Written by, Avery Samuels Reviewed by, Dr. Justin Harper, MD
Top 5 Aesthetic Myths
The aesthetic procedures that Juvly performs involves cutting-edge medical and scientific knowledge. A lot of what we do is so brand new, in fact, that there is still a lot of misinformation and harmful myths circulating out there that might impact a client’s decision about whether or not to get these treatments done.
These myths range from being harmless and mundane to dangerous and full of misinformation. Working at Juvly, we receive a lot of questions about these misconceptions, and we’d like to clear up some of the untruths.
1. Botox and fillers are the same thing
This is a no-brainer for individuals who have done these treatments. But for the uninitiated, it’s a struggle to distinguish between Botox, Dysport, Juvederm, and other brands of injectables. Other than the fact that they’re injected, are non-toxic and are metabolized completely by the body, Botox and fillers are totally different products.
Long story short, Botox (and other neuromodulators) are made from the neurotoxin produced by a bacterium. Botox works by paralyzing the nerve junctions, temporarily immobilizing muscles and preventing the skin from wrinkling. When the underlying muscles are frozen, they relax, and the overlying skin smooths out. Voila! The dynamic wrinkles are gone.
The operative word is “dynamic,” which are a type of wrinkle that is created or deepened by making a repeated expression. The most popular treatment areas for Botox are the forehead, the 11s between the brows, and crow’s feet. Neurotoxin wrinkle relaxers can also be used for brow lifts, migraine, masseter reduction to shape the face, and to prevent underarm sweating. Expect results within 3-5 days and the full effects in 10-14 days.
On the other hand, the most popular dermal fillers like Juvederm (Ultra, Ultra Plus, and Voluma) and Restylane (Lyft, Defyne, Refyne, Silk) are made from hyaluronic acid (HA) which occurs naturally in the body. Fillers are injected to replace volume loss or to augment areas which are naturally “thin,” such as lips or the buttocks. Popular treatment areas include the cheeks, under eye area, temples, lips, chin, and nose.
Fillers are also used to plump up areas with wrinkles, such as marionette lines and smoker’s lips. It can diminish residual lines or passive lines that didn’t smoothen out with Botox.
In addition, fillers are used to diminish the appearance of atrophic (non-raised) acne scars. The upside is that results are immediately visible. The downside is fillers may not last as long as expected if you have a fast-acting metabolism.
Although Botox and fillers are not the same, they can be used together effectively to create a more youthful and refreshed look.
2. My stressful job caused my undereye bags
We get this quite a lot, possibly because stress doesn’t look good on our skin. To be honest, though, simply having a stressful job can’t cause dark circles, puffy eyes, or hollowness. Genetics and aging over time have a lot to do with whether or not you have undereye baggage. If you suffer from these issues, we have two effective treatments: tear trough fillers and Microneedling (with or without PRP). Watch this video on how Dr. Harper transforms under eyes from looking tired to looking refreshed using Restylane Refyne:
It seems a bit unnatural that thousands of microneedles to the face can create controlled punctures that induce collagen formation in the undereye area, but this is exactly what microneedling does!
The micro-wounds accelerate the healing process and as new cells are generated, the under eye area looks brighter when dullness and darkness are diminished. This should not be done at home because to be effective, the needles need to reach a certain depth, which is too painful without numbing. Getting one of the microneedling tools and using it at home will lead to ineffective, shallow abrasions that can get infected.
3. I’m 60 and with one Botox or fillers treatment I can look like I’m 30 again
Regardless of what you might see on TV or read on the net about how these procedures are like drinking from the fountain of eternal youth, that’s not exactly true. We all age, and Botox and fillers can only turn back the clock – not nail it into place permanently. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen and elastin, fat descends, and bone resorbs. We need maintenance, and we have procedures for a liquid facelift or rejuvenation such as:
- Botox
- Fillers
- Photofacial/Resurfacing, chemical peels or microneedling
It is a fact that beauty is an investment, but the benefits far outweigh the expenses, especially when you want to look polished and youthful at work. Eating well, dealing with stress proactively, exercising moderately, relaxing, avoiding the sun, sleeping well, refraining from smoking, using medical-grade skincare and getting a Juvly Membership cuts down aesthetic costs significantly and ensures that you look great from month-to-month!
4. I can eat as much as I want after CoolSculpting
Thinking that you can throw caution to the wind and eat ad libitum after CoolSculpting is a myth that sets you up for disappointment. CoolSculpting is not a weight loss treatment, but it can be used for debulking and contouring.
Yes, there will be some fat loss, but this procedure is best to treat pockets of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise. However, it is true that you can lose 20-25% of fat in the treated areas. It is also true that these destroyed fat cells are gone for good once the fat is metabolized. However, to be really effective, CoolSculpting must be supported with a healthy lifestyle – this means mindful eating, smart food choices, adequate exercise, and stress management.
5. The new lasers make it possible for blondes, redheads, and light-haired people to undergo laser hair removal
We simply adore what our new lasers the Cutra and Lumenis (with IPL and ResurFx) can do! However, the technology is not yet advanced enough to treat people with darker skin or with very light hair. Laser seeks out the melanin in the hair follicles.
People with red hair, blond hair, predominantly grey hair, and white-silvery hair don’t have enough melanin in their hair follicles for the laser to successfully eliminate them. But for those who have darker hair, our new lasers can get you bikini-ready in as few as three sessions. It can’t be done in a single session because hair growth happens in several stages and lasers are most effective in the active phase, but with a few laser hair removal treatments, your hair will either lighten or disappear completely forever.