What Are Cosmetic Injectables?

Many of us have heard names like Botox® and Restylane, but may have less familiarity with what they do. Cosmetic injectables like these are increasingly popular choices for anyone looking to counter the signs of aging and achieve a younger appearance, especially in the face.

We’re happy to share this easy-to-understand guide with the basics of cosmetic injectables. By learning more about the range of options for injectables and how they can help, you can decide if one of these cosmetic procedures are right for you.

Cosmetic Injectables Explained

Cosmetic injectables are basically any soft tissue fillers that are injected into different layers of the skin to achieve specific cosmetic results. This includes filling in wrinkles, providing volume to the face, and augmenting certain features.

There are two primary categories of cosmetic injectables, injectable dermal fillers and injectable neurotoxins, such as Botox®. Although the word neurotoxin may sound a little scary, this class of injectables are FDA approved and administered at a safe dosage to provide cosmetic benefits.

Cosmetic Injectable Facts and Statistics

This is a rapidly growing category in cosmetic surgery. According to statistics from the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, in 2019, cosmetic surgeons performed approximately 4 million procedures involving cosmetic injectables. What’s more, wrinkle relaxers have increased 60% and fillers have increased 78% since 2012 alone.

Cosmetic injectables are not just popular with women either. Many men are choosing injectables as part of their cosmetic and preventative skin care treatment plan. According to one study, between 2018 and 2021 alone, the number of men receiving dermal filler injections rose by 2 percent.

Types of Cosmetic Injectables

Cosmetic injectables can be made from different active ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, botulinum toxin (Botox®), and collagen.

The primary difference between fillers like hyaluronic acid and neurotoxins like Botox® is that as the name implies, fillers work by filling in lines and adding volume to areas, while neurotoxins actually relax muscles and skin to smooth out wrinkles.

Cosmetic injectables can also use fat cells, which can be harvested from unwanted areas on a patient, to smooth out wrinkles.

Finding the Right Injectable for You

Candidates for injectables can be adults of any age or gender who are looking to smooth out wrinkles, add volume, or augment a certain facial feature. One of the biggest benefits of cosmetic injectables are the fantastic results you can achieve without the downtime associated with surgery.

At Innovations Medical, we offer a range of cosmetic injectable procedures to meet any need or appearance goal. Our team will be happy to help you explore the options that are the best fit for you to help you create a personalized treatment plan. Options for cosmetic injectables include:

• Dallas Botox®: Wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes respond to Botox. This outpatient procedure is very safe, allowing patients to return to normal activities right after treatment.
• Restylane: Deeper wrinkles, particularly on the lower face and mouth can be filled in by filler injections such as Restylane, a form of hyaluronic acid.
• Radiesse: This injectable is a type of calcium hydroxylapatite, which is made of calcium-based microspheres suspended in a water-based gel. This typically involves a 30 minute procedure where the filler is injected into the skin through a simple procedure. This is a common choice for total facial contouring for patients who need a quick downtime.
• Bellatera: Another brand of hyaluronic acid used as an alternative to Restylane, typically around the eyes or lips. Some patients prefer the texture and look Bellatera offers, and it is available on request for special orders.
• Juvederm: Another brand of hyaluronic acid used as an alternative to Restylane, typically around the eyes or lips. Some patients prefer the texture and look Juvederm offers, and it is available on request for special orders.

Another approach offered by Innovations Medical is Facial Fat Transfer, where fat is removed from one area via liposuction and injected into the face.

How Long Do They Last?

Cosmetic injectables provide temporary results depending on the specific injectable being used. The results are usually noticeable right after the procedure and will last for a period of months or longer.

The effects of Botox® last three to six months,  while Restylane and Juvederm can be noticeable for six to eight months. A benefit of a Radiesse injection is that it can be noticeable for up to a year.

Contact Innovations Medical for Cosmetic Injectable Treatment

If you’re looking to smooth out wrinkles and create a younger appearance, Innovations Medical is here for you. Our skilled professionals help you decide which treatment is best for you – keeping you informed and confident in the next steps. We’ve been helping our patients look and feel their best since 2005, and even our most advanced procedures are often minimally invasive.

To find out if any of our cosmetic injectable procedures are right for you, and to learn how Innovations Medical can improve your life, call us at (214) 643-8665 or schedule a consultation.