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Over the last decade, injectable cosmetic treatments have become one of the most popular non-invasive skin rejuvenation techniques in the world of dermatology. Botox still remains the leading injectable treatment in cosmetic dermatology, but dermal fillers – particularly hyaluronic acid fillers – are not far behind. Whereas Botox is a neuromodulator designed to relax muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles, Restylane®  is a popular brand of hyaluronic acid filler that helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by boosting volume and hydration in the skin. Both are FDA-approved non-invasive treatments that offer amazing facial rejuvenation when it comes to reducing the presence of facial wrinkles like laugh lines, frown lines, crow’s feet, and jowls.

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Injectable treatments are an excellent alternative to invasive cosmetic procedures that a plastic surgeon might offer, and require virtually no downtime. However, it’s important to consider which treatments are best for your skin type and current skin condition. Knowing the main differences between injectable treatments is vital when treating signs of aging on different areas of the face and body, as the effects of Botox will be different from that of Restylane.

If you’re ready to have your fine lines, frown lines, crow’s feet, or volume loss treated with Botox, Restylane, Juvederm® , or other dermal fillers, then it’s time to consult with board-certified NYC dermatologist, Dr. Michele Green. Dr. Green is an expert in non-invasive cosmetic procedures, from the best Botox injections and lip fillers in New York, to skin tightening with Thermage®  and skin resurfacing lasers such as Fraxel®  laser, Dr. Michele Green is consistently voted as one of the best cosmetic injectors in New York.

What is Botox?

Botox cosmetic treatment is an FDA-approved injectable that uses the neurotoxin, botulinum toxin type A, in order to “freeze” the nerve signals to frequently used muscles near the injection site. Though the botulinum toxin is derived from the same bacteria that causes botulism, Botox has been used for decades as a safe and effective cosmetic treatment, and is now joined by several other neuromodulators with similar formulations, including Dysport and Xeomin. When it comes to facial rejuvenation, Botox treatment works to relax dynamic facial muscles that are used in common facial expressions. When these dynamic muscles are released, Botox injections can smooth wrinkles like forehead lines, nasolabial folds (“smile lines”), crow’s feet, and frown lines, with lasting results for up to six months.

Over the past few years, Botox has gained FDA-approval for many areas of the face. These areas include worry lines or forehead lines that are often overused due to stress, “11” lines (glabella lines) or wrinkles between the eyebrows, crow’s feet or wrinkles at the corners of the eye, lines around the mouth (including smoker’s lines), and dimpling due to wrinkles on the chin. Additionally, Botox can be used for facial contouring, including to raise sagging brows with a non-invasive “brow lift“, reduce the masseter muscle in the jaw to slim the jawline, and to reduce the appearance of wrinkles along the jawline and neck.

Botox has a variety of medical uses as well and has become a popular treatment method for migraines, TMJ disorder, hyperhidrosis (extreme sweating), blepharospasm (eyelid spasm), and muscle contractions in patients with cerebral palsy. Learn more about Botox for migraines.

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What is Restylane?

Restylane is a line of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers that offers facial rejuvenation, volume correction, and enhancement of the lips, chin, and cheeks. Restylane formulations rely on the active ingredient of hyaluronic acid–a naturally occurring substance in the body–to stimulate new collagen production in the body. Through this process, improved skin texture and volume is achieved, which in turn improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the surface of the skin with lasting results for up to a full year in some cases.

Restylane offers a variety of different hyaluronic acid filler formulations that are tailored to treat various needs:

  • Restylane-L, Restylane Kysse, and Restylane Silk are all commonly used for lip enhancement.
  • Restylane Refyne and Restylane Defyne are commonly used to treat nasolabial folds and frown lines.
  • Restylane Lyft is used for volume correction in the midface as well as hand rejuvenation.
  • Restylane Volyme is used to correct age-related volume loss and enhance the chin and jawline
  • Restylane SkinBoosters (Vital and Vital Light) are tailored for anti-aging skincare, hydrating the skin and improving elasticity.

