How to Refresh Your Face Without Surgery

Perhaps you’re not ready for surgery, but you’ve noticed that the reflection in the mirror looks more tired than you actually feel. Here’s what you can do.

Cosmetic surgery can be a wonderful tool to achieve the look you want, or to shave some years off your appearance. But, for a variety of reasons, surgery isn’t for everyone. If you’d like to look more youthful, but without surgery, Dr. Stephen Chen and his staff can help.

We offer several different types of injectables for various purposes. Through judicious and carefully tailored application of one or a combination, injectables can provide amazing results, seemingly erasing fine lines and wrinkles, adding volume, and smoothing skin. Here are a few of the injectables Dr. Chen provides, and what they are used for.

BOTOX®

The best-known and most popular injectable, Botox, prevents the contraction of the muscles that cause lines and wrinkles. If you think about folding a piece of paper over and over and the crease that results, you get a good idea of what happens to your skin as you make the same expressions thousands of times.

Botox prevents the creases from getting deeper and more etched into your skin. You still make the wonderful expressions that animate your face, just with fewer lines and wrinkles!

Botox injections usually last 3-6 months and, over time, may last longer. Botox is often used in conjunction with other injectables to get optimal results.

Hyaluronic acid

Chances are you’ve heard of hyaluronic acid. It’s a common ingredient in beauty products, and for a good reason. Hyaluronic acid is a substance that your body naturally makes that holds fluid. It’s in high concentrations in your connective tissues and the area around your eyes.

Injectables containing hyaluronic acid may be used to correct the appearance of acne scars, to plump sagging cheeks, to alleviate the lines that run from the sides of your nose to your mouth, and for various other purposes.

Poly-l-lactic acid

One of the things that age your face is the thinning of the fat pads just beneath your skin. This can cause your face to appear sunken or saggy. Injectables with poly-l-lactic acid help give your face more structure lending you a youthful appearance.

Poly-l-lactic acid fillers stimulate your body to build more collagen, so you see the results develop over 2-3 months. Although it takes some time to see the full results of these injections, they last up to two years.

Calcium hydroxylapatite

Calcium hydroxylapatite also restores lost volume, but it works differently. Injectables that use calcium hydroxylapatite work immediately and also stimulate collagen production.

Calcium hydroxylapatite injections are particularly effective in treating facial folds. For example, nasolabial folds, sometimes called marionette lines, respond well to this type of injection.

Get personalized advice

If you’re not sure exactly what type of injectable or procedure is most likely to help you achieve the appearance you’d like, schedule a consultation with Dr. Chen. His experience and understanding of the tools available combined with his expertise in getting results means that you can reach your goals without surgery.