As we age, our faces begin to show the effects of gravity, sun exposure and years of facial muscle movement, such as smiling, chewing and squinting. The underlying tissues that keep our skin looking youthful and plumped up begin to break down, often leaving laugh lines, smile lines, crow’s feet or facial creases over the areas where this muscle movement occurs.

Lasers that are used either cause new collagen generation which results in a better skin tone or a more invasive treatment that removes the Epidermis. This causes the skin to regenerate and over the next several weeks you have skin that is dramatically improved. The improvement and healing process continues to occur over the next several months after the laser treatment.

Soft-tissue fillers, most commonly injectable collagen or fat, and recently FDA approved Restylane, can help fill in these lines and creases, temporarily restoring a smoother, more youthful-looking appearance. When injected beneath the skin, these fillers plump up creased and sunken areas of the face. They can also add fullness to the lips and cheeks. Injectable fillers may be used alone or in conjunction with a resurfacing procedure, such as a laser treatment.

Injectable fillers are primarily used to improve the appearance of the skin’s texture. They can help fill out deep facial wrinkles, creases and furrows, “sunken” cheeks, skin depressions and some types of scars. They can also be used to add a fuller, more sensuous look to the lips.