Aesthetics Services
Botox vs fillers—which one should you choose?
Wrinkles, furrows, fine lines and sagging skin are inevitable signs of aging. Partly due to decreasing collagen levels and partly due to UV radiation, fine lines and wrinkles can’t be stopped from appearing but you can reduce their severity once they do appear with Botox or dermal fillers. Both substances smooth away fine lines, brow furrows, wrinkles and nasolabial (alongside the nose) folds but the way they rejuvenate aging skin involves different chemical mechanisms.
How Do Derma Fillers Reduce Wrinkles?
Dermal fillers are anti-wrinkle agents that contain rich amounts of hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring substance produced by eye, joint and skin cells. HA keeps your skin hydrated, your joints lubricated and your eyes moist. With an amazing ability to attract and retain water molecules, HA helps maintains skin suppleness, skin elasticity and protects the skin against bacterial infections.1
Just like collagen, HA levels decrease as you age. That’s why older people commonly experience dry eyes, joint stiffness not attributed to arthritis and, unfortunately, wrinkles and sagging skin.2 Dermal fillers not only replenish skin with HA but also stimulates growth of new skin cells and collagen production. Juvederm, Radiesse and Radiance are a few well-known dermal fillers formulated to “plump” out nasolabial folds, frown lines, deep wrinkles and sunken cheeks.
The volumizing ability of hyaluronic acid visibly improves the appearance of lines and wrinkles almost immediately. More severe folding and wrinkling may require more injections of a dermal filler before you see desired results. To reduce discomfort during injections, your doctor will apply a numbing agent to your skin. Side effects of dermal filler injections such as swelling, redness and itching are minimal and disappear within 24 to 72 hours. Some people experience no side effects.3
How long the smoothing effects of dermal fillers last varies. Some people need follow-up injections every six to eight months while others can go as long as a year without needing additional treatments. Skin type, your age, severity of skin wrinkling, and other factors play roles in determining how long you can go between needing additional dermal filler injections.
How Does Botox Reduce Wrinkles?
Botox is an older wrinkle reducer first approved by the FDA in 2002 for cosmetic purposes. It has since been approved to treat migraines in 2010. Botox contains a nerve paralyzer called onabotulinumtoxinA that inhibits nerve activity in facial muscles. Once injected into problem areas, Botox essentially “paralyzes” muscle tissue so that it can no longer contract. Wrinkles and folds develop around the eyes and on the forehead as collagen levels drop and muscles are not longer as flexible as they used to be. After decades of being subjected to laughing, squinting, frowning and smiling, your facial muscles tend to remain in contracted positions that produce fine lines wrinkling and deep brow furrows.4
Botox is not a “plumping” agent and does not contain HA. For these reasons, Botox is recommended for reducing the appearance of crow’s feet, frown lines, brow wrinkling and sagging eyelids. Botox can also be used to smooth wrinkles around the mouth, but it will not give you fuller lips.5
Side effects of Botox injections are similar to side effects of dermal filler injections. Because Botox is a nerve paralyzer, some people may experience temporary muscle weakness around the injection site and slight drooping of the eyelid. Redness, swelling and discomfort can be relieved by placing a cold compress on injection sites.6
Most Botox patients see visible results within one to three days following a treatment session. Improvements can last up to eight months before touch-up injections are needed. Your age, skin elasticity, depth of wrinkling and general skin health determines when wrinkling returns. In addition, if you begin receiving regular Botox injections, the effects may last longer as muscles react to constantly being paralyzed by shrinking and shortening. Over time, many people find they need fewer injections to maintain desired results.
If you are interested in learning more about Botox or dermal fillers, contact us today to schedule a consultation appointment.
References
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326385.php
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-your-face-ages-and-what-you-can-do
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/dermal-fillers-the-good-the-bad-and-the-dangerous-2019071517234
- https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-science-of-botox-1069224
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6489637/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/botox/about/pac-20384658
Wrinkles, furrows, fine lines and sagging skin are inevitable signs of aging. Partly due to decreasing collagen levels and partly due to UV radiation, fine lines and wrinkles can’t be stopped from appearing but you can reduce their severity once they do appear with Botox or dermal fillers. Both substances smooth away fine lines, brow furrows, wrinkles and nasolabial (alongside the nose) folds but the way they rejuvenate aging skin involves different chemical mechanisms.
How Do Derma Fillers Reduce Wrinkles?
Dermal fillers are anti-wrinkle agents that contain rich amounts of hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring substance produced by eye, joint and skin cells. HA keeps your skin hydrated, your joints lubricated and your eyes moist. With an amazing ability to attract and retain water molecules, HA helps maintains skin suppleness, skin elasticity and protects the skin against bacterial infections.1
Just like collagen, HA levels decrease as you age. That’s why older people commonly experience dry eyes, joint stiffness not attributed to arthritis and, unfortunately, wrinkles and sagging skin.2 Dermal fillers not only replenish skin with HA but also stimulates growth of new skin cells and collagen production. Juvederm, Radiesse and Radiance are a few well-known dermal fillers formulated to “plump” out nasolabial folds, frown lines, deep wrinkles and sunken cheeks.
The volumizing ability of hyaluronic acid visibly improves the appearance of lines and wrinkles almost immediately. More severe folding and wrinkling may require more injections of a dermal filler before you see desired results. To reduce discomfort during injections, your doctor will apply a numbing agent to your skin. Side effects of dermal filler injections such as swelling, redness and itching are minimal and disappear within 24 to 72 hours. Some people experience no side effects.3
How long the smoothing effects of dermal fillers last varies. Some people need follow-up injections every six to eight months while others can go as long as a year without needing additional treatments. Skin type, your age, severity of skin wrinkling, and other factors play roles in determining how long you can go between needing additional dermal filler injections.
How Does Botox Reduce Wrinkles?
Botox is an older wrinkle reducer first approved by the FDA in 2002 for cosmetic purposes. It has since been approved to treat migraines in 2010. Botox contains a nerve paralyzer called onabotulinumtoxinA that inhibits nerve activity in facial muscles. Once injected into problem areas, Botox essentially “paralyzes” muscle tissue so that it can no longer contract. Wrinkles and folds develop around the eyes and on the forehead as collagen levels drop and muscles are not longer as flexible as they used to be. After decades of being subjected to laughing, squinting, frowning and smiling, your facial muscles tend to remain in contracted positions that produce fine lines wrinkling and deep brow furrows.4
Botox is not a “plumping” agent and does not contain HA. For these reasons, Botox is recommended for reducing the appearance of crow’s feet, frown lines, brow wrinkling and sagging eyelids. Botox can also be used to smooth wrinkles around the mouth, but it will not give you fuller lips.5
Side effects of Botox injections are similar to side effects of dermal filler injections. Because Botox is a nerve paralyzer, some people may experience temporary muscle weakness around the injection site and slight drooping of the eyelid. Redness, swelling and discomfort can be relieved by placing a cold compress on injection sites.6
Most Botox patients see visible results within one to three days following a treatment session. Improvements can last up to eight months before touch-up injections are needed. Your age, skin elasticity, depth of wrinkling and general skin health determines when wrinkling returns. In addition, if you begin receiving regular Botox injections, the effects may last longer as muscles react to constantly being paralyzed by shrinking and shortening. Over time, many people find they need fewer injections to maintain desired results.
If you are interested in learning more about Botox or dermal fillers, contact us today to schedule a consultation appointment.
References
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326385.php
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-your-face-ages-and-what-you-can-do
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/dermal-fillers-the-good-the-bad-and-the-dangerous-2019071517234
- https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-science-of-botox-1069224
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6489637/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/botox/about/pac-20384658
