Understanding the way facial aging works can make cosmetic treatments feel much more approachable. When patients in Chicago meet with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Marco Ellis to discuss options such as Botox and dermal fillers, one of the first questions they often ask is why some wrinkles respond to injectables differently than others. The answer lies in how various wrinkles form — and why treating them effectively requires an individualized approach backed by experience and anatomical knowledge.
What Are Dynamic Wrinkles?
Dynamic wrinkles are the lines that appear when the facial muscles move. These include crow’s feet from squinting, forehead lines from lifting the brows, and frown lines caused by repeated contraction of the muscles between the eyebrows. Because these wrinkles are caused by muscle movement, reducing that movement is the most effective way to soften them.
Botox works precisely in this way. It relaxes the targeted muscles so the overlying skin smooths out. Dr. Ellis uses a careful, customized approach when injecting Botox, focusing on natural expression and subtle softening rather than an overtreated appearance. This makes dynamic wrinkles ideal candidates for neuromodulator treatments.
What Are Static Wrinkles?
Static wrinkles are present even when the face is at rest. Over time, the skin loses collagen, elastin, and volume, allowing creases to remain visible without muscle activity. Examples include smile lines, marionette grooves, and etched-in wrinkles around the mouth or cheeks.
Because static wrinkles are a product of volume loss and structural changes in the skin, Botox is not the right tool for improving them. Instead, dermal fillers are typically used to restore lost support. Hyaluronic acid fillers can replenish fullness, lift shadows, and smooth areas where the skin has folded in on itself. Dr. Ellis takes into account facial proportions, balance, and the patient’s unique anatomy to create natural-looking correction.
Why Matching the Treatment to the Wrinkle Matters
Dynamic and static wrinkles age the face in different ways, so successfully addressing them requires choosing the right injectable. Using Botox where volume is needed (or filler where muscle activity is the main cause) will not produce optimal results.
Dr. Ellis’s training in facial anatomy and reconstructive principles helps him tailor treatments that enhance the face without altering its natural character. Many patients benefit from a combination approach that treats both muscle-driven and volume-driven wrinkles in the same visit.
Meet with Dr. Marco Ellis
Expert evaluation makes a measurable difference in wrinkle rejuvenation. To learn which treatment is right for your dynamic or static wrinkles, contact Dr. Marco Ellis in Chicago to schedule a consultation. Call (312) 695-6022.