Botox vs Fillers: Choosing the Right One!
To get anti-aging and anti-wrinkles treatment, injectables such as Botulinum Toxin and or Filler are used. If you’re new to Botulinum Toxin and Filler injectables, you may have a curiosity about Neurotoxin and dermal fillers. Neurotoxin and fillers are minimally invasive procedures that are used to treat skin through injections. If you’re about to have your anti-ageing or wrinkles treatment, you may find it difficult to select between Botulinum Toxin and fillers.
Botulinum Toxin and fillers are two different things, but both treatments use injections. Both can treat wrinkles on the face. Wrinkles basically occur because of the movement of your skin. Many factors contribute to wrinkles which include ageing, exposure to the sun, muscle contractions and consistent smoking [1].
To find out which treatment is best for you. Let’s have a look at what they are, how do they work, what are their pros and cons, how much they cost and what results they produce!
Botox:
Botulinum Toxin is obtained by purifying botulinum Botulinum Toxin obtained from bacteria [2]. It has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Neurotoxin helps correct fine lines and wrinkles on the face.
A very little amount of Botulinum Toxin is used for this purpose because it can be dangerous when used in large amounts [3].
Botulinum Toxin is also called muscle relaxer or neuromodulator. It works in a way that relaxes the facial muscles, thereby reducing wrinkles. The working mechanism of Botulinum Toxin is the blockage of nerve signals in facial muscles as a result of which muscles are frozen.
It is a pain-free treatment which causes a reduction in crow’s feet, laugh lines and frown lines by preventing facial muscles from contracting. A few Botulinum Toxin injections are enough to improve your skin.
Botulinum Toxin results become visible in 9-10 days and last for 5-6 months. Botulinum Toxin is being sold under many different names.
Dynamic wrinkles are treated through Botulinum Toxin, which occur in eyebrows and around the mouth and eyes. The main factor for these dynamic wrinkles is aging. Fine lines which are produced because of collagen breakdown are not treated by Botulinum Toxin. Injections take a few minutes to relax your muscles, showing the noticeable results in just 10 days.
Injection Treatment
How efficient are the Botulinum Toxin injections?
Botulinum Toxin treatment is considered to be very simple, safe and efficient. The results are seen in a few weeks after treatment. The efficiency of an experienced and trained doctor is also important in better results.
It is a sensitive procedure that should be handled with great expertise. In the United States, Botulinum Toxin procedure is the number one procedure to fight wrinkles.
How much it costs?
In developing countries, Botulinum Toxin treatments are relatively expensive because of high living costs. The Botulinum Toxin treatment cost varies with the quantity of product required. It also varies from country to country.
The cost of Botulinum Toxin treatment is relatively lower than the fillers.
Side effects of Botulinum Toxin:
Poor techniques of Botulinum Toxin injections are a major cause of Botulinum Toxin side effects.
- A skin injury or bruise at the site of injection.
- Eyelid drooping
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Itchy eyes
Dermal Fillers:
Dermal fillers are also called soft tissue fillers to add volume to the skin. The fillers are injected under the surface of the skin to add fullness.
If you have lost your facial volume, the dermal fillers can help restore it. Dermal fillers give a refreshing appearance to your skin by adding volume to cheeks and lips. They also help reduce wrinkles and fine lines.
Calcium hydroxylapatite, Hyaluronic acid, polyalkylimide, polylactic acid and polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres are the substances used in dermal fillers [4]. Each substance is specified for treating specific issues.
Dermal fillers trigger the production of collagen, add volume to skin by lifting cheeks and plump up the thin lips.
A very fine needle is used to inject fillers into wrinkled skin to make it radiant, into lips to make your smile more beautiful. Lower and middle areas of the face are treated by fillers which are wrinkled because of ageing.
Instant and immediate results are observed by dermal fillers. The results become visible in one day and can last up to 6 months. Fillers injected into cheeks areas last for more than 2 years. Calcium hydroxylapatite fillers are used for deep filling and can last for 1-2 years.
How efficient are the Filler Injections?
Filler injection treatment is best suited to smooth up the skin and plump lips. It takes only 30 minutes to perform it. These treatments are handled with great expertise. A well-trained staff of doctors should be consulted for such sensitive procedures. Amount of these fillers also greatly depends on the efficiency of filler treatment. Excessive use and use of larger amounts destroys your skin texture and wrinkles your lips and cheeks. But, as compared to Neurotoxin injections, dermal fillers are considered to be more efficient with better results. One main advantage of these dermal fillers is that if you do not like the result, they can easily be reversed.
Lip filling procedure
How much do they cost?
The costs of dermal fillers greatly vary with the region of the country and the doctor performing such procedures. For lifting cheeks, these fillers cost 900-1000 dollars per cheek. For plumping lips, they cost 700-800 dollars, and for treating nasolabial folds, they cost 500-800 dollars. Lifting of cheeks is more expensive than plumping up the lips.
Risks associated with dermal fillers:
There are several risks associated with filler injections:
- A minor injury or pain at the site of injection
- Itching
- Lumps formation in the skin
- Nausea
- Discoloration of skin
- Skin damage
- Tenderness of skin
Both procedures provide multiple advantages to your skin. Both Botulinum Toxin and Fillers provide radiant and anti-aging skin. Schedule a free consolation with a Dr Refresh med spa medical team to discus whats best for your goals. Or book your appointment now here
References:
- Funt, D., & Pavicic, T. (2013). Dermal fillers in aesthetics: an overview of adverse events and treatment approaches. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 6, 295–316.
- Flynn TC. Botulinum toxin: examining duration of effect in facial aesthetic applications. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2010;11(3):183-99.
- Jia Z, Lu H, Yang X, Jin X, Wu R, Zhao J, Chen L, Qi Z. Adverse Events of Botulinum Toxin Type A in Facial Rejuvenation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2016 Oct;40(5):769-77.
- Brody, H. J. (2005), Use of Hyaluronidase in the Treatment of Granulomatous Hyaluronic Acid Reactions or Unwanted Hyaluronic Acid Misplacement. Dermatologic Surgery, 31: 893-897.