Do you love the results you’re getting with BOTOX® and dermal fillers like Voluma®, but wish that they would last longer? If you have been scheduling these two treatments separately, or have only enhanced your features with dermal fillers, you may want to reassess how you book your next appointment. New research is starting to show what skilled injection specialists have seen for years now; when combined in one treatment, BOTOX seems to increase the longevity of facial fillers.
To understand how wonderfully neurotoxins and dermal fillers can work together in tandem it’s essential to have a base knowledge of how they work when apart.
“The fillers we work with at Midwest Facial Plastics & Face Cosmetic Skincare are predominately hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers,” explains Dr. Christopher Tolan, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon and a trainer for Allergan, the manufacturer of BOTOX® Cosmetic. “This is a hydrophilic, or water-loving substance that is naturally found in our bodies,” he explains. “When injected beneath the skin into an area that has volume depletion it plumps up the surrounding tissue and can smooth the look of static wrinkles and even provide lift to the skin.”
Unlike filler, BOTOX is a purified protein that works by relaxing muscle activity where it is injected, as the furrow between your eyebrows. By preventing the receptors on your muscle’s nerve cells from receiving the signal from your brain to contract, BOTOX reduces the formation of dynamic wrinkles that occur with movement. The result? Softening and smoothing of facial lines and, when strategically placed, a lifting effect when desired.
Most HA dermal fillers on the market last anywhere from 4 months to 2 years. Fillers gradually degrade and with them, our results. This rate of degradation is variable and dependent on the type of dermal filler used and the facial muscle movement of the individual patient. For example, a patient with powerful facial muscles will work against the placement of the filler and may cause it to breakdown faster than that of a patient with less strength to their expressions.
“New research is showing auspicious results for product longevity of facial fillers when combined with BOTOX,” Dr. Tolan continues. “I’ve seen the proof with my patients who consistently book their BOTOX and filler appointments in one treatment session,” he shares.
The results of a recent study by Dr. Ismail Kucuker were published in the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. During the study participants were injected with a HA-based dermal filler to one side of their face while a combination of BOTOX AND dermal filler was injected into the other side. Three months later (the average lifespan of BOTOX) participants were asked to return to receive an MRI scan to compare the two sides. The study found that the amount of dermal filler remaining on the BOTOX side was 50% greater than the side that only received dermal filler. The study, therefore, concluded that BOTOX both effectively and significantly decreased the rate of degradation in HA dermal fillers.
“At our practice, we are continuously looking for ways to enhance our patients’ experiences with us,” says Dr. Tolan. “It’s wonderful to be able to make the results our patients already love last even longer with combination therapies like BOTOX and filler!”
Curious to see if adding Botox to your next dermal filler appointment can enhance and prolong your results? Schedule a consultation to discuss combination treatment strategies with us! Call (651) 632-9700.