What is the Difference Between Dermal Fillers and Botox?
Healthier, smoother, better-looking skin
Dr. Paul Angelchik is a Phoenix plastic surgeon who is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is also a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Angelchik is well-trained and experienced in all forms of plastic surgery, namely breast enhancement and facial rejuvenation. He has been serving patients for over 20 years. Dr. Angelchik brings his surgical experience, expertise, and quality care to patients in and around Phoenix, Arizona.
Dermal fillers and Botox are both proven methods of minimizing signs of facial aging. Their growing popularity has made them familiar to the general public. But many people are still often confused about the differences between the two treatments and commonly mistake one for the other. The truth is that both products contain different ingredients and work very differently from each other.
What are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are injectable gels containing active ingredients like hyaluronic acid. Popular brands include the Juvederm and Restylane product lines. Like Botox, they are often used to help prevent or minimize common signs of facial aging like lines and wrinkles. They offer impressive temporary results and require periodic retreatment to maintain their results after the injected product has been completely absorbed by your body. The results of most dermal fillers are instant, smoothing lines in the lower face or redefining the facial features like the lips, cheeks, or eyes.
What is Botox?
Botox is the brand name of a safe botulinum toxin that is carefully purified under the strictest of controlled conditions in a laboratory. It works by temporarily paralyzing facial muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles. Common areas of treatment include forehead lines, crow’s feet, and lines appearing between the eyebrows. Botox has become an extremely popular anti-aging treatment and even helps to treat migraine headaches.
What is the difference between dermal fillers and Botox?
Although dermal fillers and Botox both involve anti-aging injections, that is where the similarity ends. While dermal fillers promote increased facial skin volume to minimize lines and wrinkles, Botox works by temporarily paralyzing facial muscles responsible for dynamic wrinkles. In effect, Botox acts to block the neurotransmitter chemical signal to prevent n from the motor nerve to the facial muscle responsible for the formation of a dynamic wrinkle. Although your brain is transmitting the message for the treated muscle to contract, it cannot receive the message and cannot form a wrinkle at the site of the injection.
Another difference between the two products is their ingredients. Botox consists of a safe botulinum toxin that temporarily paralyzes facial muscles. Dermal fillers contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which draws moisture into the skin to enhance facial fullness and smooth away fine lines and wrinkles.
How will I know which one is right for me?
When it comes to deciding between dermal fillers and Botox, it usually comes down to what type of wrinkles you need treatment for. Botox is most appropriate for the treatment of dynamic wrinkles formed by facial expressions like forehead lines, crow’s feet, squint lines, and lines between the eyebrows. Dermal fillers work best for static wrinkles that are evident when your face is making no expression and is relaxed. These areas tend to be depleted in substances like hyaluronic acid. Dermal fillers help fill in these types of wrinkles and enhance overall facial fullness.
Another key difference between Botox and dermal fillers is how long their results last. Botox treats dynamic wrinkles, with results lasting anywhere from three to six months. Dermal fillers treat static wrinkles, with results that can last up to a year or more, depending upon the product that you are treated with.
Deciding Between The Two
Understanding the difference between dermal fillers and Botox, along with your individual treatment needs and goals, will help guide you when you are seeking treatment for your wrinkles. Whatever your choice may be, both treatment options are remarkably safe and effective methods of revitalizing your skin and helping you look like a younger version of yourself.
