Botox vs Dermal Fillers: Which Treatment is Right for You?
By Nelson Fernandes
Wrinkles, fine lines and loss of volume is a natural process of aging. The increasing environmental pollution also take their toll on our skin. Unhappy with the wrinkles and fine lines that have started to appear on your face? If so, you’ve probably considered getting Botox or dermal fillers to reverse these signs of aging. But how do you know the difference between the two and which treatment to go for. Both are popular procedures that help you regain your youthful looks. So, it’s better to know the difference between them and decide what is right for you.
What is Botox and How Does it Work?
Botox is a brand name for a form of botulinum toxin—a type of neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Botox is widely used as a cosmetic treatment to address signs of aging by temporarily reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. It can also treat dynamic wrinkles caused by the repeated movement of facial muscles, such as:
Frown lines
Crow’s feet
Forehead wrinkles
How Does Botox Work?
Botox works by temporarily blocking the signals between the nerve endings and the muscles, thereby preventing the muscles from contracting. When Botox is injected into a muscle, it binds to the nerve endings, inhibiting the release of acetylcholine–a neurotransmitter responsible for sending signals from the nerves to the muscles, causing them to contract.
When the muscles don’t contract, the wrinkles and lines caused by repetitive facial expressions, such as frowning or squinting, are temporarily smoothed out. The result is smoother skin with a more youthful appearance.
The effects of the treatment typically last for three to six months, and after this time, the treatment will need to be repeated to maintain the desired results.
What is a Dermal Filler and How Does it Work?
Dermal fillers are gel-like substances containing hyaluronic acid that can plump thin lips, enhance shallow contours, soften facial creases, remove wrinkles, improve the appearance of scars and enhance facial appearance.
We can understand how fillers work, by first understanding the role of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule in the skin that hydrates the skin and provides natural plumpness. As we age, the levels of hyaluronic acid in the skin reduces. This causes volume loss, especially around the cheeks, chin, and under the eyes. As a result, the skin sags and facial creases begin to form. Dermal fillers work to replenish lost volume by increasing the levels of hyaluronic acid in the skin. Once the filler is injected into the targeted facial areas, it adds volume, resulting in smoothing out of wrinkles and fine lines. This helps to restore the skin’s youthful appearance
Types of Dermal Fillers
Other types of dermal fillers include:
Sculptra- Made of Poly-L-lactic acid
Radiesse- Contains calcium hydroxylapatite
Bellafill- Permanent soft tissue filler that can’t be absorbed by the body and requires no reinjection
Key Differences Between Botox and Dermal Fillers
The difference lies in the treatment mechanism of both. Botox reduces wrinkles by freezing the muscles underneath the skin. Fillers work by plumping up areas of the skin that have lost volume and fullness due to aging. They can also help to define features like your jaw, nose, or lips. Both Botox and fillers can be used under expert guidance as important parts of your anti-aging routine to reverse aging and give you smoother, younger looking skin.
How Long Do Results From Botox and Dermal Fillers Last?
Botox treatments last between three to four months before the neurotoxin wears off and the muscle regains function. It is best to schedule a repeat visit before the neurotoxin completely wears off to maintain your results.
Dermal filler treatment results can last up to 18 months, depending on the type of filler used. Most dermal fillers are made of substances that the body can gradually break down and absorb naturally. This means that the results from hyaluronic acid dermal filler treatments are not permanent, since the body absorbs it over time. Repeat treatments are necessary to maintain the results.
Can Botox and Dermal Fillers Be Used Together?
Botox and dermal fillers can be used together to target different areas of the face. For a complete facial rejuvenation, your practitioner may administer Botox around the forehead and around the eyes and dermal fillers around the cheeks and chin to give you a fuller look.
In addition, using both treatments may prolong the results. Hyaluronic acid in dermal fillers breaks down quickly and sometimes during a dermal filler treatment, up to 30% can be absorbed on impact. Using Botox treatment to relax the muscle before getting a dermal filler injection reduces the absorption rate of hyaluronic acid, thereby reducing the quantity of filler required and may also prolong the results.
Does Botox and Dermal Fillers have Side Effects?
Botox and fillers are generally safe when administered by a medical professional. However, as with any other medical procedure, there could be potential risks and side effects associated with Botox and fillers.
Common side effects of Botox:
Bruising or swelling at the injection site
Headache
Nausea
Serious side effects of Botox can include:
Drooping eyelids or eyebrows
Breathing difficulties
Swallowing difficulties
Spread of the Botox to other parts of the body
Common side effects of Fillers:
Bruising or swelling at the injection site
Redness
Pain or discomfort
Infection
Nodules or lumps under the skin
Serious side effects of fillers can include:
Allergic reactions
Blindness
Scarring
Skin necrosis (death of skin tissue)
It’s advisable to consult a medical professional before opting for any Botox or dermal filler treatment. The medical professional will appraise you of the treatment’s potential risks and side effects and decide if it’s right for you.
