injectables

What Are Injectables

When it comes to facial beauty and youthfulness, most of us are eager to hide the signs of aging and fatigue by having younger face. Additionally, there are other issues that may change the face adversely. Facial injuries and weight loss due to diseases are other reasons that may encourage someone to treat their face by different methods such as surgeries or injectables. 

Also, over the decades, many studies have been conducted to suggest how appearance affects one’s social relationships. Accordingly, having an attractive face could affect mental health, enhance one’s identity, and even improve occupational positions by increasing self-confidence. In contrast, some people feel uncomfortable when their appearance does not accord with the beauty norms in society, defined by the majority of people. New studies show that taking care of facial beauty and youthfulness, especially in women, is related to evolutionary psychology; a pretty, youthful face has always indicated power, liveliness, and fertility.

In the recent years, a couple of non-surgical methods have attracted so much attention. These methods are fast to apply, have fewer problems, and show significant results. From filling the wrinkles to shaping the face angles, changes made by injectables seem natural enough. 

Today, relying on the significant progress in beauty, there are various methods for facial beautification, treating appearance abnormalities, and skin rejuvenation. Injectables are used to remove facial wrinkles, to shape the face and body, and to reduce the symptoms of fat loss in the face by creating the structure and frame and directing the lines of the face and its different parts such as lips, cheeks, and eyebrows, among others. There are various cases to enhance the beauty and youthfulness of a face.

Injectables, laser treatments, and professional methods for skin care are able to significantly improve the appearance of a face, reduce wrinkles, and remove the obvious aging symptoms. These are classified as nonsurgical methods because there is no need to cut the skin to access the underlying tissues. 

In Amada, we have researched about the different methods used for facial rejuvenation, and provided you with an extensive manual.  In this title, we review these methods including injectables to know why these have become the most popular options in the field of facial beauty.

Toxin injectables

Naturally, hearing the word poison or toxin brings danger and injuries into our minds. However, we should note that using some toxins in a determined dosage and proper circumstances could have medicinal effects. In the following, we explain one of the most known toxins used for facial treatments, called Botox. 

Botox Injectables

It has been a couple of years that a name is frequently heard in the facial beauty industry called Botox. Today, not only women but also men use Botox injectables to remove the symptoms of aging in their faces. In fact, Botox is a substance produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and related species. It is a purified protein for preventing some facial muscles to move. Removing facial wrinkles is actually the result of flaccid paralysis.

Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin are members of the botulinum toxin family confirmed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for temporarily treating wrinkles and laugh lines. If you like to remove dynamic wrinkles such as the frown wrinkles or the lines around your eyes, this treatment is applicable. Also, it could prevent deepening the wrinkles. Botox and other botulinum toxins are also used to lift eyebrows, treat lip wrinkles, and reduce neck muscle looseness. It is worth mentioning that these applications have not yet been confirmed by the FDA.

In Botox treatment, using a very thin needle, a small dosage of Botox is injected into the area where the wrinkles should be removed. The procedure takes only 10 to 20 minutes with no need for recovery. The changes emerge after several days.  By this, a face seems smoother and more youthful. It has been known that botulinum toxin has some other noticeable effects such as migraine and headache mitigation, abnormal sweating reduction, and treatment of unintentional muscle spasms around the eyelashes.

Consider the following recommendations to reach the best results after the treatment. Do not bend over, neither lie down. Do not massage the injection site. Lower your physical activity at least for one day. Avoid taking sauna and hot bath. If your doctor confirms, you could flex and relax your face slightly to diffuse the material.

Depending on the circumstances, the results of Botox cosmetics could last for 4 months. Therefore, the treatment should be repeated periodically to maintain the results. Note that the procedure must be applied by an authorized doctor. If injectable dose or the site of injection is mistaken, it would result in eyelid falling or abnormal form in the face.

Microneedling

Sometimes our skin is involved in issues such as enlarged pores, fine lines or wrinkles, loose or crepey skin, scars from acne or burns, changes in skin color, and skin cracks. Among the injectables, microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure for curing the skin with the issues mentioned above. Generally, this treatment is considered a solution for rejuvenating and leveling up the quality of skin. 

In this method, the specialist inserts a thin needle into the surface layer of skin to create some fine pores. Apparently, this is an injury on your skin. However, it stimulates the skin to produce more collagen and elastin for curing the injury.

While most people apply microneedling on their face, it could be used to treat damaged or aged skin on legs, waist, neck, as well as other parts of the body. To achieve a desirable result requires several treatment sessions. This procedure could be used to treat people with alopecia areata and hyperhidrosis. Some specialists use microneedling to deliver drugs or vaccines directly to the skin. Also, it could be a part of a patch that people attach to their skin themselves.

