Botox and dermal fillers are non-surgical, medical treatments given through injections, usually with an aim to treat wrinkles and rejuvenate the patient’s appearance. There are several differences between the two to consider.
Botox contains purified bacteria that freeze muscles. In doing so, Botox can help minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles caused by facial expressions.
Dermal fillers contain ingredients that add fullness to areas that have thinned due to aging.
This thinning is common in the cheeks, lips, and around the mouth.
What is Botox?
Botox may help to correct dynamic wrinkles, such as crow’s feet around the eyes and horizontal lines on the forehead.
Botox injections relax the muscles near these wrinkles. Not allowing the muscles to move reduces the appearance of dynamic wrinkles.
Botox and other treatments made with botulinum toxin are sometimes called neuromodulators or neurotoxins.
What can Botox correct?
Botox only works on wrinkles that are caused by muscle movement. These are known as dynamic wrinkles, and are often called “expression lines.”
The most common dynamic wrinkles that Botox can treat are lines on the upper face, such as the “11” between the brows, horizontal lines on the forehead, and crow’s feet around the eyes. These lines are caused by smiling, frowning, squinting, and other facial expressions.
Botox will not work on fine lines and wrinkles caused by sagging or loss of plumpness in the face. These are known as static wrinkles. Static wrinkles include lines in the cheeks, neck, and jowl areas.
Botox is not a permanent treatment. Repeated treatments are necessary for continued wrinkle-reducing effects. Most people find that the muscle-relaxing effect of Botox lasts for 3 to 4 months.
What are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers also treat wrinkles on the face. They’re primarily used to treat smile lines, though the fillers can also be used to plump up the lips or cheeks. Sometimes, they’re used for hand treatments or to reduce the appearance of scars.
Dermal fillers, sometimes called soft tissue fillers, are substances designed to be injected beneath the surface of the skin to add volume and fullness.
Some fillers last 6 months, while others last up to 2 years or longer.
What can dermal fillers correct?
Different types of dermal fillers are designed to treat varying signs of aging. Depending on the filler selected, they may:
plump up thinning lips
enhance or fill in shallow areas on the face
decrease or remove the shadow or wrinkle under the eyes caused by the lower eyelid
fill in or soften the look of recessed scars
fill in or soften static wrinkles, especially on the lower face
Static wrinkles include those around the mouth and along the cheeks. These wrinkles are usually a result of a loss of collagen and elasticity in the skin.
Key differences between Botox and Dermal Fillers
In summary, the differences between Botox and fillers are:
Botox: This freezes muscles to stop creases and wrinkles caused by facial expressions. These are typically found in the upper face, such as the forehead and around the eyes.
Dermal fillers: These use hyaluronic acid and similar substances to “fill in” or plump areas that have lost volume and smoothness. This includes wrinkles around the mouth, thin lips, and cheeks that have lost fullness. They may also be used on forehead wrinkles, scars, and other areas that need extra volume for a smoother look.
Botox results last 3 to 4 months. Dermal filler results vary, depending on which filler is used.
Because Botox and fillers are different substances designed for different uses, they can be combined in one treatment. For instance, someone may use Botox to correct lines between the eyes and a filler to correct smile lines around the mouth.
Which is best for you?
In choosing between Botox and dermal fillers, you should first identify the skin problem you want to be fixed and which area of your face you want to be treated. At Vit&Drip Center our doctor analyses your face, skin, and recommends the best treatment, to achieve the results you want.
Botox and Dermal Filler Treatments at Vit&Drip Center, Puerto Banus, Marbella
At Vit&Drip Health and Aesthetics Center we offer a variety of skin rejuvenation treatments that can help restore a natural, refreshed appearance. Botox and dermal fillers are great treatments that require an experienced, medical approach.
Contact us today if you have any questions about our treatments, or want to book your consultation appointment.