Medical Aesthetics in Chicago, IL

Medical aesthetics utilizes many approaches in the art of facial and body rejuvenation.

In order to obtain the results that best meet your needs, it is important to discuss the options available to you with your healthcare provider.

Cosmetic Injectables

What are Injectables?

Injectables are commonly used to achieve a more youthful, rested appearance. Injectables are used to relax facial wrinkles and folds, contour the body and improve the signs of facial fat loss by creating structure, framework, and volume to the face and lips.

Injectables are considered a noninvasive procedure, which means no surgery is required and minimal downtime. Most procedures take less than 30 minutes.

Two Main Types of Injectables

There are several types of injectable procedures that improve various areas of concern, many which have been around for decades.

Whether you choose a neuromodulator like BOTOX® or a dermal filler treatment depends primarily on your areas of concern and the results you want from your treatment.

You can talk to Women First Specialists to see which is right for you.

The following are the two main categories of injectables:

1. Neuromodulators – Softens the Face from Movement

Neuromodulators help to improve the appearance of dynamic expression lines and wrinkles by causing relaxation of the facial muscles. Products like BOTOX® have been around for more than 30 years.

• Treats – Frown lines, wrinkles, forehead, between eyes, side of eyes or “crow’s feet”
• Type – BOTOX®
• Lasts – 3 to 4 months, gradually wearing off
• Benefits – smoother skin and wrinkles near the injection site become less noticeable
  A neuromodulator blocks the nerve signals in the face, and then the muscles cannot contract as freely as before. This lack of movement smooths out the skin and significantly reduces the appearance of wrinkles over time.

Like any muscle, your face muscles are strong and get stronger with use. Thus, wrinkles may appear. As you use a neuromodulator with (Botulinum Type A)  to block those muscles from use, your body no longer uses depends on those face muscles. Over time, the product may wear off so seasonal updates are recommended.

2. Fillers – Helps to replace Volume

Dermal fillers are injected into the skin to add volume and fullness to areas that have lost volume due to genetics, aging, or extreme weight loss.

• Treats– signs of aging, lips, cheeks, temples, smile lines
• Type – Juvéderm
• Lasts – 6months to 2 years, then safely absorbed by the body over time
• Benefits – restores lost volume, smooth lines, soften creases, enhance contours
  Many visible signs of aging can be traced back to volume loss. This is because as your facial tissues thin out, lines become etched around the nose and mouth and cheeks look a little hollow. Fillers often contain hyaluronic acid. This is a naturally occurring substance that is already found in your skin. It helps keep skin plump and hydrated. HA fillers are typically soft and gel-like. Different fillers have different ingredients specifically designed for certain areas of your face.

Dermal fillers can replace lost volume to help smooth wrinkles, plump the lips, and restore a more youthful appearance.

Which is Right for Me?

If you come in for a consultation, we will talk to you about your desired outcomes. If you have specific wrinkles or lines that bother you, we can suggest certain products based on your areas of concern.

Often, neuromodulators and fillers can work together to give you the look you desire.

With so many products on the market, it can be difficult to know which option is best for you without an experienced provider’s guidance.

Each product is uniquely formulated to have a certain texture, density, and injection depth, which means that certain fillers work better for certain areas of concern. These injections aren’t appropriate for pregnant women or anyone under the age of 18.

Your initial treatment will begin with a consultation, during which you will meet with one of our providers at Women First Specialists  to discuss your concerns and goals.

The cost of each product depends on:

• the area of skin being treated
• the number of injections you’ll need
• how often you’ll need to return for follow-up injections
  where you live

It’s important to learn the exact costs of the proposed treatment ahead of time, and to work out a payment plan if needed.

What Happens During Treatment?

• The staff at Women First Specialists will go over your desired results and the type of injectable to be used
• You will sit comfortably in a clean medical room
• You may have numbing cream applied to help ease any discomfort
• You may hold a buzzer or other accommodations to distract from any anxiety
• Our staff will inject the product into certain areas of the face
• You may receive an ice pack or a cotton swab to relieve any pain or blood from the needle

Botox® Injection Treatment

The use of Botox®, a therapeutic muscle relaxing agent, is a popular and safe non-surgical cosmetic procedure used to reduce or eliminate facial wrinkles that are caused by muscle contractions. The goal of a Botox® injection is not to keep patients from expressing themselves but simply to keep them from making facial grimaces and frowns that have become habits. Botox® does not paralyze facial muscles, although with extreme amounts it may. When administered in the correct dose, it results in limited or relaxed muscle contractions resulting in reduced or eliminated frown lines, wrinkles, crows feet, neckbands, etc. When the Botox® procedure is performed correctly, most people other than trained cosmetic surgeons, will not notice that it has been done. Patients will usually require re-injections after 3 months and depending on the size and strength of a patient’s facial muscles.

Juvederm®

Juvederm® is used to improve a patient’s appearance by lifting and increasing volume to wrinkles and folds in the facial area to be treated. It is a gel implant that augments and bolsters the elasticity of the skin to provide a smooth and supple look. The Juvederm® gel is injected deeply into the dermis (subsurface skin layer containing connective tissue, nerve endings, sweat and oil glands, and blood vessels), and supplements the body’s natural hyaluronic acid that is depleted by the aging process. One of the main advantages of Juvederm® is its pliant gel consistency. This provides an improved, smoother and more natural appearance than results obtained from earlier more rigid dermal fillers. The treatment lasts for up to six to nine months and can last even longer if there is a follow-up treatment a few weeks after the initial treatment.

What Can I Expect After an Injectable?

There is no downtime with either type of injectable and recovery usually involves only minor swelling or irritation at the injection sites.

Most patients who get neuromodulators or dermal fillers are in and out of the office within an hour or two and experience no disruption of their normal schedules.

You may receive a small ice pack to relieve any discomfort.

We also recommend:

• Avoiding alcohol for at least 48 hours
• Not massaging your face or injection areas to avoid spreading the neuromodulator to other parts of the face
• Avoiding exercise or strenuous activity for at least 4 hours
• Avoiding direct sun exposure for at least 24 hours
• Not laying down for 3 hours after
• Consider propping up a pillow during sleep the night of treatment to avoid swelling

Who Should I Trust?

When it comes to contouring your face, you should give your decision the same level of care and scrutiny that you would for a surgical procedure.

Injectables often require a certain level of skill, knowledge, and expertise. Many providers have extensive training in facial anatomy, years of experience, and surgeon-like precision.

Before and After Images

BOTOX