Can you treat wrinkles at home?

While at-home treatments simply can’t deliver the kind of transformation that is possible with plastic surgery or injectables, certain products can help slow the signs of aging and soften fine lines. The team at MindBodyGreen recently discussed various tactics for reducing wrinkles at home; here are our favorite ideas from their list:

• SPF. You’ve surely had the importance of wearing sunscreen impressed upon you from a young age, but we’ll reiterate it here: sunscreen is one of your first and best lines of defense against wrinkles because it blocks the sun’s harmful UV rays from damaging elastin fibers in your skin.
• Smart topical products. Medical-grade skincare products can further protect your skin while providing essential nutrients such as retinoids, alpha-hydroxy acids, niacinamide, anti-aging peptides, and/or growth factors. But with so many options, it’s important to consult with a medical skincare professional to help determine which products are appropriate for treating your unique skin concerns. (Working with a medical practice will also save you from wasting time and money on OTC skincare: while some products include similar nutrients, the concentrations are much lower, making it unlikely you will see any real results.) From Revision Skincare to ZO Skin Health, shop our favorite skincare products here. Our skin care specialists tailor at home regimens to fit your specific needs. We recommend a personal consultation to get you on track to proper skin health.
• Supplements. When it comes to supplements, many are not medically proven; however, one supplement long-known for its ability to support skin health is vitamin C. Vitamin C helps promote collagen production and is needed for its synthesis and maintenance. Making sure you get enough vitamin C in your diet will likely improve your skin’s overall health—just make sure to choose a high-quality, trusted supplement brand.

Incorporating these at-home techniques should provide some noticeable wrinkle protection and modest reduction over time, but if you really want to see smoother, more youthful skin fast, it’s time to head to a true medspa.

At-home treatments simply can’t deliver the kind of transformation that is possible with plastic surgery or injectables, but certain products can help slow aging and soften fine lines.

How can a medspa treat wrinkles without injectables?

A true medical spa offers a variety of physician-supervised treatments designed to remove layers of dead skin cells, hydrate skin, and encourage collagen production. Here are a few of our favorite non-injectable medspa treatments for wrinkles and lines:

• A HydraFacial can help you achieve softer, smoother skin in a relaxing treatment that involves zero needles or downtime. The treatment utilizes a gentle, deep-cleansing jet of water infused with nourishing antioxidant serums to exfoliate, cleanse, and finally replenish your skin’s essential nutrients. For an added rejuvenating boost, your HydraFacial can be customized to include a connective tissue growth factor designed to promote natural collagen and elastin production and help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Unlike some skin treatments, HydraFacial is also completely safe for patients who have darker complexions, as well as for those with skin issues such as melasma.

• Radiofrequency microneedling delivers high-intensity radiofrequency energy deep into your skin via an array of insulated needles. This warms the deep dermis to stimulate new collagen fiber growth and tighten skin, leading to visible skin improvements that improve over the following months. This hard-working treatment has been touted by celebrities for its ability to quickly diminish fine lines and other blemishes, like sunspots and acne scars.

• Laser skin resurfacing may sound intimidating, but it’s one of the most effective methods of treating wrinkles and lines on the face and body. Laser skin resurfacing utilizes focused beams of heat and light energy to encourage newer, healthier skin growth. At The Swan Center, we use the HALO Hybrid Fractional Laser because it provides the fully rejuvenating benefits of an ablative laser but with less downtime.

What’s the best way to permanently get rid of wrinkles?

Unfortunately, short of having surgical procedures at intervals, there’s really no way to permanently remove and prevent wrinkles. However, since deep lines—like nasolabial “smile” lines—are caused in part by volume loss, dermal fillers can go a long way in reducing their appearance.

