Cosmetic treatments such as Botox and dermal fillers are administered through injection, and the procedure often takes place in a doctor’s office. They do not require surgery because they are considered minimally invasive. However, beyond that point, there is no further similarity between the two.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Botox and dermal filler treatments accounted for more than 9 million procedures in 2015. This statistic reflects the treatments’ widespread popularity.
Botox is a muscle relaxant that comprises microorganisms that have been purified. Botox can help reduce the appearance of creases and wrinkles on the face that are produced by facial expressions by acting in this way.
Dermal fillers contain chemicals that provide volume to parts of the skin that have become less plump as a natural consequence of aging. The cheeks, lips, and area surrounding the mouth are typical locations for this thinning.
People need to have reasonable expectations about what they can accomplish in addition to being informed of the expenses and potential side effects of therapies.
What issues can be addressed by Botox?
The botulinum toxin is derived from bacteria, and the pure version of this toxin is known as botox. Although it can be fatal in greater doses, the minute and strictly controlled amount of Botox administered to treat wrinkles has been risk-free for many years.
Botox is effective because it prevents nerve signals from being transmitted to the muscles where it is injected. When these nerve signals are cut off, the muscle that is being impacted will become temporarily paralyzed or frozen. Certain wrinkles have the potential to be smoothed out, diminished, or even eliminated if the corresponding facial muscles that cause them are not used.
Neuromodulators and neurotoxins are both names that have been used to refer to Botox and other medicines that are manufactured using botulinum toxin.
Botox Cosmetic, Dysport, and Xeomin are all brand names for treatments that are manufactured with botulinum toxin. Botox Cosmetic was first introduced in 2002.
Botox is only effective on wrinkles that are brought on by the movement of the underlying muscles. These lines are commonly referred to as “expression lines,” while they are technically known as “dynamic wrinkles.”
Botox is particularly effective at treating dynamic wrinkles on the upper side of the face, such as the 11″ between the eyebrows, lines on the forehead, and crow’s feet around the eyes. These are the most prevalent types of dynamic wrinkles. These lines result from various facial expressions, including smiling, squinting, and others.
Botox is ineffective in treating fine lines and wrinkles resulting from sagging skin or a lack of fullness in the face. The term for these wrinkles is “static wrinkles.” Lines that appear on the cheeks, neck, and jowl areas are known as static wrinkles.
Botox is not a treatment that has a long-term effect. It is vital to undergo multiple treatments in order to maintain the effects of having fewer wrinkles. Most patients report that Botox’s muscle-relaxing effect lasts anywhere between three to four months at a time.
What are Dermal Fillers?
Substances that are designed to be administered beneath the skin’s surface to create volume and fullness are referred to as dermal fillers. These fillers are also occasionally referred to as soft tissue fillers.
The following are examples of substances that are used in dermal fillers:
Bones include a substance that is chemically similar to the mineral calcium hydroxylapatite.
Hyaluronic acid is a component of the body’s fluids and tissues responsible for the skin’s fullness and suppleness.
Polyalkylimide is a clear gel that is biocompatible and can be used inside the body.
Polylactic acid encourages the production of more collagen in the skin.
Polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres, also known as PMMA, are only semi-permanent fillers.
Each of these products targets a certain symptom of aging or another aspect of a person’s appearance that needs improvement.
Both the amount of time it takes for them to start working and the amount of time they continue to work differently. Some fillers last up to two years, while others only last six months.
People should have a conversation with their physician about their unique requirements and goals in order to identify which type of filler will be most beneficial for them.
There are several different kinds of dermal fillers, and each one is meant to treat a specific symptom of aging. They might be able to, depending on the filler that they choose:
- Fill out lips that are becoming thinner.
- Accentuate or fill in shallow areas on the face; reduce or get rid of the shadow or wrinkle under the eyes created by the lower eyelid; reduce or get rid of the appearance of sunken scars; fill in or soften the appearance of recessed scars.
- Fill in or soften wrinkles that have been there for a long time, especially on the lower face.
The creases that form around the mouth and on the cheeks are examples of static wrinkles. The typical cause of these wrinkles is the breakdown of collagen and suppleness in the skin as one gets older.
Important distinctions
To summarize, the following are some of the key distinctions between Botox and fillers:
- Botox is a treatment that numbs muscles in order to prevent the creases and wrinkles that are generated by making facial expressions. These are more common in the upper part of the face, particularly in the forehead and in the area surrounding the eyes.
- Dermal fillers are products that “fill in” or “plump up” regions of the skin that have lost volume and smoothness by utilizing hyaluronic acid and other comparable compounds. This comprises creases around the mouth, lips that are thin, and cheeks that have lost their fullness. They can also be used to treat wrinkles on the forehead, scars, and other places that could benefit from additional volume to provide a smoother appearance.
- The effects of Botox usually continue for three to four months. The outcomes of dermal fillers highly depend on the type of filler administered.
- Botox and fillers are separate substances created specifically for different use; nonetheless, it is possible to mix both in one treatment. For instance, someone might use Botox to fix the creases between their eyes, while another person might use a filler to correct the lines around their lips caused by smiling.
Make an appointment with Envi Aesthetics for a consultation if you want more information about the benefits of Botox and Dermal Fillers and how they might improve your natural features.