If you are unsettled by the wrinkles and fine lines that are starting to appear on your face, botox and fillers are great options for reversing signs of facial aging. They are both cosmetic injectables that can be used to rejuvenate your appearance, but they are not the same, because they tackle different problems. But what is the difference between botox and fillers.
The information below will help you understand the difference between botox and fillers.
What is Botox?
Since being approved by the FDA for cosmetic use in 2002, botox has become one of the most sought-out anti-aging treatments worldwide. Botox is the brand name for a substance known scientifically as botulinum toxin type A. It is a neurotoxin produced from the bacterium clostridium botulinum.
When used for cosmetic purposes, botox helps to minimize the appearance of dynamic facial wrinkles. These are wrinkles that form as a result of the repetitive movement of the facial muscles, and are produced by expressions such as frowning, laughing, and squinting. It can be used to reduce forehead lines, frown lines, and crow’s feet.
How botox reduces wrinkles
Botox is a muscle relaxing agent that temporarily interrupts the transmission of signals from the nerves to the muscles. It inhibits the release of neurotransmitters that normally cause the muscles to contract. As a result, the muscles stay relaxed, so the overlying wrinkles soften over the following weeks.
Botox is injected into the specific muscles using a tiny needle and treatment takes 15 minutes on average. Botox is very safe, because only a small concentration of the drug is used. There is little discomfort during treatment and no downtime.
The duration of botox is variable, but the effects typically last 3-6 months.
Dermal fillers
Dermal fillers also known as facial fillers can be used to reduce the appearance of moderate to severe wrinkles. Unlike botox, they also enhance facial contours by adding volume to hollow areas such as the cheeks and temple area, and can augment the lips.
How fillers reduce wrinkles and add volume
There are a wide range of facial fillers on the market, but those derived from hyaluronic acid (HA) are the most popular. HA is a naturally occurring substance in the skin that retains and attracts water. However, levels of HA diminish with age, causing the skin to lose strength and elasticity.
When fillers that contain HA are injected into the skin the HA molecules attract and retain water, and this helps to plump and smooth the skin.
The effects of fillers typically last 6-12 months, but some fillers last for as long as 18 months.
Difference between botox and dermal fillers
When it comes to facial rejuvenation botox and fillers are not the same, but they are equally important.
The primary difference between botox and fillers relates to how they work. Botox
reduces the activity of the muscles that cause wrinkles, whereas dermal fillers fill in the hollow areas. There are also fillers that stimulate the production of collagen. Collagen is an essential protein that keeps the skin looking plump, firm, and youthful.
Botox softens lines and creases caused by facial expressions, but it does not add volume to the skin. It is used to soften wrinkles and creases across the forehead and between the brows, and reduce lines around the eyes.
On the other hand, fillers have a volumizing effect, and can also give the face structure. Fillers refresh the appearance as they restore facial fullness, and help to eliminate the hollow appearance brought on by the loss of facial volume due to aging. Fillers also soften the appearance of wrinkles such as marionette lines and nasolabial folds, and also enhance the lips.
Botox and dermal fillers should be seen as complementary treatments because they target different areas of the face. Botox is suitable for wrinkles and creases on the forehead and around the eyes, while fillers can be used to contour other parts of the face.
The results of dermal fillers are immediate, but the effects of botox normally take 5-7 days to show.
Would you like to learn more about botox and fillers?
Contact Juvanew Medspa, Rockwall, TX to find out more.
Call (214) 771-4611 today to find out more.