Botox and fillers can both be used to correct wrinkles, but they work in different ways. Both treatments are quick and usually painless. Understanding the differences between these two treatments will help you decide which one is right for you.
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What is Botox?
Botox is a neuromodulator that blocks specific nerve receptors from telling the muscles to contract, preventing wrinkles from forming on the skin above those muscles. Its active ingredient, botulinum toxin a, is dilute enough to not affect the overall look of your expressions or face (you won’t look “frozen”) while dampening the muscle contractions that cause wrinkles when making certain expressions.
What Can Botox Correct?
Botox can help eliminate wrinkles that form when you make certain expressions. It’s been approved by the FDA to be injected into areas like around the eyes (crow’s feet) and between the eyebrows (frown lines), and can be used successfully in other areas of the face as well. The lasts about three to four months, depending on the dose administered. Multiple areas can be treated at once depending on your desired effect, and there are no long-term side effects.
Common side effects you may experience after a Botox treatment include:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Bleeding
These effects fade quickly and allow you to continue throughout your day as normal assuming there are no other more serious effects, such as numbness or shortness of breath.
What is a Filler?
There are several types of dermal filler, but the most common one uses an active ingredient called hyaluronic acid. This is the type of filler marketed as Juvederm or Restylane. Fillers are injected into an area of wrinkles, lines, folds, or volume loss to help draw water to the area and create a more plump, youthful look and physically fill in folds like nasolabial lines.
Fillers are usually injected by a plastic surgeon trained in the proper techniques and who is highly aware of the facial anatomy, although other medical professionals can also perform them.
What Can Filler Correct?
Hyaluronic acid fillers can and make the skin look smooth. They can also reduce wrinkles, tighten the face, and eliminate crowfeet. The most common concerns people come to New Image Plastic Surgery for are:
- Volume loss in the cheeks
- Hollowness under the eyes
- Deep nasolabial folds
- Marionnette lines
- Lip augmentation/definition enhancement
- Smile lines
What to Expect From Filler Injections
The injection process for dermal fillers is highly similar to that of Botox, except the active ingredient is typically a slightly thicker gel. There’s no downtime required after dermal filler injections, and common side effects like redness and swelling will dissipate in under a week.
Hyaluronic acid fillers tend to last longer than Botox injections, but the two are distinct treatments that fix different issues, so they’re not interchangeable. Most fillers last at least 6 months depending on the amount and location of injection.
Injectable Facial Contour Enhancement in San Antonio, TX
If you’re interested in getting started with these non-invasive treatments to hone your facial contour and get rid of pesky wrinkles, don’t hesitate to contact us today. We can answer any questions you have and get you started on a treatment plan that is customized to your goals and concerns.