The Difference Between Botox and Fillers
With the huge range of cosmetic treatments available today, it can be tough to figure out which option might be the best for you. Do you need Botox to smooth out wrinkles or are injectable fillers the better option?
When doing your research for the best treatment to combat the visible signs of aging on the face, it is important to understand how Botox and dermal fillers are different, what they are designed to achieve, and how they work. Whatever treatment is chosen in the end, both work to refresh skin and maintain a natural, youthful appearance when used correctly.
So let’s get down to it.
Botox is used to treat mild to severe wrinkles, but what most people may not realise is that it only really works on active or dynamic wrinkles. These are most noticeable when the face is in motion. Repetitive facial expressions use the same muscles every time and eventually result in lines that etch themselves deeply into the face. Botox works to relax the muscles that cause these lines, reducing the movement to help diminish their appearance. Used consistently over a period of time, it can actually train the muscles to stay relaxed, softening noticeable wrinkles and helping to prevent new ones from forming. When you have a treatment it is not the wrinkles themselves that are being injected, but rather, the muscles of expression in the region where the wrinkles are located. This technique requires multiple, tiny injections right under the skin. As a result, the treatment is very quick, with minimal discomfort, and usually without any bruising or swelling. Within three to five days, the expression muscles begin to relax and the wrinkles start to soften with the most effect being after 2–3 weeks.
Dermal fillers are also used to reduce the visible signs of aging and like Botox, they are an injectable treatment; however, the similarities end there. Fillers work in a completely different way to treat completely different kinds of wrinkles.
Dermal fillers are primarily designed to treat static wrinkles and lines that, unlike dynamic wrinkles, are visible even when the face is relaxed. Examples of static wrinkles include marionette lines, nasolabial lines, and tear troughs; fillers work by filling in those lines, as well as by plumping up areas of the face that may have lost their youthful volume. This is achieved with a filler material such as hyaluronic acid which is a gel like substance that provides lift and volume. Unlike Botox, the results of a filler treatment are seen immediately but they can be a little more invasive leading to more bruising, swelling and discomfort.
So there you have it — the difference between the 2 most popular aesthetic treatments. Do remember that nowadays most people need a combination of both of these to have a natural look without looking plastic or ‘frozen’ and you should always see a professional aesthetics clinician in a regulated clinic with full aftercare provided.
