HOW TO ACHIEVE A NATURAL LOOK WITH INJECTABLES
The concept of the "natural look" is becoming increasingly important to many patients seeking subtle, rejuvenating results that enhance their features without looking overdone or artificial
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When it comes to injectables—such as Botox, dermal fillers, and biostimulators—the goal is often to achieve a refreshed, youthful appearance that complements, not alters, one’s natural beauty.
But is it truly possible to create a natural look with injectables? The answer is yes—when done correctly!
Here’s how to achieve that subtle, natural enhancement through injectables, with a focus on patient-centered aesthetic goals and respecting each patient’s own unique anatomy.
Understand Your Aesthetic Goals: What Does “Natural” Mean to You?
The definition of a "natural look" is subjective. For some, it may mean smoothing out fine lines without altering their facial expressions; for others, it might mean adding volume to the cheeks or lips while keeping a balanced, proportionate appearance. Before getting started with injectables, it’s important to have a clear conversation with your injector about your goals.
Ask yourself these questions:
Do I want to maintain my ability to express emotions?
Am I looking to address specific concerns like volume loss or wrinkles, or do I want an overall lift?
How subtle or noticeable do I want the change to be?
Am I looking for a "refreshed" version of myself, or do I want a more dramatic change?
Am I open to small, gradual changes over time, or do I want a more noticeable result right away?
A thorough consultation allows the practitioner to design a personalized treatment plan based on your specific needs, ensuring that you achieve your personal goals.
Botox and Other Neuromodulators: Softening, Not Freezing
Botox, Dysport, and other neuromodulators are often used to smooth out dynamic wrinkles—those caused by repeated facial movements such as frowning, smiling, or squinting. Some people fear that these injectables will leave them with a “frozen” or expressionless face, but this can be avoided based on where the product is placed.
Precision is crucial. A skilled injector will take the time to understand your facial anatomy and your aesthetic desires, ensuring the result is harmonious with your overall look. When done correctly, Botox can give the face a refreshed, relaxed look, without completely erasing expression. Open communication is key between aesthetic providers and their patients.
Dermal Fillers: Restoring Volume and Contour
As we age, we lose volume in certain areas of the face, such as the cheeks, under the eyes, and the temples. Dermal fillers are designed to restore this lost volume, creating a smoother, more youthful appearance. When it comes to achieving a natural look, it’s important to first focus on building structural support of the face and then fine tuning with more surface-level restoration.
Thoughtful, strategic injections of filler can:
Restore bone loss in the cheeks to improve mid-face contours and provide support as well as the jawline and chin to continue to bring balance to the face.
Filling in volume loss in the temple area will create a smooth transition in an area that hollows over time.
Restore the under-eye area to reduce hollows or dark circles.
Subtly enhance the lips, focusing on balance and symmetry as well as repairing any volume loss and skin breakdown around the lips by providing support.
Smooth out nasolabial folds and marionette lines to reduce the appearance of sagging in the lower face.
The key to a natural result with fillers is treating areas of concern in the correct order. The focus should be on the root cause of the problem, not trying to fix the symptom.
Harmonizing the Face: Balanced Aesthetic Enhancements
A natural look isn’t just about treating one area in isolation—it’s about creating harmony across the entire face. For instance, if you're adding volume to the cheeks with filler, your injector might also consider treating the jawline or temples to maintain balance.
Injectables should be approached holistically. A well-balanced treatment plan can address multiple areas at once, focusing on the areas that need attention first, while ensuring that the results don’t look disjointed or mismatched.
For example:
Chin filler might be used in combination with cheek filler to improve facial balance and restore the face to a more youthful shape.
Lip fillers can be paired with Botox to help with lip restoration, creating a unified, natural-looking enhancement working on volume loss with filler and relaxing the muscles around the lips with Botox to smooth fine lines.
Biostimulators: A Subtle Path to Natural Rejuvenation
In the world of injectables, biostimulators are an exciting category that offers exceptional results when it comes to natural-looking rejuvenation. Unlike traditional dermal fillers or Botox, which aim to restore facial structure or relax muscles, biostimulators work by stimulating the skin's natural processes to improve skin quality and enhance collagen production over time. The result? A youthful, revitalized appearance that doesn’t look “done,” but rather, like you’ve been taking exceptionally good care of your skin.
The beauty of biostimulators lies in their subtlety and longevity. Biostimulators, such as PRFM, EZ Gel, Radiesse, and Sculptra, offer the advantage of long-lasting results that develop gradually and look natural. Since they work by stimulating the body’s own collagen, they address not just the superficial signs of aging, but the underlying causes, promoting healthier, firmer, and more youthful-looking skin overall.
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Patient, 36 Years of Age | 3 VIALS Treated with Sculptra® 8 mL reconstitution, injected in the broader cheek area.
BRANDS: Sculptra
Layering Treatments: A Gradual Approach
Rather than going all-in with a single session, many people prefer to layer injectable treatments over time. This approach allows your body to adjust to the changes slowly, helping the enhancements to blend seamlessly into your natural features.
For example:
You might start with Botox to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles and to build trust with your injector before starting injectables such as dermal filler.
Gradually restoring the lips over several sessions can give your tissue time to expand and allow dermal filler to fill the lip space safely and naturally.
Including biostimulators along with your Botox and dermal filler appointments gives your skin added quality and strength.
Choosing the Right Injector: Expertise is Everything
One of the most critical factors in achieving a natural look with injectables is choosing the right injector. A highly experienced and qualified injector will have the skill and artistry to understand facial proportions and to inject with precision.
Look for an injector who:
Has a thorough understanding of facial anatomy and immerses themselves in continuing education and hands-on training.
Takes the time to discuss your concerns and aesthetic goals.
Understands that you desire a conservative approach and emphasizes a natural result.
Is transparent about what can and cannot be achieved with injectables and educates you on realistic expectations of results.
A good injector will always prioritize your safety and well-being, ensuring that the final result enhances your natural beauty, rather than taking away from it.
Maintenance: Subtle Touch-Ups for Lasting Results
Natural-looking results often require ongoing maintenance. Over time, the effects of Botox and dermal fillers fade, and the face continues to age naturally. For most people, maintenance involves subtle touch-ups every few years to keep their results looking fresh and balanced. Botox treatments will be more frequent, such as every few months.
However, it’s important to maintain realistic expectations—injectables won’t stop the aging process, but they can help you look and feel your best by gently addressing concerns as they arise. Regular visits to your injector ensure that you can keep up with gradual changes and preserve that refreshed, natural look.
PRO-TIP: REQUEST A PERSONALIZED TREATMENT PLAN
When done with precision, artistry, and a patient-centered approach, injectables can absolutely achieve a natural look. Whether it’s smoothing wrinkles with Botox, enhancing facial harmony with dermal fillers, or restoring skin laxity and appearance with biostimulators, choosing an aesthetic injector who aligns with your goals is the key to a more refreshed, youthful version of yourself — without overly augmented changes. With a personalized treatment plan curated specifically for you by your injector, injectables can enhance your natural beauty, leaving you with results that are both subtle and stunning.
By Lauren Miehl, RN, LE, SLP
ATA Preferred Provider