Botox & Fillers: Why Facial Anatomy Matters More Than You Think
Achieving a naturally rejuvenated look with injectable treatments like Botox® and dermal fillers is far more complex than “a few quick injections.” Patients often focus on product brands, but there’s something even more critical that determines your outcome: your facial anatomy. The safest, most natural-looking results depend not only on the right product, but on a precise understanding of how facial structures interact as we age.
At Claytor Noone Plastic Surgery, expert injector, Julie Holesh, PA-C, brings extensive knowledge of facial anatomy to every Botox and filler appointment to help patients look refreshed, never overdone. Here, she explains why anatomical expertise is the foundation of successful facial rejuvenation.
Julie Holesh, PA
Physician assistant Julie Holesh is board-certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. With both an artistic eye and medical expertise, she can help you achieve optimal skin quality with injectables, laser treatments, and other med spa services.
A Quick Overview of Facial Anatomy
Your face is a three-dimensional network of muscles, ligaments, fat pads, blood vessels, and nerves:
- Dynamic muscles like the frontalis (horizontal forehead lines), corrugator supercilii and procerus (“11s,” glabellar lines, or frown lines between the eyebrows), orbicularis oculi (crow’s feet around the eyes), and masseter (jaw muscle).
- Fat compartments along the temples, cheeks, and under-eyes.
- Retaining ligaments that anchor skin, fat, and other tissues together.
Why Facial Anatomy is Essential in Injectable Treatments
As we age, changes occur at every level of the face’s structure: the skin thins, fat pads shrink or descend, bone resorbs, and muscles become more visible or more active. Effective rejuvenation with injectables does not just “fill wrinkles;” it requires a careful, layered understanding of what has changed beneath the surface.
Botox works by relaxing specific facial muscles to reduce dynamic wrinkles that are caused by repetitive movement, but if placed too superficially or injected into the wrong muscle, it can create unwanted effects like heaviness in the brow or asymmetry. Dermal fillers create or restore lost volume or enhance certain features. Improper placement can cause lumpiness, puffiness, or vascular complications.
Each treatment is adjusted to accommodate your individual facial structure and the way your tissues move for ideal results.
The safest, most natural-looking results depend on your injector having a precise understanding of how facial structures interact as we age.
Botox: Relaxing the Right Muscle, Not Every Muscle
Botox and other popular neuromodulators (Dysport®, Xeomin®, Daxxify®) soften wrinkles by calming overactive muscles. Julie is meticulous with precise Botox placement to:
- Smooth forehead lines while preserving enough lift in the frontalis muscle for an expressive brow
- Erase the “11s” in the corrugator and procerus without creating a droopy eyelid appearance
- Slim a square jaw while maintaining chewing strength in the masseter muscle
Masterful dosing means your face still moves naturally to keep natural facial expressions intact while smoothing lines.
Related: Can I get Botox instead of a brow lift?
Fillers: Sculpting Volume in the Correct Plane
Dermal fillers (hyaluronic acids such as Juvéderm®, Restylane®, and RHA®, biostimulators like Sculptra®) restore youthful contours, but the plane of placement is everything:
- Deep fat pad injections lift the mid-face without puffiness.
- Sub-dermal injections refine lips and nasolabial folds.
- Periosteal (on bone) placement recreates cheek or chin structure.
Julie understands how aging changes the face and doesn’t just fill what’s missing, she works with how your face has evolved over time so results look balanced from every angle. Thorough knowledge of vascular “no-go zones” and anatomical landmarks also ensures filler lands safely and the results are refined and long-lasting.
Related: Facelift vs Fillers: Which is the Better Anti-Aging Option?
What to Expect at Your Consultation
1. Facial Mapping
Julie studies how your muscles contract when you smile, frown, and raise your brows; she palpates ligament anchor points, notes areas of volume loss, and traces superficial blood vessels. This hands-on assessment allows her to pinpoint the anatomical source of each concern rather than treating wrinkles in isolation.
2. Goal Alignment
Next comes an open conversation about your aesthetic priorities and expressions you wish to keep. Do you like a hint of forehead movement for natural warmth? Prefer fuller cheeks over sharper angles? She then translates these preferences into anatomical objectives to decide which muscle activity to soften and which contours to accentuate, so the final result still looks unmistakably like you.
3. Tailored Treatment Plan
With anatomy and goals in focus, Julie selects specific products, doses, and injection planes. She may choose a soft HA filler to lift the mid-face, pair it with a flexible filler in the lips for balance, and fine-tune with strategic Botox injections to relax (but not freeze) the corrugators. Each step is mapped to your unique facial architecture for proportional, cohesive rejuvenation rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
““I’m writing this review after seeing myself in the mirror and feeling so impressed with Julie’s work. I heard of Julie through word of mouth! I have never showed interest in Botox but after hearing my friend’s thoughts after seeing Julie, I figured I would give it a shot and I’m happy I did. From the beginning she made you feel comfortable and secure. There was a lot I didn’t realize about Botox. She helped better inform me to understand the process and the intention behind Botox. Julie loves what she does and it shows!””
Trust Your Appearance and Well-Being to Experience
The success and safety of injectable treatments rely on choosing an injector who understands not just where to treat—but why and how.
Call 610-527-4833 to make an appointment with Julie at our Bryn Mawr plastic surgery center and medical spa, or fill out our online form. She’ll explain how she can help correct any concerns and enhance your features while respecting your natural anatomy.