What is the difference between BOTOX and dermal fillers?

BOTOX vs dermal fillers

“Ugh, where did that come from?!”  Has that thought ever crossed your mind as you looked in the mirror in the morning?  Wrinkles. They can appear on your forehead, in between or at the corner of your eyes, around your mouth… It can be extremely frustrating, especially if you’re working diligently to prevent them with quality products.  Fortunately, they aren’t something you have to just live with. These lines can be eliminated without surgery thanks to BOTOX and dermal fillers.  But which is the best? And what is the difference between the two injectable treatments?

What is the difference between BOTOX and dermal fillers?

BOTOX is so common today that it’s actually a household name, but do you actually know how the injections work?  BOTOX injections are designed to block the signals from the nerves of the muscles that cause frown lines and crow’s feet. By blocking the muscle contractions from frowning and squinting and temporarily paralyzing the muscle’s movements, BOTOX can temporarily smooth facial wrinkles and improve your appearance. The keyword in that sentence is temporarily. BOTOX typically lasts anywhere from three to six months and the results start to appear within days. Learn more about BOTOX in Denver.  Dermal fillers actually refer to a range of products, each with its own different, unique attributes and they typically work in two ways: to plump and lift the skin, replacing collagen loss, and to stimulate the body to produce more of its own collagen.  Like BOTOX, dermal fillers can be used to smooth wrinkles; however, it is designed to do so by lifting the skin and adding volume to the face. Fillers don’t block nerve signals and prevent muscle contractions. Also, unlike BOTOX, which typically doesn’t last more than 6 months, dermal fillers can last up to a year or two, depending on the filler you choose.  BOTOX typically works best for dynamic wrinkles. These are the wrinkles that appear when you animate your face, such as the lines between your eyebrows when you frown, the lines the appear on your forehead when you raise your eyebrows or even the crow’s feet that appear at the corner of your eyes when you smile.  Fillers, on the other hand, are designed to enhance volume and treat static wrinkles, such as moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. Static wrinkles can be seen when you’re at rest, although they may increase in severity when you move your facial muscles. While they have multiple causes, they are typically the result of a loss of volume in the face from aging. Fillers can be used to augment the lips, treat lines around the lips, or even add volume to the back of the hands.

Which treatment is best?

This is definitely a question best discussed with your physician. The best treatment is entirely dependent on your unique situation, such as where the wrinkles are and what is causing them. Both BOTOX and dermal fillers can be extremely effective treatments and have proven results. Depending on the location of the wrinkles, your physician may even choose to use a combination of BOTOX AND dermal fillers to achieve the best possible results. Check out some of the great results patients have had with BOTOX.