So you’ve taken lifestyle tips as far as they can go. If you want more dramatic results, these fixes are just a needle away.
Botulinum Toxin. Dispensed under the names Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin, this neuromodulator turns off the signals that tell your facial muscles to tense and squint (it doesn’t actually paralyze the muscles themselves, despite what you may have heard). A couple of shots in key areas (forehead, crow’s-feet) will, after about a week, soften wrinkles by preventing you from making the movements that cause them. Your derm may apply a numbing cream first; some people get a tiny bruise or two afterward. You need a treatment every three to six months, but over time, your lines may become more shallow even when it wears off. Cost: about $300 and up per treatment.
Fillers. Hyaluronic-acid dermal fillers—sold as Juvéderm, Perlane, and Restylane—differ from Botox. While neuromodulators prevent you from making wrinkle-causing expressions, dermal fillers actually fill in existing wrinkles. They can also add volume to sagging cheeks and plump up undereye hollows. Your derm numbs the skin first, then injects filler where it’s needed. Results are immediate and last one to two years. (If you’re not happy, your MD can dissolve most of these fillers.) Over time, the fillers may stimulate collagen production, softening wrinkles. Cost: $800 and up per treated area.