We play true and false with these biggest botox and filler myths.
Botox is poison.
TRUE
In a way, yes! Botox is a particular form of the botulinum toxin that is found in soil, dust and contaminated food, except that the cosmetic version of Botox found in your doctor’s office is a sterilized, purified and diluted version and completely safe for treatment of wrinkles.
Botox makes people expressionless.
FALSE.
When injected into facial muscles, the main action of Botox is to paralyze the facial muscles. But when the aesthetic dose is so small, it is not possible to completely paralyze the muscle unless too much is used. Typically a mild paralysis is enough to relax the muscles and alleviate the appearance of wrinkles, without losing expression. That means you can still smile, or frown but when you do, the wrinkles are less obvious. A good injection for forehead wrinkles, for example, lasts an average of 2 to 4 months, depending on your preference. The longer it lasts, usually more Botox is required, therefore more stiffness experienced initially.
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Botox Can Erase All My Wrinkles
FALSE.
There are two types of wrinkles. Dynamic wrinkles are creases in the skin that are formed only when a facial expression is made. Static wrinkles are lines formed on the face permanently, and can be seen even when the face is relaxed or without expression. Botox is mostly effective for softening dynamic wrinkles. Static wrinkles can only be erased with a resurfacing treatment such as lasers such as the SmartX Lite carbon dioxide laser, or plumped up with dermal fillers injected directly into the crease.
Dermal Fillers Are Permanent
FALSE.
In fact, you will be hard pressed to find a permanent filler in Singapore. Dermal fillers now are biodegradable – they can be broken down by your body naturally over time. The longest lasting approved filler in Singapore currently is probably Ellanse, a collagen stimulator which can last up to four years. However, Ellanse is considered a semi-permanent filler – it cannot be removed once it it is injected, so one will have to wait till it is gradually degraded by own’s own body. So is it good that fillers are not permanent? According to plastic surgeon in Singapore, Dr Tan Ying Chien, our facial bones shrink over time due to the natural ageing process, and permanent facial fillers may look unappealing or unsuitable years later. There is also no reversal of fillers, so there is absolutely zero chance of rectifying any filler regret. On the contrary, procedures such as filler hydrolift, a novel way of augmenting sunken cheeks uses hyaluronic acid fillers are results are more natural-looking and last approximately 1 to 2 years.
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Dermal Fillers Are 100% Safe
FALSE.
The most popular type of natural facial fillers now are made of hyaluronic acid, which can be found naturally in our skin. Hyaluronic acid filler brands used in Singapore are Restylane, Boletero, Juvederm, to name a few. These are reversible fillers, which means they can be instantly dissolved in case of regret or mishaps. Very, very rarely, filler injections can unfortunately cause vascular blockages, known as embolisms, which can have devastating consequences. Therefore it is extremely important that you find a doctor who has intimate knowledge of facial anatomy, and use only hyaluronic acid fillers so that these can be dissolved immediately in emergencies.
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There Are Different Types Of Fillers For Different Parts Of The Face
TRUE
Hyaluronic acid fillers, in particular, have different G’ (G prime). Thicker or harder fillers have higher G’ (G prime) so these are generally used to lift or sculpt, such as nose fillers or chin fillers. The softest fillers have a watery consistency and are commonly used for very superficial injections such as filling a wrinkle in the skin or babydrop fillers or skinbooster injections.
So now you can feel more confident walking into your doctor’s office before choosing your next Botox or filler needs!
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