Should You Choose Juvéderm Or Botox?
Facial treatments for wrinkles are extremely common requests from both men and women. These treatments can drastically alter your outer appearance and make you feel youthful and attractive again. Not only are they minimally invasive treatments, but they have little to no recovery time and are quite affordable. The areas that wrinkle most are different for everyone, but there are tested and proven techniques to improve the appearance of all kinds of wrinkles, regardless of their location or cause on your face. In Canada, the most popular treatment products are Botox and Juvéderm. What are these products and how can you know which one can provide the best results for you?
What is Botox?
Most people know Botox is a modern solution for fine lines and wrinkles, but don't understand how it works or when it should be used. Botox is a medication that contains the botulinum-toxin protein. This wonderful protein is capable of preventing muscles from moving by paralyzing them for a temporary period of time. The quantities of this protein is appropriate for cosmetic purposes, so there is no need to fear permanent paralysis of your face or Botox in your bloodstream. The muscles relax after an injection, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles created by movements such as squinting or frowning. You can expect the effect of Botox to last for about 3 or 4 months and for the positive effects of Botox to start becoming noticeable after about 3 - 5 days.
Botox injections are relatively cheap per unit, with an average price of about 15$ each. However, more than one unit is necessary and how many units you will need depends on the area of your face that is being treated as well as how extensive your wrinkles are. Some doctors will charge a flat price for one area of the face and others will base their pricing on the number of injection units you need. What is Juvéderm?
Juvéderm is another very effective treatment for facial wrinkles, but the way it works is completely different from Botox. Botox relaxes the muscles, but Juvéderm is actually a filler and does not affect how your muscles move at all. Juvéderm is made of hyaluronic acid, which is a chemical that your body produces naturally. Of course, the hyaluronic acid found in Juvéderm is made in a lab and is meticulously purified to be safe for cosmetic use. It treats wrinkles by plumping up the skin to the point where wrinkles disappear. As we age, skin can lose its elasticity and fat content that keeps it looking taught, so adding a filling agent can restore a youthful appearance. You can also request that Juvéderm be injected into your lips if they have lost fullness over time. You can expect the effects to last for about 10 to 12 months, sometimes more.
Juvéderm is more expensive per injection than Botox, but the overall treatment cost is fairly similar because Juvéderm requires fewer injections compared to Botox. You can expect to pay at least 750 to 1,300 dollars for the area that you want to treat with Juvéderm.
Why choose Botox?
Botox is the best choice when you are trying to treat wrinkles that appear through movement of your face. For example, Botox is a great treatment for frown lines between the eyebrows and on the forehead, as well as crow's feet lines that develop from grinning. If you are a very expressive person through the movement of your face, you may be at risk for wrinkling more than someone who keeps a relatively straight face when expressing themselves. Botox is an excellent way to prevent facial movement from causing wrinkles in the first place. If you notice that you squint often and can see frown lines developing, Botox is an excellent treatment to prevent these wrinkles and lines from becoming permanent. Many women begin to seek preventative Botox between the ages of 25 and 30. If the wrinkles are already quite settled in, Botox does allow the skin to smooth back out when the muscles are relaxed.
Why choose Juvéderm?
Juvéderm is the ideal choice when you are trying to improve the appearance of the skin folds between your nose and mouth or the vertical smile lines caused by a loss of volume in your face. It can also add volume to cheeks that are becoming sullen and lips that are becoming too thin. By plumping the cheeks, fine lines under your eyes can also become less noticeable because the skin stretches and smooths away the lines. Adding volume to the area where the skin folds your nose and mouth is one of the best ways for your entire face to look younger, as this area becomes less full as we age.
Now that you know how each product works and their main strengths, you can make an informed decision when deciding between these two wonderful products. Of course, your surgeon will provide suggestions for the treatment of issues that you want to correct and will be the person to decide how to best move forward, but with this knowledge in mind you can participate in this decision-making process and feel confident about your choices. Often, a combination of both products provides the best results when multiple issues are in need of attention. Time to put your best face forward!