The microneedling procedure is as follows. The doctor cleans the skin area of interest, and then applies a numbing cream such as Lidocaine Gel. To gain the best result with the numbing gel, this step is done 30 to 45 minutes before the treatment. Next, the doctor uses a hand roller or motorized tool to create wounds on the surface of your skin. The tool has small needles on it. It is gently rolled on the skin. In the motorized tools, the needles move up and down by a special mechanism. The length of the needles could be changed. Therefore, in cases such as deep acne scars, the needles may need to penetrate deeper into the skin. The length of needles is between 0.5 and 2 mm.

After starting microneedling, you may feel warmth or a scratch on your face. Some people feel discomfort when the needles reach bone areas such as the cheeks. Deep microneedling could cause slight bleeding. Depending on the area treated, a microneedling procedure could take 15 minutes to 1 hour. 

After treatment, you should take care as follows. In the early hours, the skin is sensitive to pressure. Therefore, do not wash your face for 24 hours. Avoid making up for 48 hours. After that, only use high quality cosmetic products. Cover your skin by mild sun cream. Do not expose your skin to direct sun light during the early days. The face skin may seem reddish or inflamed for a few days; do not worry, it is normal.

People with the following health problems should consult their doctor before taking any action for treatment: having acne or taking acne drugs, having blood disorders, taking anticoagulation drugs, cancer, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, contact dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, etc.

Filler

Do you know many distinguishable aging symptoms are attributed to facial volume loss? Losing fat, collagen, and muscle in the face gradually results in the creation of wrinkles around the mouth and nose. Also, cheeks become hollow. This could happen with aging or due to disease. In such cases, skin fillers are able to replace the lost volume. They help remove wrinkles, firm the skin, shape the lips and cheeks, and rejuvenate the face. As a non-surgical solution, it is an attractive method to resolve these problems. 

Skin filler is a gel injectable to compensate for loss of facial volume, remove wrinkles, and correct the shape of the lips and the whole face. It is injected under the surface of the skin. Skin filler is a low-cost, nonsurgical method with no recovery period. It is well known as the wrinkle filler. However, there are many other applications which take advantage of skin fillers, such as smoothing the lines around the mouth and nose, increasing the volume of cheeks or hollow temples, increasing the volume of lips, removing chin wrinkles, improving facial symmetry, among others.

The durability of skin fillers depends on the product, the treated part, and the patients themselves. Generally, the thicker the product is and the deeper it is injected the more durable it is, although this is not a certain rule. To maintain the results, the doctor repeats the procedure periodically, adjusting the amount and the techniques needed for achieving the best outcomes.

Hyaluronic acid fillers are temporary options, mostly used for people who are treated with injectables for the first time. They last for 6 to 18 months. Lip fillers usually wear off faster than nasolabial wrinkle fillers. Some fillers are formulated to last a long time; however, their application is limited to the cheek area. Artificial fillers are more durable because they are not absorbed by the body.

Achieving the best results and persistence of the treatment depend on taking care of some points. Do not touch the injection site for several hours. It could move the filler material.  Do not drink alcohol, and avoid high activity and taking sauna or hot bath for 24 hours. The heat may increase the blood flow, diffusing the material undesirably. Cold compress helps to mitigate the swelling and bruises. Making up immediately after injection is not recommended. 

What Are PDO Threads and How Do They Work

A facelift is a surgical or nonsurgical method for rejuvenating the face. In this method, the face is lifted upward to remove the sagging of facial muscles in the cheeks and jaw area. The neck can also be lifted to remove fine and deep wrinkles. This treatment is usually suggested to people older than 40 years. Like any other treatments, this also has some side effects such as swelling, bruises, dry skin, or temporary numbness.

Generally, a facelift is conducted by different procedures, tools, and materials for different parts of the face. In one of these methods, doctors use stitch threads. In addition to lifting the face with threads, collagen production in the facial tissue is also increased. There are three types of threads used for facelifts including PDO, PLA, and PCA.

PDO (polydioxanone) threads are dissolved in your body after 6 months. PDO threads stimulate some cells called fibroblasts to make collagen, causing elasticity in the skin. The effects of this treatment last for 1 to 2 years. Because of using topical anesthetic, you feel no pain during the procedure.

Facelifts with threads are applied to cheeks, jaw, neck, and eyes. To enhance the effectiveness of the method, it is accompanied by other rejuvenation techniques such as ultherapy or skin fillers. The following actions are recommended to reach the best outcomes, preventing adverse consequences. The skin has small pores due to the treatment. Touching it may cause infections due to entering microbes and bacteria. Therefore, do not touch or massage your face for 24 hours. Avoid high activity like heavy exercises. Eat soft, watery foods to prevent putting pressure on your jaws. Dental treatments and taking facial massage is prohibited for two weeks. In the early days, swelling and sensitivity of face is normal; it would be mitigated by cold compress.

