The main differences between cosmetic injections
(biological stimulants, fillers, plasma, mesotherapy, and botox)
The variety of non-surgical cosmetic solutions today makes it challenging to distinguish their uses, effectiveness, and side effects.
Therefore, we have provided you with the information you need to make the right decision regarding the most suitable cosmetic treatment for you, as well as the key differences that separate biological stimulants (cosmetic injections), fillers, plasma, mesotherapy, and Botox.
Biological stimulants Biological stimulants work by stimulating the production of collagen and elastin in the skin, which are essential proteins that enhance skin elasticity and prevent sagging. Once the production of these proteins is stimulated in the skin, biological stimulants can help improve the appearance of the skin, enhance its texture, elasticity, and firmness.
Common examples used for skin restoration and rejuvenation include Sculptra, Radiesse, and Aesthefill.
Uses of Biological Stimulants:
Treats the problem of skin thinning by increasing the thickness of the skin on the face and eyelids.
Unlike fillers, biological stimulants work to tighten and treat the skin without giving it the fullness that fillers provide, and the results appear after several sessions, they are also injected into specific areas, unlike fillers, which are injected into the lips, nose, and many other body areas.
Stimulates the production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid in the skin.
They are not injected using regular needles but with a cannula in the form of a solution.
Filler injections Filler injections are non-surgical cosmetic procedures performed in a medical clinic, and they can be used to improve the appearance of the skin, enhance facial feature harmony, and many other reasons that we will discuss.
The material used in filler injections depends on the area, the duration of results, and the purpose of the injection. It uses substances such as calcium hydroxyapatite, the patient's own fat, or (Hyaluronic Acid), which is a substance naturally found in soft connective tissues. It is extracted and then re-injected to hide wrinkles and fill the skin naturally by stimulating collagen production and acting as a cushion that swells with water to reduce wrinkles and fine lines. Since it is a substance naturally extracted from the body, it is compatible with the human body and does not cause any allergic reactions.
Uses of filler injections:
Lip augmentation to give them a fuller, more defined appearance
Rejuvenating the face and skin, and filling the cheeks
Eliminating wrinkles around the eyes and nose
Getting rid of fine lines such as those between the eyes (frown lines), forehead, around the mouth, and around the eyes
Improving the appearance of scars and making them less noticeable
Correcting the shape of the nose simply by filling the area above and below the nasal hump to reduce its appearance, or injecting between the nostrils to address the flat nose issue
Enhancing the jawline by tightening the lower cheek area instead of performing a Face Lift, known as the Texas Technique or (V Line), which addresses jaw-related issues such as a square-shaped jaw, short or small jaw size, and double chin. This procedure is suitable for various age groups and is not limited, as commonly believed, to older adults.
How do filler injections work and how long do they last?
The cosmetic doctor evaluates the condition and determines the type of correction needed, then marks the area to be injected and disinfects the area. The cosmetic expert may apply local anesthesia to the area if needed, and then inject the gel-like hyaluronic acid into the deeper layers of the skin using a fine needle.
After completing the injection process, which may take no more than 30 minutes, the expert removes the marks placed on the areas to be injected, and ice packs are applied to soothe the area after the injection.
The results appear immediately after the injection and become gradually clearer. They usually last from 6 to 12 months and may last up to a year and a half for some people.
PRP Injections (Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections) Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is a sticky liquid found in the blood, representing 55% of the total blood volume in the human body. It was initially used to speed up the healing process and treat soft tissues such as those in tendons and muscles when injured, due to its high platelet count.
Technological advancements have expanded plasma's use to address hair loss, restore skin vitality, and stimulate cell regeneration and collagen production.
Uses of Plasma injections
Treating hair problems, such as hair loss caused by genetic baldness, stimulating new hair growth, treating hair thinning, and making hair grow thicker and faster. Many veiled women notice hair loss after wearing the hijab, and plasma injections are very beneficial for these cases.
Containing stem cells, it stimulates collagen production which helps restore the skin's beauty and vitality.
Plasma is injected under the eyes to eliminate dark circles.
Speeding up the healing process after injury and treats chronic tendon issues and acute injuries.
How do plasma injections work and are they safe?
Platelet-rich plasma is obtained by taking a sample of the patient’s blood, adding an anticoagulant, placing it in sterile tubes, and then putting it in a centrifuge. The centrifuge spins at high speed, which results in separating the platelets from the other blood components. After the separation process is complete and concentrated platelets are obtained, they are injected into the areas that need treatment to stimulate cell growth, self-healing, and collagen production.
The use of plasma injections to treat hair problems, such as hair loss and weak follicles, is one of the most common uses of plasma due to the remarkable results and its effect on strengthening hair follicles.
