Choosing a Plastic SurgeonNot happy seeing wrinkles when you look in the mirror? Get rid of the frown or worry lines, crow’s feet or scars and restore your face to its youthful look and smoothness without going under the knife.

While a facelift can be an excellent option to reverse the effects of aging on the face, making the commitment to recovering and the high up-front cost dissuades many individuals. With an ever-increasing range of injectable fillers, a facelift isn’t the only way to ease creases and wrinkles.

Enter the widely popularized Botox injections and dermal fillers that reduce the appearance of wrinkles without the need for surgery.

Botox is a popular neurotoxin often injected around the forehead, eyebrows and eyes. It works by relaxing or paralyzing muscles on the face and temporarily stops them from forming wrinkles. These injections are best at smoothing fine lines on the face, or they can be used to create a chemical brow lift. The procedure typically takes less than 15 minutes, and results last about four months.

Dermal fillers can be used alone or paired with Botox. These substances, such as Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse and Sculptra, provide varying degrees of filler to smooth wrinkles by taking up space under the skin. Ary Krau, MD, board-certified plastic surgeon in Miami, works one-on-one with individuals to determine the right filler or combination of fillers for them.

• Restylane is commonly used with Botox to relax a wrinkle and elminate the crease. It lasts roughly six months.

• Radiesse, thicker than Restylane, is used to fill scars or deeper wrinkles, such as the nasolabial folds, or laugh lines from the nose to the mouth. Results typically last up to two years.

• Juvederm is a gel filler that adds volume and hydration to the skin. It’s made of hyaluronic acid, which is normally found in the human body. Results last about one year.

• Sculpta can be used to fill the cheeks or other areas of the face. Results take a few weeks to fully develop and last up to two years.

Most importantly, working with an experienced plastic surgeon like Dr. Krau ensures you’ll get the desired look and results to ease and smooth facial wrinkles.

Posted in: Injectables