BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dermal Fillers
As dentists concerned about and focused on facial appearance, we realize that a pleasing smile does not exist in a vacuum, unaffected by other facial structures. At times we need to consider overall facial symmetry, harmony, proportion and balance and to address parts of the face apart from the teeth.
In April of 2008, The Harvard Women’s Health Watch reported on the increasing popularity of dermal fillers in women seeking a younger look as an alternative to more conventional facial plastic surgery. BOTOX® Cosmetic was the top non-surgical cosmetic procedure of 2007 according to statistics compiled by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. In this post, Dr. Bryan G. Forley shares with us some of his thoughts on this topic.
BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dermal Fillers
BOTOX® Cosmetic injections provide a non-surgical way of reversing some of the visible signs of aging. Crow’s feet, laugh lines, and frown lines are caused by the contractions of underlying facial muscles. Dynamic lines occur with every smile, laugh, or frown. These can lead to wrinkles that are present when you are not expressing emotion. Botox works by blocking the nerve impulses to the wrinkle producing muscles so they do not contract. The overlying skin will be smooth and unwrinkled. The untreated muscles will allow for normal facial expression to remain unaffected. The treatment is simple with minimal discomfort, requires only a few minutes, and you can immediately resume normal activities. Very precise injections are made into the areas selected for treatment. The results will be apparent in a range of a few days up to two weeks. The duration of effect is between 4-6 months.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is an excellent choice in areas of the face where muscle contraction can be modified to achieve the desired effect of smoothing of the overlying wrinkled skin with maintenance of normal facial expression. In contrast, dermal fillers composed of hyaluronic acid, such as Juvederm™, Restylane®, and Perlane® , are indicated in areas of folds, wrinkles, or hollowing that result from volume shifts or deficiencies in the face. Recent trends in facial rejuvenation have focused on restoring the “facial deflation” that occurs with aging. Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in the body and provides volume and fullness to the skin. Injectable hyaluronic acid has been modified to allow for a greater longevity than that found in the skin. In addition, these products contain no animal proteins so no skin testing prior to treatment is required and the body degrades them gradually over time. The duration of effect is from 6-12 months.
The selective use of BOTOX® Cosmetic in conjunction with a dermal filler maximizes the potential benefits of each modality to the patient. In many cases, they produce an anti-aging benefit that can postpone the need for surgery while maintaining a natural appearance.
BRYAN G. FORLEY, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Dr. Bryan G. Forley is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. After graduating from Brown University in 1979, Dr. Forley received his medical degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and trained in general surgery at New York University Medical Center and the Mount Sinai Medical Center. His residency in plastic surgery was completed at the Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco and was followed by an aesthetic surgery fellowship with Dr. Bruce F. Connell and a craniofacial surgery fellowship in London, England.
Dr. Forley is an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the Royal Society of Medicine.
Dr. Forley is in private practice in Manhattan with an office on the Upper East Side. He specializes in cosmetic surgery of the face, eyes, nose, breast, and body. Please visit www.drforley.com for additional information.