As mentioned earlier, blood is drawn and placed in the centrifuge to separate stem cells, which are then injected into the scalp. As for the treatment duration, a session is scheduled every two weeks for five sessions. Between each session, it is important not to wash the hair during the first 24 hours, and after the first 24 hours, normal activities can resume. After the third session, results become visible for both women and men.
Plasma injections are characterized by their safety, as there is no risk of allergic reactions to the materials used in the injections, since they are derived from the patient's own blood and do not contain any chemicals or foreign substances.
Mesotherapy injections
The benefits of mesotherapy injections go beyond those of plasma injections to include hair, skin, and body, it is a non-surgical cosmetic procedure that uses a mixture of vitamins, primarily Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and Hyaluronic Acid. Some types also contain small amounts of Human Growth Hormone, which helps strengthen collagen in the face, as well as minerals and amino acids. These are injected into the middle layer of the skin, known as the mesoderm, which is where the name comes from. Mesotherapy injections require multiple sessions.
At Dr. Tarek Copty's clinic, we usually recommend 3-4 sessions during the first month, followed by two sessions every 3-6 months, and then every 6 months.
Mesotherapy treatment provides excellent results, but the patient should attend the clinic for sessions during the first month, unlike Botox and filler injections, which do not require many sessions and can be done in a short time.
Uses of Mesotherapy injections
Fat breakdown by targeting areas where fat accumulates, such as the hips, thighs, abdomen, and upper arms, after which the body naturally expels the broken-down fat
Reducing the appearance of cellulite by strengthening the connective tissue, stimulating blood circulation, and improving the appearance of bumps on the skin's surface
Eliminating wrinkles and signs of aging
Strengthening and treating hair loss through vitamins, hyaluronic acid, and enzymes that are injected into the scalp
Tightening pores, which helps firm sagging skin.
Improving skin texture and removing pigmentation.
How Mesotherapy injections work?
The cosmetic expert first administers local anesthesia to the area to be injected. Then more injections are made at several points in the area to be treated using a fine needle at a depth of 1-4 millimeters from the skin. The injection process may take between half an hour to an hour, after which the patient notices slight swelling in the area, which disappears within 24 to 48 hours after the session is completed.
Botox injections
Botox injections use a substance made from botulinum toxin A, which is extracted from a substance produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. This substance has numerous therapeutic and cosmetic properties when used in small doses.
Botox has been used for 20 years, and during this time, no diseases or negative symptoms have occurred, even when used for long periods and then discontinued. This substance, derived from the Botulinum Toxin bacteria, is typically injected into the forehead to provide freshness and tighten the forehead area.
We would like to emphasize that we prefer to start Botox injections before wrinkles appear in order to prevent them. A person who regularly uses Botox for 10 years and reaches the age of 39 or 40 will look about 10 years younger than their actual age due to the absence of any wrinkles.
Uses of Botox injections
In addition to being used to treat many medical conditions such as lazy eye, cervical tension, excessive sweating and migraines, many people have recently turned to Botox injections for cosmetic reasons, here are the main:
Treating signs of aging such as wrinkles and fine lines
Treating facial muscle spasms
Lifting the eyebrows and tightening the eyelids
Eliminating wrinkles around the eyes and mouth
Therapeutic Uses
Botox is beneficial for several issues beyond facial beauty, it is helpful for people who suffer from excessive sweating, whether in the hands or under the armpits. Botox is injected into these areas, and after a week of injection, sweating stops, with the effects lasting for 6 months.
Another use of Botox is for people who suffer from migraine. Sometimes this is linked to the menstrual cycle, and sometimes it is unrelated. However, everyone benefits from Botox when injected into specific muscles in the head. The person is examined to assess and determine the exact amount needed.
A third use of Botox outside the realm of cosmetics is for people who suffer from teeth clenching during sleep. In this case, we examine the jaw muscle and evaluate the amount of Botox needed. After injection, the jaw muscle relaxes for a period of 6 months, helping individuals sleep better.
How Botox injections work?
The Botox injection is administered in a medical clinic by a cosmetic expert after cleaning the area to be injected and applying a local anesthetic to the area if needed.
The results of the Botox injection begin to appear 7 to 10 days after injection, and the effectiveness of Botox lasts for 4-6 months. In some cases, the results can last up to 7 months. However, if very light doses are used the results may last for 6-8 weeks only.
Botox works by temporarily preventing the contraction of the muscles responsible for wrinkles by blocking certain chemical signals from the nerves, thus preventing the wrinkles caused by the movement of those muscles.
When the effects of Botox wear off, the face returns to its previous state. Contrary to what some may think, the face does not return worse than before, nor does it show any signs of muscle sagging after the Botox effect wears off.
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