Injectables Like Fillers and Neuromodulators Can Be Intimidating To Navigate for First-Timers
The other day, someone from our team was in a Shoppers Drug Mart in London, Ontario and saw a mature, elegant woman sidle up to the makeup counter looking hesitant.
“Excuse me,” she said shyly, “I’m wondering if you know anywhere around here where I can get BOTOX®? I need someone who can help me look good and won’t make me look like my face is frozen.”
The makeup specialists were friendly, but didn’t have a recommendation. One of them asked “Is that like a filler thing, for your lips?” No one knew the answer to the woman’s question.
They all started googling on their phones, but in the end no one was sure where to direct her. Luckily, our patient coordinator came over smiling and told her about TCSC and the team there. She suggested making a quick trip over to Waterloo to see our Beauty Nurses® for subtle, beautiful injectable results and took a few minutes to chat about the different kinds of injections that exist.
This story has a happy ending, and this lovely woman found the resource she was looking for. But this sort of quest is common, and doesn’t always end in a great result. If you’re new to injectables, it can be hard to get the information you need. It can also feel intimidating to choose a clinic and an injector you know you can trust to make you look great, and still look like you. The clinic you choose really matters, and can have a huge impact on how subtle, lovely, and confidence-boosting your results are.
Let’s get into some of the questions, myths, and assumptions about injectable treatments to separate fact from fiction.
Let’s start with the basics on injectables
The first thing to know about aesthetic injectables is that they are medical procedures that must be done by trained, certified and professional experts. The skill level of the person injecting you is absolutely crucial to getting a great result. . A great injector should be able to confidently tell you about their experience, their approach, show you examples of results, and explain what they’re going to do and how it will impact your beauty. They should ask about your own goals, and help you manage expectations to build up to the look you want without overdone results. This is important: never overlook the fact they your injector should always take a full and detailed medical history before treating you. Google reviews and clinic websites can be a great place to peek at before and after galleries or check out the scope of experience the team has.
Why choose injections for signs of aging?
It’s normal to notice signs of aging on the face and body, and fillers or neuromodulators can be a subtle-looking way to refresh your appearance. As we get older, our bodies naturally stop producing as much collagen and elastin, which can cause sagging, wrinkling and thinning of the skin. You might notice drooping, or more hollow areas as your facial volume diminishes. In areas where the skin is already thin (like under the eyes), you might notice deeper-looking “tear troughs” or grooves. As you make millions of repetitive movements over time –– with your face, hands, eyes, mouth, and hands –– you’ll inevitably form folds and creases. Other factors like smoking, sun exposure, pollution, dehydration, or health issues can advance signs of aging like wrinkles or lost skin volume.
Some people opt for chemical peels, laser treatments or surgical interventions like a facelift for these symptoms, while others use the rejuvenation offered by soft tissue fillers or neuromodulators (like Botox®) to find a look that feels right for them.
What are the different kinds of injections?
A common beginner mistake is assuming that all “injectables” are the same, but thats not true.
The two most common categories are neuromodulators, and soft tissue fillers. Neuromodulators like Botox® and Dysport® help relax muscle contractions to soften the overlying skin creases and wrinkles. Soft tissue fillers, most commonly made out of hyaluronic acid, which is a component of your normal skin, are used to recreate three-dimensional shape, projection and volume in areas like the cheekbones, lips, temples and jowl areas.
Our Beauty Nurses® might recommend a combination treatment plan that that enhances your unique features. Perhaps they’ll recommend a lip filler to enhance lips, and a neuromodulator around the forehead area to smooth frown lines. But get to know the difference between different injections, so you can be clear on what you’re targeting.
Neuromodulators
Neuromodulators include popular brand names like BOTOX COSMETIC® and are primarily used to treat folds, deep lines, and wrinkles by relaxing the underlying muscles that cause these signs of aging. Over time, our faces show dynamic wrinkles, a kind of crease that’s deepened by repetitive movements. For example, the lines on our foreheads that form when we raise our eyebrows, or the line between the eyes that’s emphasized when we furrow our brows. Neuromodulators target these muscles, with the goal of a more relaxed and refreshed appearance.
Dermal fillers
These injectables include fillers for lips, tear troughs, and other areas where you’ve lost volume— typically as a result of natural aging. Instead of targeting the muscles causing the creases, fillers restore contours to the face or replace lost volume.
The price of fillers ranges based on the area you’re treating, but filler treatment prices start around $750. At The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic, we use high-performing, industry-leading dermal fillers like JUVÉDERM®, Restylane®, or Radiesse® to enhance fullness, contour, or strategically shape your anatomy. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally-occurring sugar in the body that helps retain moisture. Hyaluronic acid is what gives youthful skin it’s bounce, smooth surface and its glow. Fillers with hyaluronic acid join forces with the HA that your body already produces to ramp up collagen production over time.
Combination treatment plans
If you’re looking for an overall refreshed look that still prioritizes your natural beauty, our Beauty Nurse® team will talk through your goals in a consultation. We want to understand the full scope of what you’re hoping to achieve. What do you love about your face that you might want to emphasize? Where are you feeling like you might want smoothing or rejuvenating? Maybe you want to smooth crow’s feet, restore lost volume under the eyes, and are looking for a more radiant complexion. In this scenario, your specialist may recommend a combination of injectables, a medical-grade skincare plan to maximize the outcomes, and might also suggest solutions like laser skin resurfacing or chemical peels. We also offer procedures like a non-invasive facelift, also known as the Soft Lift™. The Soft Lift is a customized treatment that combines the use of JUVÉDERM® facial filler with a wrinkle smoothing injection to instantly refresh your look.
Want to learn more?
Follow us on Instagram, check out our blogs, and book a consultation to see what the future might hold for you. Our Beauty Nurse® team speaks the language of injectables fluently and they’re here to help walk you through every step of this journey together.
