treatment area.
Results vary from person to person. Ask what improvement is reasonable for the specific concern you're discussing and what limitations you should understand before proceeding.
A free consultation also gives you time to discuss possible risks and aftercare. You should understand what happens after treatment and who to contact if something concerns you, as well as what the treatment may achieve.
Marley Giddings is the owner and only injector at Desired Medical Aesthetics. She is a nurse practitioner with over ten years in nursing, and sees clients in her treatment room inside Renew You at 260 Grafton Street in Charlottetown.
FAQs
Is neurotoxin the same as dermal filler?
No, Botox and Dysport are neurotoxins that temporarily relax selected muscles. Dermal filler adds volume or changes contour beneath the skin, so the treatments address different concerns.
Is dermal filler better for forehead lines?
Forehead lines often involve muscle movement, so neurotoxin may be discussed. The area needs an assessment before any treatment is recommended.
Can I have neurotoxin and dermal filler?
They address different concerns, so both may come up during a consultation. Whether either treatment is appropriate, and how to plan them, requires an individual assessment.