We know you are probably reading this in an effort to avoid fillers, but before you write injectables off, let’s consider the main reasons people give for wanting to avoid them:

• Fear of poor results: Many people assume injectable fillers create a fake, puffy look because they have only noticed patients with poor results. Consider, however, that you’ve likely seen lots of good injectable work without realizing it—after all, most celebrities make use of them. And the truth is, retaining a completely natural look is possible: skilled injectors who understand advanced techniques consistently achieve this goal. For example, when treating the nasolabial folds, a physician who is fully versed in facial anatomy will often take an indirect approach with fillers, treating surrounding areas to naturally lift the tissues below (rather than only treating the immediate area which can lead to the “duck face” look).
• Fear of needles/pain: A skilled injector will take a number of steps to reduce pain and anxiety during treatment. If this is an issue for you, talk to your provider and consider trying a minor injectable treatment first.
• A perception that fillers can be harmful: While it is true that some unscrupulous providers have injected patients with harmful substances, legitimate filler products have a long history of safe use on millions of patients.
• A desire to avoid “unnatural” substances: It would be easy to assume injectable fillers must be made of foreign substances, but hyaluronic acid—the key ingredient in our go-to dermal filler, Restylane—is already produced naturally in your body. Fillers simply boost the amount you have, placing it right where you most want it.

We advocate for dermal fillers because they can achieve structural appearance changes that no other non-surgical option offers. For example, plumping the cheeks with fillers will not only help reduce smile lines but also give a lifted look to your entire face, reflect more light into your eyes, and enhance your face’s symmetry.

But do I need dermal fillers to get rid of wrinkles?

There are essentially three options to choose from when it comes to fighting wrinkles:

• Utilize medical-grade skincare and medspa wrinkle treatments as a way to slow aging and soften the appearance of fine lines.
• Use dermal filler injections; they are the safest, most effective way to immediately reduce the appearance of wrinkles (and you can choose a completely natural hyaluronic-acid based formula).
• Have a surgical lifting procedure; while surgery requires an investment of time and money, a skillfully performed facelift can treat deeper folds and wrinkles, turning back the clock about a decade.

While the most ideal long-term results ultimately come from using a combination of all of the above techniques, if you want to completely avoid fillers, we suggest being extra attentive to your skincare routine, seeking regular medspa treatments, and having a surgical procedure when skin laxity becomes more apparent.

Wrinkle reduction in Atlanta

At The Swan Center in Atlanta, our board certified plastic surgeons and skilled aestheticians have the skill, experience, and technology to help you reverse and prevent the signs of aging with or without injectables. To make a skincare plan that meets your goals and comfort level, contact us today or call (770) 667-0904.

What can lip fillers do for me?

Lip fillers are a popular non-surgical option for patients who want to increase volume and improve their lips’ contours. That said, this treatment isn’t a one-trick pony! While they are most well known for adding more overall fullness to the lips, fillers can also smooth vertical lip lines, and even improve overall lip texture.

Young patients like Kylie Jenner have grabbed the most headlines, but lip fillers are also fantastic for those of us beyond our 20s and 30s—and you don’t even need to want that full-pouted look to put them to good use. That’s because as we age, our lips lose plumpness and elasticity. Lip fillers can restore a youthful look while also tackling vertical lip lines (known as perioral wrinkles or smoker’s lines) and any other fine lines and wrinkles brought on over time by repetitive, habitual lip movement.

How does Restylane® Kysse work? Is Kysse better than other lip fillers?

Restylane® Kysse is a clear injectable gel that relies on hyaluronic acid (HA)—a substance already found in your skin—to add volume and enhance moisture. When in gel form, HA combines with water and swells, producing a smoothing/filling effect.

Some patients have remarked on how lip fillers can feel uncomfortable and be a little hard to get used to, but Restylane’s proprietary XpresHAn Technology™ (also known as Optimal Balance Technology) has changed that! By altering the way HA binds inside the skin, Kysse more fully integrates into the area where it’s injected, so it stretches when you talk or smile (or kiss!). This makes for a more supple feel and natural look. Kysse is also a wise choice for your wallet— results are reported to be more long-lasting than other lip injectables. Clinical trials have shown that Kysse treatments last for close to 1 year, compared to 3 to 6 months for other lip fillers.

What does getting injected with Restylane® Kysse feel like?

There is always some discomfort involved with getting lip filler injections, simply because it is such a sensitive area—but, thankfully, Kysse injections contain lidocaine to help make treatment more comfortable. Here’s a rundown of the process.

