Are you searching for a quick, effective way to improve wrinkles and folds? At Anazao MD in Steamboat Springs, CO, we recommend Belotero. This injectable treatment uses hyaluronic acid to whisk away the most common signs of aging. In just a few short minutes, your face will look softer, younger, and more supple. And the results will show much more quickly than those of many other cosmetic treatments.
How Soon Do You Get Results From Belotero?
Everyone’s skin reacts to cosmetic therapies slightly differently. But thanks to its fundamental ingredient of hyaluronic acid (HA), Belotero delivers immediate results. Volume is instantly improved so that skin looks plumper and smoother as soon as treatment is finished. You should, however, expect these results to continue improving over the next two to three weeks as the HA settles into your skin’s foundational layers.
Belotero (BT) was designed specifically to fill in moderate to severe nasolabial folds, folds that run from the side of the nose to the corners of the mouth. These folds can dramatically age a person and are caused by a number of factors, including smoking and sun damage. Both break down the collagen and elastin fibers within the skin that keep it soft and supported. Over time, this cumulative damage can cause nasolabial folds to become more prominent.
Common Causes of Nasolabial Folds
Simple aging is another culprit of nasolabial folds. As you grow older, the structure of your cheekbones flattens out. This can lead to skin sagging that pulls the face downward. Added to this are years of gravity tugging on tissues as well as a natural loss of collagen and elastin.
Weight gain or loss can also contribute. The former may make cheeks appear plumper and accentuate wrinkles, while the latter can cause the skin to loosen. Finally, side sleeping can make folds on one side of your face deeper. This doesn’t mean you have to start sleeping on your back, however. You can do so if deepening wrinkles are a concern, but keep in mind a good night’s sleep is just as important for staying healthy and rejuvenating skin.
How Hyaluronic Acid Helps
The amount of HA your body produces, as well as the volume of your skin and your genetic tendency to develop wrinkles, are all interconnected. Young skin contains high levels of HA – which, coincidentally, increases and decreases in proportion to collagen and elastin – that maintain its structure and prevent wrinkles from developing.
HA also helps skin retain moisture by binding to water molecules and regulating hydration levels. This balancing act is the key to softer tissues without dry, irritated, or flaky patches that absorb light. Once the skin absorbs rather than reflects light, it begins to look dull and tired. This change typically begins in the 30s, as our bodies naturally produce less HA. In turn, skin thins and dries out, thus causing fine lines that gradually progress into wrinkles.
A More Youthful Appearance
Dermal fillers made with HA work double-duty by hydrating skin from within and restoring volume. In functioning these two ways, treatment can take years off your appearance. It provides a stronger structure to lift sagging skin and delivers the nourishment needed so skin once more looks radiant and youthful.
For patients who prefer a more “natural” treatment, BT makes perfect sense. The hyaluronic acid it contains closely mimics the HA found naturally in our bodies. This is why treatment provides immediate results – it’s tissue-friendly and, thanks to its stabilized molecules, gently but effectively restores lost volume. A single treatment can last a year or longer without affecting muscle movements. In effect, BT allows you to subtly control the aging process.
Does BT Really Last a Full Year?
Factors that affect your treatment results include your age, overall health, lifestyle choices, and the amount of filler injected. While you can’t change your genetics, you can take a few steps to get the most durable results possible from the treatment.
This starts with minimizing UV exposure. Strong and prolonged bouts of sunlight can burn the skin. Because facial skin is thinner and more delicate than skin found elsewhere on the body, it burns more quickly. Consistent protection against the sun can maintain your results and keep your skin healthier overall. Remember to apply sunscreen every day, even on cloudy days, and wear a wide-brimmed hat when you are going to be outside.
Pick Healthy Foods
What you put into your body is just as important as what you put on it. Sugar is an ingredient found in most foods, but it binds to both collagen and elastin and ultimately interferes with their ability to clear and hydrate skin. Better choices, especially when choosing snacks, include foods rich with antioxidants. Berries, for instance, can help control free radicals and may also reduce wrinkles and other signs of aging.
You should additionally watch your caffeine intake, which can dehydrate cells, and limit your dairy, which can cause inflammation. Likewise, by reducing salty snacks, you can keep cells plump and hydrated.
Be Mindful of Your Skin Care Products
Many inexpensive skincare products are laden with ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate, formaldehyde, and propylene glycol known to irritate tissues. You need to keep skin clean and moisturized, but you must do so with quality products that contain healthy, not damaging, ingredients. Drinking plenty of water should be another component of your skincare routine. After your treatment, it’s important you stay hydrated to enhance the effects of Belotero.
Steer Clear of Stress
Stress is known to accelerate the aging process and can increase telltale signs like lines and wrinkles. It’s not possible to completely eliminate stress, but you can help minimize its effects on your body. Activities like yoga and meditation can be highly beneficial. You should also try to reduce unnecessary stress-inducers in your life.
Regular Maintenance Treatments
Finally, the best way to extend your results is with regular touch-ups from our well-qualified staff. It’s especially important you schedule these appointments before your results wear off. Doing so can, in some cases, train your muscles to more effectively respond to the injectable.
What To Expect
Treatment begins with a one-on-one consultation with a member of our staff. We will advise you on what to expect during your unique session, which will largely depend on the specific cosmetic concerns you want to address. We’ll also ensure you’re healthy enough to have treatment and that BT is an appropriate way to achieve your goals. Last but not least, we’ll review your medical history, answer your questions, and ensure you feel completely at ease.
Treatment Preparation
Preparing for treatment is just as easy as coming in for your consultation. It’s important you keep your skin protected from UV damage and avoid other treatments like invasive hair removal, including tweezing, waxing, and laser.
Depending on the medications you currently take, we may recommend you temporarily cease those that can interfere with treatment – including blood thinners. It’s equally important that you not drink alcohol for several days before your scheduled appointment and ensure your skin is well moisturized and nourished.
Your Treatment Session
You can expect the actual treatment to proceed quickly. It’s likely we’ll need just about a half hour to make the necessary injections. Don’t worry – the needles we use are minute in nature, and the gel is strategically injected into locations beneath your skin. After we’re finished, you can return to work, run errands, and otherwise carry on with your day.
The Recovery Period
No downtime is required of BT, meaning you don’t need to worry about a recovery period. But you will need to follow several guidelines to get the best results from treatment. We already mentioned this, but it’s worth repeating: drinking water can assist with the volumizing effects of BT. The more hydrated you are, the sooner your final results will develop. You should also get plenty of sleep to revive skin tissues and stick to that healthy diet we discussed.
While you can continue with your day as soon as your session is complete, you will need to avoid a few activities. Chief among these is intense exercise that elevates your blood pressure and causes your face to flush. You want your blood pressure to remain in its normal range for at least one or two days after treatment. Also avoid excessive heat, hot showers, dry saunas, and steam rooms.
A More Youthful Appearance
Convenient, quick, and care-free. These are just some of the words patients use to describe treatment with BT. The words we hear most often, however, are life-changing. Several simple injections can soften your appearance and restore a more youthful glow to your face. Schedule your consultation today by contacting Anazao MD in Steamboat Springs, CO.