Procedure for the administration of Botox and Fillers?
The procedure for receiving Botox injections and dermal fillers involves the following steps:
1. Consultation: During consultation a trained doctor will discuss your immediate concerns and goals for the administration of Botox or fillers. The doctor will evaluate your face and muscle structure to determine what treatment is right for you. You can then schedule a treatment session or have it performed on the same day if you’re comfortable.
2. Preparation: At the beginning of the procedure the doctor will clean the area to be treated and may apply a local anaesthetic (lidocaine) if needed to minimize discomfort.
3. Injection: Botox is then injected directly into the targeted muscles using a fine needle, while dermal fillers are injected directly into the skin. The procedures for both require no downtime and can take about 30 minutes to an hour to complete.
4. Recovery and discharge: In normal circumstances there could be no long recovery time needed and so you can be discharged 30 minutes after the procedure and return to your normal routine immediately after the treatment.
5. Follow-up session: It is advisable to schedule a follow-up session within two weeks of your treatment so that the doctor can examine the results and perform
-ups if necessary.
A thorough consultation with a medical professional is a must before undergoing any Botox or dermal filler treatment, to avoid potential risks associated with the procedure.
Dermal Fillers & Botox: Results to Expect!
Botox Results: Significant results can be seen as early as three to four days after the Botox treatment. Though, for best results to show, it can often take up to 14 days.
Dermal filler results:On the other hand, dermal filler treatment results are visible immediately after the treatment. The full effects to show up may take a few weeks as the filler takes time to fully settle in the targeted area.
Recovery After Botox and Dermal Fillers
As mentioned earlier Botox and dermal fillers are generally safe when administered by a medical professional. Hence, the recovery process after Botox injections and dermal fillers are minimal and short. Most people are able to return to their normal routine immediately after the treatment. There could be mild swelling and redness at the injection sites after the treatment, but these will resolve within a few hours to a day after the treatment.
Bruising at the injection site after Botox or dermal filler treatment is relatively uncommon, but may occur in some people. If you do experience bruising, it should resolve within a few days. Others may also experience a headache after Botox treatment, which resolves on its own within a few hours to a day.
What to Avoid After Botox and Filler Treatment
It is advisable for a day or two after a Botox or dermal filler treatment, that patients avoid:
Touching the face to prevent infection
Strenuous exercises or excessive heat to prevent the treatment from migrating from the injected site
Taking alcohol to prevent bruising: Alcohol is a blood thinner and may cause or worsen bruising on the injection site
Cost of Botox and Dermal fillers
The cost of Botox and dermal fillers treatments are usually calculated depending on the type of the injectable substance, the dosage and the number of areas that require treatment. Other factors that may determine the cost of treatment is the location and reputation of the clinic, the medical professional’s skill and level of experience.
Botox or Dermal Fillers: Which Is Right for Me?
One of the most popular uses for Botox and dermal fillers is for smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines.
Botox: Botox treatments only work for wrinkles and fine lines caused by muscle movement, such as:
Crow’s feet from squinting
Forehead lines from frowning
Laugh lines from smiling
Dermal fillers: Facial creases caused by sagging or loss of volume are better treated with dermal fillers, these include:
Nasolabial folds
Wrinkles under the eyes
Static wrinkles on the lower face
In some cases, your doctor may recommend getting both Botox and filler treatment to correct all facial creases for a more rejuvenated look.
Choosing a Reputed and Experienced clinic for Botox or Dermal Fillers
It’s important to be diligent and check out the reputation of the clinic and the patient reviews to ensure your treatment is performed by trained, licensed and experienced medical professionals. The popularity of cosmetic treatments has created an opportunity for fraudulent doctors to capitalize on patients’ lack of knowledge. To avoid ending up with a botched procedure choose a clinic that specializes in cosmetic/aesthetic procedures and will provide you with quality service.
Here are some tips to help you choose the right clinic:
Check the clinic’s reputation from ratings and reviews. While ratings and reviews may not always be accurate, they can guide you away from clinics with a bad reputation.
Choose a clinic that offers free aftercare service. This provides an extra layer of “security” that the doctors are interested in making sure you get good results.
Compare the prices against the industry average. Too low rates than the average Botox price may be a red flag.
Rediscover Your Youthful Looks
Who doesn’t want to age gracefully, but sometimes the hands of time can be harsh and one cannot avoid the effects of aging. Botox and filler treatments can help reverse signs of aging, smooth out wrinkles and even out those facial creases. Both Botox and dermal fillers offer remarkable results and are excellent injectables to restore younger looks and a glowing complexion.