What is the difference between Botox and Restylane?

Botox and Restylane are both highly successful facial rejuvenation cosmetic treatments, but they do fulfill slightly different needs when it comes to restoring a more youthful appearance. In general, the appearance of dynamic wrinkles, as well as improved firmness and lift, will be successfully targeted through Botox injections. On the other hand, issues of fine lines and wrinkles not related to an active facial expression, as well as sagging and volume loss, are more optimally treated with Restylane

In most cases, Dr. Green recommends that patients dealing with dynamic wrinkles – wrinkles connected to facial movement – engage with Botox, while those dealing with static fine lines and wrinkles try Restylane or other dermal fillers. However, each patient’s needs vary widely, and these two treatments do have some substantial overlap when it comes to reducing the signs of aging on the skin. When you work with Dr. Green, she’ll be able to examine your current skin condition and medical history, discuss your individual needs and goals, and determine which treatment plan will be right for you.

Is Restylane better than Botox?

When considering which is best, Restylane or Botox, there truly is no one “best” option. Both Botox and Restylane offer exciting facial revitalization and contouring treatment, and are in fact complementary cosmetic treatments that can be integrated together for pan-facial rejuvenation. In fact, both Botox and Restylane are commonly paired together, as well as with other restorative treatments such as CoolSculpting® , Thermage, Microneedling, and laser skin resurfacing in order to develop a holistic anti-aging treatment plan. Dr. Green is an artful, experienced injector that will be able to balance your aesthetic interests with all the available treatments that modern cosmetic dermatology offers, creating an extremely safe and successful treatment experience for each of her patients.

Should I get Botox or Restylane for lips?

When it comes to cosmetic treatment for lips, the optimal treatment depends on what about the lips is being treated. If you’re interested in lip augmentation or lip enhancement, you’ll likely be a candidate for hyaluronic acid filler. Additionally, if you’re looking to treat vertical lip lines or fine lines on the lips themselves, hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane will be able to plump the lips and reduce the appearance of these lines while contouring to the movement of the lips with advanced XpresHAn cross-linking technology. For patients who want a more dramatic appearance, Restylane Kysse may be best choice of lip fillers.

For patients who are seeking treatment for fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth, both Botox and Restylane can offer restorative benefits. Botox is an effective treatment for those lines caused by facial muscles, and Restylane is an excellent tool in correcting moderate-to-deeply worn facial wrinkles. In many cases, patients will opt to use both Botox and Restylane in a complementary treatment plan in order to plump the lips and offer a youthful appearance to the mouth and lips.

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Before and After Restylane Lip Injections

Is Restylane safe for lips?

Restylane-L, Restylane Silk, and Restylane Kysse are all FDA-approved hyaluronic acid fillers to help with lip augmentation and lip rejuvenation. Restylane has done intensive research to develop tailored hyaluronic acid formulations that are not only safe for the lips, but also successfully bind with the cells of the lips in order to create an incredibly smooth, natural look.

Which Restylane is best for lips?

When it comes to which Restylane is best for lips, the answer shifts depending on each individual patient. Restylane and Restylane-L, the original formulation of Restylane, are excellent options to subtly reduce the appearance of lines around the mouth, including nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and fine lines in the corners of the lips. Restylane Silk was the first FDA-approved treatment for lip enhancement and fine lines around the mouth, and uses a fine particle size to help create precise lip shaping. Restylane Kysse is the newest formulation of Restylane for treatment of the lips, and uses advanced XpresHAn technology to boost volume with while maintaining flexible movement in the lips. Each formulation offers its own unique lip enhancement and rejuvenation.

Injectable Treatment Options

When it comes to creating a more youthful appearance, there are a wide variety of injectable treatments that can achieve incredible results without the need for downtime. Two of the most popular injectables for facial rejuvenation are that of neuromodulators and dermal fillers.