Initially, a topical anesthetic will be applied to numb the injection site. Your registered nurse injector will then inject Restylane® Kysse into your lips and the skin above your upper lip using an ultrafine needle. After the needle is placed into the skin, there’s a pause to allow the lidocaine in the product to further numb the area. The injection continues until the treated area shows the desired results. Afterward, the injected area is massaged to ensure the gel is distributed evenly and looks natural.

Getting lip fillers doesn’t take long, but getting good results does take expertise. Our experienced injectors can perform a filler injection during a quick office visit—and you’ll be able to go back to your normal activities right after treatment.

Are there any side effects associated with Restylane® Kysse Lip Filler?

For most patients who took part in the clinical trials for Restylane® Kysse, side effects were mild or moderate and lasted 7 days or less. The side effects were very similar to those seen with any other HA-based lip filler products and included:

• redness
• pain/tenderness
• firmness
• swelling
• lumps/bumps
• bruising
• itching
• discoloration

While side effects are serious business, here at The Swan Center, our favorite “side effect” of Kysse (versus other lip fillers) is feeling more confident about kissing our SOs, even with lip fillers in place. It’s just so flexible and natural-feeling!

Can I combine Kysse with other cosmetic treatments?

Some patients choose to complement hyaluronic acid fillers with neuromodulator injectables, such as Botox® or Dysport®. They can be used for the lip flip (which modifies the upper lip muscle to allow for a fuller pout) or smooth expression lines around the mouth. Also, we can add a gentle laser peel treatment that allows us to precisely treat wrinkles and fine lines around the mouth.

At what age can I get a lip filler?

The FDA has approved Restylane® Kysse use for adults over 21; that said, some practices will use it “off label” for somewhat younger patients. At The Swan Center Atlanta, we recommend lip fillers to younger patients looking for more plump, full lips, and patients in their 40s and older who want to improve contour, smooth lip lines, or restore volume back to their lips.

How much do lip fillers cost?

Restylane® Kysse lip filler costs $650 per syringe—that said, some patients only require 1/2 a syringe, and others need up to two to get the results they want. Your injector can provide an estimate prior to treatment.

We know it can be tempting to price shop, but, when it comes to injectables, we urge you not to let pricing determine your choice of provider. Qualified injectors using legitimate products usually have similar pricing. While you might occasionally score a discount based on a product manufacturer’s seasonal promotion, if an advertised price sounds too good to be true, it is often a red flag. You don’t want to risk your safety or appearance for the sake of saving a few bucks—it’s safest to seek out a practice with licensed aesthetic nurse injectors who are supervised by a board certified plastic surgeon.

Looking for Kysse in Atlanta?

We’d love to introduce you to Kysse, the newest in the Restylane® family of dermal fillers, and discuss any other plastic or cosmetic surgery needs you may have! Call The Swan Center Atlanta at (770) 667-0904 or contact us to set up an in-person visit or virtualconsult.

We’re big fans of dermal fillers as a way to combat the effects of aging, like volume loss and wrinkles. Restylane® Lyft is a favorite for giving the face a smoother, more youthful appearance—and a new study has shown that you can enjoy your results for a year or longer!

Subjects agree: Lyft offers long-lasting improvement

Researchers from Galderma Laboratories conducted a study of 188 patients with mild-to-substantial loss of youthful “fullness” in the mid-face. Each test subject was randomly selected to either receive injections of Restylane Lyft or partake in the control group with no treatment at all.

85% of the study group reported continued high levels of aesthetic improvement at the 12 month mark

Using the Medicis Midface Volume Scale (MMVS) to define the success of the procedure, researchers found that those who received injectable treatment experienced significant improvement compared to those who had no treatment. While that was not surprising, the length of time results lasted for patients is newsworthy: 85% of the study group reported continued high levels of aesthetic improvement at the 12 month mark.

See results for yourself

When you’re considering any cosmetic treatment, it’s normal to wonder if your money will be well spent and worth the results. Will you still look great two months down the line? What about 6 months after treatment? Now we know most patients can expect a full year of benefits from one filler treatment, making it a great value. Another great option: pair Restylane Lyft with Sculptra and enjoy even longer lasting results with instant gratification

If you’d like to learn more about our Atlanta dermal filler options, contact us today. We would be glad to help you discover the right products for restoring volume to your face.