We get it: All you want is an effective anti-wrinkle solution to achieve youthful-looking skin.
But everywhere you turn, there are ads for new serums, retinol creams, BOTOX injections, dermal fillers… and the list goes on and on. That’s why in this post, we’re going to break down some of your most common questions surrounding anti-wrinkle treatments!
So, what is the difference between applying a daily hyaluronic acid serum and getting a hyaluronic acid Juvéderm injection? Can you prevent wrinkles with anti-wrinkle cream, or do you need BOTOX?
Here’s a guide on the different treatment options available for wrinkles and when injections are the best solution for your goals.
Ready to love your skin and boost confidence with BOTOX® injections and top-rated Juvéderm dermal fillers? Schedule an appointment with Elevate at Alaska Women’s Health to begin.
Can My Anti-Wrinkle Cream Get the Job Done?
Perhaps you’ve seen the heightened effects on skin’s appearance from BOTOX or other dermal fillers. In the back of your mind, however, you wonder: Can my go-to skin serum or cream work just as well? It’s a good question, and one that’s helpful to know the answer to before shelling out extra cash for dermal fillers or non-surgical options.
We find it best to think of the two like this.
Serums, creams, and other topical products are like your daily conditioner for your hair. They help keep your hair moisturized and can even improve or enhance the appearance of your strands. Similarly, skincare products often contain vitamins, substances, oils, and more that can enhance your appearance.
But no skincare product will truly “reverse” aging. Instead, they may aid the natural reparation process to give you healthier-looking skin overtime. In addition, these products act as a good preventive measure to slow the appearance of aging skin and protect against environmental factors such as oxidative stress or sun exposure.
So, despite what a beauty guru or influencer may tell you, a topical skincare serum or cream can’t actually “turn back the clock.” However, we’re not saying to ditch your morning or nightly skincare routine. These regimens will still help keep your skin looking youthful as an addition to other treatment options.
Juvéderm: Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Filler To Prevent Wrinkles
Going back to the hair analogy.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) injections, on the other hand, are more akin to a deep conditioning hair masque. You don’t use it every day, but rather as an extensive treatment occasionally. These hair masques work from the inside out and often provide more noticeable, stronger, and longer-lasting results for your hair.
This is what HA injections such as Juvéderm and other dermal fillers do for your skin. They are administered beneath the skin’s surface. Juvéderm “inflates” areas of your skin – whether cheeks, jawline, nose, lips, hands, etc. – using hyaluronic acid gel to reduce wrinkles from loss of volume.
These treatments are also praised because of their temporary nature; you can get dermal fillers dissolved if you’d like to discontinue procedures in the future. If you aren’t happy with your results, your Juvéderm injections can be reversed with hyaluronidase. This enzyme is injected into the treatment spot and dissolves the added hyaluronic acid.
Because hyaluronic acid is also found in the body naturally, it tends to be safer than other procedures as well as compatible with a variety of skin types.
What About BOTOX Injections for Treating Wrinkles?
BOTOX injections are an effective, non-surgical option for reducing the appearance of wrinkles or preventing them from happening in the first place. Contrary to popular belief, younger and younger women are opting into BOTOX as an anti-wrinkle treatment – starting as early as their 20s.
These anti-wrinkle treatments work by restricting muscle movements. Think of it like this: What happens to a t-shirt fresh out of the dryer if you ball it up and stuff it in the drawer? It becomes wrinkled, of course. Likewise, imagine every fabric crease is a muscle contraction in your face.
Contrast this to a t-shirt you hang up in your closet. Does it get wrinkled? No, because the shirt never gets folded or creased. In the same way, some anti-wrinkle treatments stop the movements that “crease” your face.
This is where popular treatments like botulinum toxin injections come in.
BOTOX works to give you a more youthful appearance by preventing your facial muscles from contracting that create wrinkles. For example, laugh lines from smiling or forehead creasing from frustration or focused concentration.
So, unlike Juvéderm, BOTOX doesn’t actually “fill” your skin at all – or create a plump, fuller appearance. Because of this, BOTOX and Juvéderm treatments are often done in combination with one another. The results of BOTOX injections are also highly visible. Many patients notice the difference in just one week from treatment, with enhanced effects seen in the first 4 weeks.
Costs of Anti-Wrinkle Creams vs. BOTOX vs. Juvéderm Dermal Fillers
Anti-Wrinkle Creams and Serums:
Most of these skincare products are priced between $25 on the lower end up to around $100+ for more expensive brands. When assessing the value of these at-home treatments, pay attention to the ingredients list to ensure you are getting what you pay for.
BOTOX Injections:
BOTOX is priced by the amount of units used for injections. Therefore, a single injection will generally cost several hundred dollars or higher. The number of units for a treatment varies based on the injection site and number of injections you receive. For reference, Elevate at Alaska Women’s Health charges patients $13/per unit for BOTOX injections.
Juvéderm Dermal Fillers:
Juvederm fillers are usually priced based on the number of injections as well as which formula is used – whether that is Juvéderm UltraPlus XC, Juvéderm Vollure XC, Juvéderm Voluma XC, Juvéderm Ultra XC, or Juvéderm Volbella XC. A qualified medical professional will help you determine which is best for your aesthetic goals, but hyaluronic acid injections tend to be more expensive than BOTOX. For example, we charge $875 per syringe for Juvéderm dermal fillers in Anchorage.
Are Anti-Wrinkle Dermal Fillers like BOTOX and Juvéderm Dangerous?
Find any media coverage of botched ant-wrinkle treatments, and it’s easy to think that injections are a dangerous option. However, BOTOX and Juvéderm are both considered generally safe and approved by the FDA as dermal fillers.
Most of the negative side effects you will hear about are due to one of three things: 1) Injections were not administered by a qualified medical practitioner, 2) Injections were obtained from unreliable suppliers without guarantee of its contents, and 3) underlying medical conditions and/or medications interacted with the procedure.
Where Can I Get Anti-Wrinkle Injection Treatments Done?
Our clinicians at Elevate at Alaska Women’s Health can help you choose the best cosmetic treatment for your aesthetic goals. If your main goal is to minimize dynamic wrinkles and deep creases caused by years of smiling and frowning, BOTOX® injections are an effective option.
Are you trying to achieve poutier lips, fuller cheekbones, or a more defined jawline? Juvéderm dermal fillers help add volume to targeted areas in your face to fill in wrinkles, make your skin more supple, and add definition where desired.
Whichever option you choose, we will help you achieve the best results possible.
Ready to love your skin and boost confidence with BOTOX® injections and top-rated Juvéderm dermal fillers? Schedule an appointment with Elevate at Alaska Women’s Health to begin.