Neuromodulators

Neuromodulators rely on a neurotoxin in order to relax the muscles of the face and enhance the overall look of fine lines and wrinkles. The most popular neurotoxin relies on botulinum toxin type A, and can be combined within different additives for optimal results. The other, equally popular neurotoxins are Xeomin, Dysport, and Jeuveau, which smooth wrinkles.

Botox vs. Dysport vs. Xeomin

Both Botox and Dysport rely on botulinum toxin type A, and use a protein within their formulations that act as a preservative for the injectable treatment. This means that both Botox and Dysport take a little bit of time to show optimal results–typically around one week to two weeks – as the toxin separates from the preservative protein.

Xoemin, on the other hand, is not combined with protein additives, and uses a more concentrated and pure form of the botulinum toxin in order to immediately interact with the facial muscles after entering the injection site. This means that Xeomin offers optimal results in about five days. Overall, Botox, Dysport and Xeomin are able to offer similarly long-lasting results, but one may be a stronger match for patients depending on their personal skin type.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are an excellent way to correct age-related volume loss, enhance facial features, and to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face. There are a variety of different kinds of dermal fillers, including hyaluronic acid fillers, calcium-based fillers, and poly-L-lactic acid fillers.

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1 Month Before and After Juvederm Voluma & Restylane

Restylane vs. Juvederm

When it comes to hyaluronic acid fillers, the most popular brand names are that of Restylane, Juvederm, and Belotero Balance. Restylane and Juvederm each offer a myriad of hyaluronic acid filler formulations that can each treat areas such as the midface, lips, chin, and fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth and the eyes. When it comes to choosing between Restylane and Juvederm, the answer comes down to which specific formulation will best suit your needs, as well as considering cost and lasting results of the injectable treatment. In general, Juvederm has  a slightly larger particle size to that of Restylane, while Restylane treatments tend to be slightly less durable. When you work with Dr. Green, she will be able to pinpoint which formulations will be right for you, carefully considering all factors to help you make the most informed decision.

Non-Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

There are several non-hyaluronic acid filler options that can also help when it comes to creating a more youthful appearance, as well as for overall body contouring. Radiesse is a calcium hydroxyapatite-based dermal filler that helps to ignite collagen production within the dermis, creating both immediate volume and natural volume restoration that lasts. Radiesse is a popular treatment for patients seeking longer-lasting results when it comes to treating fine lines and wrinkles, as it often has results that last up to two years. Sculptra is a poly-L-lactic acid injectable treatment that is an unparalleled volumizer for the face, and is commonly used to enhance body contouring such as the buttocks or hip dips.

What are the side effects of injectable cosmetics?

Common side effects of injectable treatments vary depending on formulation, but in general are incredibly mild and include side effects such as swelling, redness, and bruising at or near the injection side. Additionally, allergic reactions can occur, particularly with patients engaging with fillers that use lidocaine as an anesthetic within the injectable formulation, so it’s very important to disclose your full medical history with Dr. Green before selecting a treatment. In rare cases, serious side effects can occur when inexperienced injectors apply injectable treatments into a blood vessel, which is why it is so vital to work with an expert, board-certified dermatologist for any injections. Dr. Green is an expert in injectable cosmetic treatments, and the safety and satisfaction of her patients is her top priority.

How do I get started with Botox or Restylane?

If you’re interested in cosmetic injectable treatments like Botox or Restylane, to treat both dynamic wrinkles and facial wrinkles, Dr. Michele Green’s private NYC office is here to help. An expert in Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, and Sculptra injections, Dr. Green will help rejuvenate your skin and provide a more youthful appearance. Whether it be treating fine lines, jowls, crow’s feet, smile lines, or frown lines, Dr. Green has been voted one of the best cosmetic injectors and dermatologists in New York consistently by Castle Connolly, New York Magazine, and Super Doctors. Please call us today at 212-535-3088 or contact us online to schedule a consultation to see if Botox or Restylane is the right cosmetic injectable for you.

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