Botox is so well known today that many people think all face injectables must be Botox. In fact, Botox and dermal fillers are completely different products that each have something to offer. To fully understand the differences between Botox and dermal fillers like Restylane and Juvederm, it’s important to first know more about how each product works. Here’s what you need to know about the differences in Botox and dermal fillers.
Botox: What it is and How it Works
Botox is a neurotoxin that has a powerful effect on wrinkles. When Botox is injected into certain facial muscles — the ones that form wrinkles — it can reduce or eliminate those wrinkles. Botox is usually used in three main places on your face:
- The crow’s feet: the lines to the sides of your eyes that crinkle when you smile
- The forehead lines: the long fine horizontal lines that happen when you raise your eyebrows
- The between brow lines: the two vertical lines between your brows when you frown or squint
Botox is perfect for the kind of wrinkles that happen with muscle movement. It’s not helpful for wrinkles like deep folds on the side of your nose and mouth because those wrinkles result from facial volume loss. If you have those types of wrinkles, dermal fillers like Juvederm and Restylane are the best solution.
After Botox injections, you’ll notice the wrinkles smoothing themselves out gradually. It can take anywhere from a few days to a week to see the full effect of Botox treatment. Botox lasts for three or four months in most patients, although some people do get more longevity from the treatment. After your first Botox treatment, you can stay wrinkle-free by coming in for maintenance treatments every three months or so.
Dermal Fillers: What They are and How They Work
Dermal fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, which is something produced by your body naturally. Although you do have natural stores of hyaluronic acid, the quantity steadily decreases as you age. This could leave you with thin cheeks, deep lines, and thin lips.
Dermal fillers bring back the volume to the areas where you need it. It’s completely different than Botox because it’s not injected into your muscles but rather into the areas where you lost volume. Another use for dermal fillers is lip plumping. If you’re unhappy with the plumpness or even the shape of your lips, dermal fillers can change that for you. Restylane or Restylane-L is usually the best dermal filler for lip enhancement or for age-related lip volume loss.
If your main goal is adding volume to the midface or filling in deep lines and folds, Restylane Lyft or Juvederm Ultra Plus might be the best choice. There are also other specific formulas including Restylane Silk, Restylane Lift, Restylane Refyne, and Restylane Defyne. It all depends on what area you’re trying to volumize or enhance.
One of the best things about dermal fillers is that they offer instant results. You’ll see the results before you leave the office. However, it’s important to understand that the initial results usually include some swelling. Over the next several days, the swelling will go down and you’ll see the final results of your dermal filler treatment. The type of muscle-created wrinkles that Botox treats can’t be treated by dermal fillers.
Which is Right For You – Botox or Dermal Fillers?
It depends on the type of wrinkles you’ve got. The big difference between Botox and dermal fillers is that Botox helps with wrinkles on your skin’s surface and dermal fillers help with volume loss.
Both Botox and dermal fillers have their own specific uses, and they also work very well together. In fact, if you have concerns with both types of wrinkles, you can have Botox and dermal filler treatment during one single appointment.
Book your appointment at Sunrise Oral Surgery to get your Botox or dermal filler consultation today.
