What’s the difference between BOTOX and Dermal Fillers?
Botox and dermal fillers are two of the most popular injectable cosmetic treatments in the world today. While they are both minimally-invasive treatments and can achieve amazing results, they each have unique attributes that set them apart.
Many people ask the question: what is the difference between Botox and fillers? To put it simply, the differences are found in how they function. Botox is characterized by its ability to freeze the underlying muscles of the skin, leading to a reduction in wrinkles. Fillers primarily focus on plumping up regions of the skin that have lost volume over time due to the natural aging process.
Botox and dermal fillers are two essential parts of any quality anti-aging routine and can give patients a more youthful aesthetic. The two products are often used in tandem to help patients achieve results that last even longer. Let’s take a look at the differences between these products.
What is Botox?
Botox is a type of injectable treatment, known as a neurotoxin, that is used for its ability to smooth out wrinkles and fine lines. It is essentially a type of botulinum toxin that is derived from a specific kind of bacteria. While this toxin can potentially make people ill when ingested in a large amount, it is a safe and miraculous tool when injected into the face in small amounts.
Botox is known for its ability to block nerve activity in the underlying muscles of the treatment area. This function keeps the muscle from contracting, resulting in a reduction of wrinkles and fine lines. With Botox, wrinkles can be smoothed out or even eradicated altogether. This treatment is often used to soften wrinkles in the eye region, on the forehead, or even around the area of the mouth.
Botox has been in use for over 30 years and has been proven safe to use. First approved by the FDA in 1989, Botox is not only a popular treatment for wrinkles, it is also used to address migraines, hyperhidrosis, and various other health issues.
In addition to Botox, there are other brands of injectable neurotoxins on the market that are used to help smooth out wrinkles. Dysport, Jeuveau, and Xeomin are also utilized to freeze muscle activity and reduce wrinkles. However, Botox remains the most popular option as it is the best known and most used brand by most cosmetic practitioners. Moreover, statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) have shown that approximately 7.7 million Botox treatments were performed in 2019, making it the number one minimally-invasive cosmetic treatment of the year.
The effects of Botox and other injectable neurotoxin brands can last up to 6 months.
What are Fillers?
Another type of injectable, dermal fillers are products that work by filling in tissue that has seen some amount of volume loss. Fillers are most-often used in areas such as the cheeks, lips, and around the mouth. Plumping up these regions gives the face a more youthful aesthetic by softening fine lines and increasing volume.
Fillers can be used for:
- Enhancing the volume and shape of the lips
- Smoothing out lines that develop between the brows
- Softening the nasolabial folds between the nose and mouth
Some dermatologists may also employ these fillers to improve the appearance of scars, reduce the look of forehead wrinkles, or increase volume in other areas.
Juvéderm and Restylane are two of the most popular dermal fillers used by dermatologists today. These products are based on a naturally-occurring chemical of the body known as Hyaluronic Acid, which can add a youthful plumpness to the skin. Hyaluronic Acid is found in the body’s fluids and tissues and is a common ingredient in various beauty products. A gel form of this chemical is injected directly into the patient’s skin to add volume to the treatment area.
First approved by the FDA in 2006, Juvéderm has proved to be a safe and reliable anti-aging treatment. Statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show that approximately 2.7 million dermal filler procedures were performed in 2019, making fillers the second most popular minimally-invasive treatment of that year.
What is the takeaway?
Overall, Botox and fillers are very different products and can achieve different results. Each product is designed to treat different areas of the skin and different issues. As with any cosmetic procedure, patients are recommended to consult with an experienced physician before making any treatment decisions.
The best way to determine which product would be best for you is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Cheng and their staff. Give our office a call at 408-255-3223 or reach out online.