Botox Vs. Filler: What’s the Difference?
04 Feb 2022
Navigating the benefits that Botox® and dermal fillers provide can be overwhelming, especially for new guests that are unsure which one is right for them. Understanding the differences between Botox® and fillers is key to start conversations with a medical aesthetician. SKN BAR RX is here to SERVE THE GREATER MILWAUKEE AREA and guide you through INJECTABLES, HOW THEY WORK AND how our team of medical aestheticians can help you achieve your skincare goals with a treatment plan.
To understand how Botox® and dermal fillers work and what they actually do to your body, it is important to understand static wrinkles and dynamic wrinkles. Wrinkles naturally occur on our body because of the way that our skin and muscles fold. Static wrinkles are lines that naturally appear on the body when the muscles are in a relaxed state. As we age, our body loses fat and collagen, causing our skin to lose elasticity. On our facial muscles, tis can appear as lines on the corners of the mouth, on our neck, and our forehead in some cases, for example. Dynamic wrinkles are lines that appear when we are expressing our emotions. Some of the most common examples are frown lines, crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes, or smile lines. Anytime that you smile or furrow your brow you might see these appear on your face. Constant use of these muscles can make dynamic wrinkles appear more predominantly on the face and speed up the aging process, making us look older.
What is botox?
Botox® is the brand name of the protein botulinum toxin, which is used to temporarily weaken or paralyze the specific muscle that it is being injected into. This temporary paralysis allows the muscle to become relaxed therefore decreasing wrinkling of the skin. Aside from cosmetic usage, it can also help treat migraines, muscle spasms and eye twitching, teeth grinding, and even excessive sweating. There are four types of botulinum toxin that is FDA approved in the US: Botox, Dysport, Xeomin and Jeuveau.
Botox® is the number one injectable and is widely used to smooth fine lines and diminish dynamic wrinkles caused by facial expressions. It is also commonly used around the eyes, nose, mouth, forehead and between the eyebrows, where we are most commonly using facial muscles to chew, smile and squint. Botox treatments are minimally invasive, require no downtime, and the procedure can be performed in less than an hour. You can start seeing the effects of the Botox® injections usually around 2 days after they are administered. While many patients start using Botox® between the ages of 35 to 40, it can also be used as a preventative measure starting as early as 25 to treat wrinkles before they are formed. Genetics plays a huge part of where these lines can form, and a licensed medical aesthetician can help guide you and make informed choices to start a treatment plan to help you look your best before these lines set into your skin.
What ARE FILLERS?
A dermal filler is an injectable gel that adds volume to the area of the face that has sunken in. Fillers can be made out of a variety of temporary and permanent materials that vary in weight and texture and are used to treat static wrinkles. In addition to filling areas of lost volume that naturally occur, fillers are known to stimulate collagen production to boost elasticity of the skin. There are two main types of fillers: Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Fillers and calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) fillers.
HA Fillers are the most popular type of dermal filler used to treat sunken in areas of the cheeks, under-eyes, lips and more. They come in different textures and weight and usually last about 5 to 24 months. The different textures and weight are used in differing areas of the face to achieve various results. HA fillers are derived from hyaluronic acid and are an effortless way to achieve instant results to fine lines and creases and instantly boost the skin’s hydration levels. Hyaluronic acid is an acid that is found naturally in the human body in areas like our joints, nerves, hair, eyes, and skin. It helps attract water in the cell and it helps in the plumping effect that fillers are known for.
Calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) fillers are heavier in weight and are used to mimic bone structure. CaHA fillers are most commonly used in the cheeks, around the jawline and the lower facial area to achieve a voluminous look around the targeted area. These fillers usually last around 12 to 14 months.
WHICH IS BETTER FOR YOU?
It depends on the area of concern that our patients want to treat. If you are looking to treat dynamic wrinkles caused by facial expressions commonly found around the eyes, nose, forehead, and mouth, Botox is the way to go. If you are looking to lift or reshape your facial structure, plump lips, or treat heavier lines and creases, filler may be for you. Both fillers and Botox treat lines and wrinkles, but Botox® treats lines by paralyzing a muscle and filler treats wrinkles by filling the lines in with volume. Botox can be used in combination with dermal fillers safely to address multiple issues, so you are not limited to choosing one or the other.
While both types of injectables remain very popular treatment options and they are increasing in popularity every year, they each have specific uses, although they can safely be used in conjunction with one another, especially for patients that want to address very precise needs. If you’d like to know more about Botox, see these 7 Common Botox Myths!
To get a better understanding of your skin goals, SKNBAR Rx offers free consultations with our professional staff, which can help you decide between Botox and filler for your specific skin concerns. Our consultations only last between 15-45 minutes but are so important to address not only your skin concerns, but also educate you on the risks involved with these procedures. During consultations, you can also discuss what your treatment plan might look like and schedule sessions ahead of time. We want you to feel your most beautiful and confident, but both Botox and fillers are medical procedures that need to be administered by a medical professional.
Possible Side Effects
Normal side effects of Botox® and filler include tenderness at the injection site, redness, and bruising. If you are experiencing a rash, drooling, a crooked smile, eye dryness, eyelid drooping, or any vision issues, contact your certified injector or care provider immediately. The best way to avoid negative side effects is to find a highly trained and experienced injector like the staff available at SKN BAR Rx.
Both Botox and filler are considered safe and effective ways to tackle aging and help restore a youthful appearance. Whether your goal is to plump your lips, reshape your facial structure, or to smooth wrinkles for a brighter and younger look, SKN BAR Rx is here to help you achieve real results with science-based skincare.
At SKN BAR Rx, our certified nurse injectors are highly trained and experienced, offering you safest and most effective treatments. To learn more about Botox and how our Milwaukee injectors are uniquely qualified to administer cosmetic treatments to meet your specific SKN goals, book your complimentary consultation today.
Call SKN BAR Rx at 414.488.7900 to start your rejuvenation journey to youthful SKN!
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