What Are PRP/PRF Injections

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) and PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin) injections are two non-surgical autologous treatments which use the growth factors of the patient to repair the skin. Both injectables are extracted from the patient’s blood. Therefore, these methods are more attractive for those who prefer natural therapies. PRP could also be administered through microneedling. In this method, using anesthetics is mandatory. The treatment may cause redness, swelling, and bruising, which are mitigated after 2 to 3 days. A treatment session with PRP and PRF injectables takes 60 to 90 minutes with no need for recovery. This technique could be combined with other skin treatment methods such as microneedling and laser resurfacing. In this way, collagen production process is excited.

The main disadvantages of the PRF method compared to PRP are the much lower efficiency of the platelets and the limited time for injection. PRF usually must be injected within 5 to 10 minutes before coagulation. This is enough for hair or eye area treatment. However, for the more comprehensive vampire facelift method, which takes 30 minutes or even longer, PRP is a more appropriate option. Finally, choosing between PRP and PRF depends on the application.

Complying with some simple recommendations assures the efficiency of the treatment, and prevents the adverse consequences. Do not wash your face for 24 hours. Do not apply creams or cosmetics on your face in the first day after treatment. Avoid exposing your skin to direct sun light or solarium. Slight swelling and bruises are normal; it will be removed after a couple of days.

Prices of a Treatment by Injectables

Several factors affect the price of a treatment by injectables including the knowledge and experience of the skin care provider, the method of treatment, the brand of material, and the size of the treated area. Face treatment by injectables is a very subtle, nuanced work which needs high skills with long-term experience. On the other hand, different injectables such as hyaluronic acid fillers or Botox (botulinum toxin) have different production processes, affecting their costs. Also, more sophisticated methods that need various treatments or a combination of products and methods usually increase the costs. The size or volume of the treated area is directly proportional to the cost. For example, more injectables are needed to fill the cheeks compared to the lips. In some cases, patients should participate in several sessions to achieve the desirable result. Obviously, the cost of the whole treatment is affected by the number of sessions. Finally, additional requirements like anesthetics and after-treatment services could increase the costs.

The number of products that are used in the treatment sessions could be another effective factor on the costs. As an example, consider a patient who need to be treated by both skin fillers and microneedling method. On the other hand, using offers and packages in special events could provide an opportunity for lowering the cost of treatment. Pay attention that cosmetic injectables usually are not covered by insurance. It is recommended that patients consult with the treatment providers about all of the payment’s details. It helps them to have a proper financial plan for their procedure. Comparing several treatment providers could inform the patient about choosing the most proper service.  

What Are the Body Reactions to Injectables?

After injecting the skin filler, the body normally reacts to the injectables. Like any other treatment procedure, there is a to-do and not-to-do list for skin care treatment. For example, an increase in blood flow could move the filler; therefore, limiting high-intensity exercise is critical. Many doctors advise avoiding exercising for 48 hours after the treatment in order to prevent filler movement. Preliminary reactions include swelling, redness, and sensitivity at the injection point. These are the symptoms that show filler injectables are correctly combining with your tissue. According to medical studies, the reactions reach maximum intensity within 24 to 72 hours after treatment.

Body reaction depends on the treatment point. For example, people treated with lip fillers may experience swelling because of high blood flow in this area. Although lips may seem significantly swollen, this temporary increase in volume is reduced gradually. Similarly, using filler injectables for cheeks also results in noticeable swelling. One of the important side effects of face treatment that people should be informed about is blood vessel involvement. For example, unintentional injection into a blood vessel could cause critical side effects such as vision loss, permanent blindness, or cardiovascular blockage. In some areas, significant stiffness is noticeable because the filler material is settling in the position.

Small bumps under the skin or bruises around the sensitive areas like eyes are among other temporary body reactions in some cases. Such effects usually are disappeared after several days. It is worth mentioning that avoiding exposure to sunlight, as well as using high SPF anti-UV cream for skin protection along with maintaining filler quality and efficiency, is very important. Also, it is recommended to avoid drinking alcoholic drinks and taking blood-thinning medications during the treatment. These materials deteriorate the risk of bruising. In addition, because the skin is sensitive in the early 24 hours, do not take hot water shower or use saunas.

When Do the Results of Injectables Emerge?

Each treatment has its own effects with different aspects. These effects emerge in a timeline, depending on the applied method, material quality, and even the patient’s reaction to the treatment.

Generally, in fillers the results show up immediately to 2–4 weeks. The first signs of effectiveness for neurotoxins like Botox emerge 2 to 3 days after treatment. It takes 1 to 2 weeks after the injections to see the full effects. For PRP, achieving the full results takes 3 to 6 months after treatment. The facelift method shows the initial result immediately; however, to reach the final outcome by stimulating collagen creation takes 3 to 6 months. Results for microneedling emerge 1 to 2 weeks after treatment. The effects become more visible gradually after 2–6 months, depending on several factors.

In Amada, we are committed to provide you with the best services for treating your skin. To receive the latest information about our treatments and services, please contact us via the website.