Say NO to Fine Lines and Wrinkles with Smile Shop Facial Aesthetics!
Botox® / Xeomin®
Botox® and Xeomin® are both FDA approved injectable neuromodulators that work to reduce the fine lines and wrinkles of the skin. Common areas for Botox® / Xeomin® to treat are the horizontal lines of the forehead, the vertical frown lines in between the brows (aka “The Elevens”), and crow’s feet around the outside of the eyes. Other areas of treatment can be nasal squint lines, lines around the neck, eyebrow lifting, and for certain headaches or oral facial pain like temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. These products work by temporarily altering the nerve impulses of certain muscle fibers, thus reducing contraction-induced wrinkles. Although there are slight differences between Botox ® and Xeomin ®, they both have the same mechanism of action and often can be used interchangeably.
The injections of Botox® / Xeomin® are also great as an anti-aging strategy. By reducing the frequency and intensity of those muscle contractions, the wrinkles will never become very deep in the long run. Now more than ever, younger people are looking for ways to stay fresh and Botox® / Xeomin® is a safe and effective way to keep your skin youthful.
Dermal Fillers
It’s a sad fact – as we age, so does our skin. Eventually, the aging process takes its course and our skin loses the collagen and hyaluronic acid and wrinkles begin to form. Of course other factors like sun damage, diseases, injury, and lifestyle also play a role in how fast our skin will age, but it is inevitable for everyone.
Fortunately, there are injectable dermal fillers like Juvederm Ultra ® and Ultra Plus ® and Belotero Balance ® that help restore the lost volume that the skin once had. These fillers are injected just below the skin to fill lines, wrinkles and scars from the inside out. Unlike Botox® / Xeomin®, dermal fillers are not used necessarily for wrinkles causes by muscle contraction. Common areas of treatment are the lips, nasolabial fold lines (from the sides of the nose to corners of the lips), and marionette lines (from corners of the lips down to the chin). Dermal Fillers have been proven to be effective and safe as a cosmetic treatment for over 30 years to help restore the youthful appearance of your skin.
Microneedling with Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF)
Since its introduction into the field of aesthetic medicine, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and more recently, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) have revolutionized the industry with the concept of non-surgical autologous facial rejuvenation. Today, PRP and PRF skin rejuvenation is becoming more the gold standard for the treatment of skin to improve tone, scars, discoloration, and sun damage. Microneedling with PRF is FDA cleared and scientifically proven to rejuvenate the skin on several levels by stimulating cell renewal and the triggering the production of collagen and elastin.
Microneedling is a very common facial treatment called “Collagen Induction Therapy.” When this treatment is done, a small “pen” device with pins are put to the skin to create tiny micro-wounds – this stimulates collagen and elastin formation as the skin begins its healing process, which in turn results in smoother, newer skin. At Smile Shop, we use the Rejuvapen for our microneedling treatments.
What is PRP? PRP is platelet-rich-plasma, which is a matrix of white blood cells from the patient’s own blood. PRF – platelet-rich-fibrin – is similarly prepared but is a thicker formulation to create a “plug” or membrane, which is used often in our dental surgical procedures like extractions and implant placements. Both PRP and PRF contain the patient’s own white blood cells, which is rich in growth factors that help accelerate wound healing. When used with microneedling, the PRP/PRF is massaged into the skin which then stimulates the elastin and collagen growth.
Collagen Threading – Thread Lifts and Collagen Stimulation
Until recently, the only way to address sagging and drooping skin in the cheeks and jowls was to surgically be treated with a facelift. However, not everyone wants to go through such an invasive procedure unless absolutely necessary to treat their skin laxity. The great news is that there is a non-invasive way to address sagging skin that is quick and easy for individuals – old and young – utilizing collagen threads.
A thread “lift” is a type of procedure where temporary collagen strands are placed under the skin to produce a visible “lift” in the skin by pulling the skin back slightly. Results are immediate because of the actual lift of the skin, but the best part of this treatment is that the threads work FOR you over time. Once the collagen threads are placed, they stimulate the body’s healing response that results in the release and growth of collagen around the treated areas. It is this collagen stimulation that helps support the release of growth factors that influence the condition of our skin. In addition to being used for wound healing, collagen helps to keep our skin strong, voluminous and tight.
There are several different types of collagen threads – some are meant to “lift” skin and others are smooth threads that are placed underneath just for the sole purpose to stimulate collagen production. The latter is very popular among our clients for added lip enhancements to create a subtle “pop”, and also for the treatment of stubborn wrinkles and scars. The process of collagen thread treatment provides ongoing and progressive rejuvenation for the facial tissues. Our clients who have had either a thread lift or smooth thread treatment have noticed not only the immediate results, but more importantly a gradual improvement in their skin’s tone and firmness.
