Injectable cosmetic treatments have been on the rise for decades, while giving us the ability to quite literally take years off our faces. This is why Botox and Dermal Fillers are both extremely popular for people who want to reduce wrinkles and create a more youthful appearance. Although they seem similar, botox and fillers are used for different purposes and it’s important to know the differences between the two.
Botox
Botox still takes the cake for the most popular injectable cosmetic treatment on the market. Depending on how many units you get in each area of your face, this treatment helps diminish or completely get rid of wrinkles. The procedure is simple. A dermatologist or licensed practitioner will administer the injectables in the trouble areas (which are particularly around the eyes and forehead, but can be used almost anywhere), and you will see results within the first two weeks at most. Botox works by blocking the signals from the nerves to the muscles, and the injected muscles can’t contract. This creates smooth skin where the wrinkles once were. Some people are still on the fence about botox because they assume they won’t be able to frown or make expressions – talk to your doctor about doing a small amount of botox to ease the fine lines while still being able to move (almost) freely. Botox lasts from 3-6 months, depending on how fast your body metabolizes it.
Because botox is helpful in helping muscles relax, botox is used for more than relaxing the lines on the face. Botox can be used to help prevent neck spasms, excessive sweating in the armpits, an overactive bladder, and more. Talk with your dermatologist about benefits and possible side effects of botox.
Fillers
Dermal fillers aka fillers are similar to botox in the sense that the treatment also diminishes the appearance of aging in the face. The difference between the two is that botox relaxes the muscles in the face, while fillers help restore lost volume in the face. Using a filler can also help with wrinkles and fine lines. Smiles lines are a good example of this, as using filler will help diminish the smile lines on the sides of the mouth. As we age, we lose fullness in our faces. Fillers can be used in many places such as cheekbones, hollowed under-eyes, lip plumping, nose sculpting, scar lifting, and more. There are many types of fillers – some are longer lasting than others and are made with different ingredients. Your dermatologist will help you decide which is best for you depending on your lifestyle, your desired end results, and what types of fillers you may have tried before.
Fillers work by boosting the skins supply of hyaluronic acid, and can help stimulate the production of collagen. Many longer term fillers contain collagen. Dermal Fillers tend to have longer-lasting effects than botox but still need to be touched up about every 6-8 months for optimal results. Although the side effects for dermal fillers are more severe, they are very rare, so be sure to talk with your dermatologist before proceeding.