If there were a way to reduce wrinkles and folds rapidly and effectively, would you use it? Belotero is one of several types of dermal fillers we offter that employs hyaluronic acid to eliminate aging signs quickly and effectively. We highly recommend it here at Murphy Plastic Surgery in Englewood, CO.

FAQ About Belotero and Dermal Fillers

How Long Does It Take Dermal Fillers to Work?

All skin types react differently to cosmetic treatments. As a general rule, however, dermal fillers produce immediate results due to hyaluronic acid (HA). Your skin will immediately begin to look smoother, plumper, and refreshed. However, you can also expect to see your results get even better over the next few days to a week. That’s because the HA will have an immediate plumping effect but will then also go to work, encouraging your body to produce more collagen and elastin.

What Does This Treatment Do Specifically?

This product was designed to address nasolabial folds, which are folds on the sides of the nose that extend into the corners of the mouth. Smoking and sun damage are the primary causes of these folds. These factors weaken collagen and elastin, which keep skin supple and resilient. Nasal folds become more prominent after cumulative damage.

Genetics, however, can cause some people to have prominent folds regardless of their lifestyle and sun exposure. Aging may also contribute to the development of nasal folds. As we age, our cheekbones flatten out. People with flattened cheekbones will have sagging skin that pulls the cheeks down.

Gaining or losing weight can also cause this problem. Weight gain can accentuate wrinkles, and weight loss can loosen the skin, especially if it’s done too quickly. The good news is that this treatment works for treating all types of folds, regardless of their cause.

How Long Does This Treatment Last?

Belotero’s results typically last from six months to 18 months on average. Your age, general health, and how much filler you receive can all affect the results of your treatment. Your genetic makeup will impact how long the results last for you, and there’s nothing you can do to change this. Also, we will give you the amount of filler that will give you natural and beautiful results, so this isn’t a factor that’s easy to adjust. Too little filler would not get you the results you’re hoping for, while too much might leave you looking unnatural.

However, there are lifestyle changes that can help you extend the results of your treatment.

What Can I Do to Extend My Results?

Offload the Stress

Besides causing wrinkles and lines, stress can also accelerate the aging process. You can’t completely eliminate the effects of stress, but you can minimize them. Yoga and meditation can assist you in managing the stress you cannot avoid. Whenever possible, you should eliminate factors that cause unnecessary stress from your life.

Avoid the Sun

Whenever possible, you should minimize your exposure to the sun. Exposure to too much sunlight can damage the skin. In addition to helping your injections last as long as possible, regular sunscreen can make your skin healthier overall. Make sure you wear a wide-brimmed hat and use sunscreen every day, even if the weather is cloudy.

Choose Healthy Skincare Products

Sodium lauryl sulfate, formaldehyde, and propylene glycol are chemicals found in many inexpensive skincare products that can cause irritation to the skin. Keeping your skin moisturized and clean is important to a healthy lifestyle. Use products with healthy ingredients, and avoid harsh chemical perfumes, as well, which can irritate the skin or dry it out.

Drink Lots of Water

Drinking lots of water is also important. Stay hydrated after your treatment to maximize the effects of Belotero: it’s good for your skin and helps your skincare products work better, too. The HA in this injectible will make good use of all the water you give it!

Eat a Good Diet

Taking care of your body begins with eating well. Sugar can be found in a wide range of foods, and sugar interferes with collagen and elastin production and keeps your skin from being clear and clean. Instead of sugary snacks, choose whole, antioxidant-rich foods. By fighting free radicals, for example, berries may help your body to soften wrinkles and reduce age spots.

You should also limit your consumption of caffeine and alcohol, which can dehydrate you. Salty snacks should also be limited in order for your cells to stay hydrated.

How Do Dermal Fillers Work?

The Secret: Hyaluronic Acid

In addition to providing hydration from within, HA-based facial fillers also help restore volume to the skin. Fillers are not only useful for strengthening sagging skin, but they also nourish it, so it looks bright and young once more. This isn’t a fake change: it’s a natural change your body accomplishes on its own by responding to the HA.

This injectable contains hyaluronic acid in a form similar to that produced naturally by the body, so the body knows exactly how to use it. This treatment restores volume gently and effectively by using molecules of stabilized HA. In some cases, a single treatment can last up to 18 months without impacting the movement of the muscles. This is one of the most effective ways to slow the aging process.

Why Hyaluronic Acid Is So Important

A complex relationship exists between HA levels in your body, skin volume, and genetic predisposition to wrinkles. Youthful skin produces lots of HA, and that HA, in turn, works with collagen and elastin to keep skin looking great. As collagen and elastin levels rise and fall, HA levels follow. The HA itself binds water molecules to the skin, keeping it supple and hydrated.

Skin that becomes dehydrated starts to absorb light: hydrated skin reflects it. As the skin absorbs light, it begins to look dull. This change begins for most people in their 30s as the natural production of elastin and collagen slows, and HA production slows with them. The combined changes result in more lines and wrinkles.

What Will the Consultation Be Like?

Your treatment options will be discussed privately with a professional staff member. We will discuss with you the specifics of your treatment before we begin. Your session will be tailored to your specific cosmetic concerns. Additionally, we will determine whether this treatment is appropriate to reach your goals and whether you are healthy enough to receive it.

After reviewing your medical history, we will answer all your questions and ensure that you are comfortable and at ease throughout the entire process. In some cases, we might recommend a different treatment that will be more effective for your specific goals.

How Do I Prepare for My Injections?

Getting ready for treatment isn’t complicated. The first step is to schedule an appointment with us. If you follow a few simple steps, it may even be possible to receive treatment on the same day that you have your consultation.

In the 10 days or so preceding your appointment, protect your skin from the sun or other UV radiation sources. Don’t get laser resurfacing treatments or microdermabrasion, and use non-invasive hair removal treatments (so no waxing or tweezing). Make sure you take good care of your skin by by mouisturizing and drinking plenty of water. Depending on the medications you are currently taking, it might be recommended that you temporarily stop some of them.

What Happens During a Session?

The treatment itself should be completed quickly. Generally, administering the injections takes less than thirty minutes. A precise amount of gel is injected strategically underneath the skin, using extremely small needles, so you get the results you desire. After that, you can return to work, run errands, and continue your normal day.

What Should I Do After Treatment?

Drink plenty of water, and avoid rubbing or harshly pushing your skin around for a few days following your treatment. You can generally resume your normal activities, but there are a few things you should avoid for a day or two, like vigorous exercise. When you exercise vigorously, your blood pressure rises, but after treatment, it is advisable to keep your blood pressure within normal ranges. Also, you are advised to stay away from hot showers, saunas, and steam rooms after your treatment. We’ll give you more details when you come to see us.

Get Started Today

This treatment is quick, easy, convenient, and painless. It’s so simple, but the results are immediate and last for months. Contact Murphy Plastic Surgery in Englewood, CO today to learn more and get started.