People who worry about their wrinkles may find it challenging to choose the best treatment options between dermal fillers and Botox, which are more long-lasting than several over-the-counter products.
While both procedures can treat wrinkles and are non-surgical facial rejuvenation, they differ in many ways. They don’t treat the same kind of wrinkles or use the same method. So, you must consider these differences before deciding.
If you’re concerned about your wrinkles, here’s a quick guide to help you compare Botox treatment benefits and those of dermal fillers, the different ways they work, and other factors:
What Is Botox?
Botox is a highly purified protein obtained from Clostridium botulinum bacteria. A large amount of this neurotoxin may be deadly, but a tiny concentrated amount can be an effective and safe treatment for correcting wrinkles.
Botox is injected into specific facial muscles to block nerve signals or reduce muscle contractions that cause fine lines and wrinkles, resulting in a youthful appearance. Botox treatment benefits interrupt the nerve signals, temporarily freezing the affected muscles. It also softens the wrinkles, reducing them or completely removing them.
What Are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal or soft tissue fillers are non-surgical facial rejuvenation procedures in which specially designed substances are injected beneath the skin surface to enhance facial contours, add fullness to the lip, and fill deep folds and wrinkles.
Dermal fillers use many substances, including Hyaluronic acid fillers, Calcium hydroxyapatite, Polylactic acid, Polyalkylimide, and Poly-methacrylate microspheres. These substances are designed to treat various cosmetic issues and reduce aging.
Do You Need Dermal Fillers or Botox?
Whether you need Botox for the lines or dermal fillers for facial rejuvenation depends on your wrinkles and how far you want to remove them. For instance, if you have deep wrinkles when you frown, it is more appropriate to opt for Botox. However, dermal fillers are an excellent option for wrinkles that appear without facial movement.
While injecting dermal fillers into wrinkled lines is possible, this may alter facial balance or worsen a patient’s appearance. So, unlike Botox, dermal fillers do not go directly into the lines; instead, they are used to rejuvenate the natural volume of a patient’s skin.
When dermal fillers are injected to treat chin and cheek areas, the areas that improve include the nose, mouth, and chin, giving way to a smoother appearance. However, dermal fillers and Botox are sometimes used together. Botox for the lines and dermal fillers to add volume to specific areas of the face that are sagging due to age.
You can choose between getting Botox or dermal fillers for smile lines or rejuvenating your skin with these procedures. Both are great treatment choices for appearing more confident and refreshed.
What Botox Corrects
Botox works on expression lines or wrinkles caused by the movement of facial muscles. It commonly treats wrinkles on the upper face, including the lines around the eye, the forehead, and the brows. These wrinkles are created by squinting, frowning, smiling, and other facial expressions.
Botox may not be the proper treatment if the lines are caused by loss of facial volume or sagging. Also, treatments with Botox are not permanent, as they may last only about four months. So, for Botox treatment benefits, it is necessary to repeat the procedure to maintain the wrinkle-reduction effect.
Common areas Botox corrects include:
- Frown lines
- Crow’s feet
- Forehead lines
- Sagging brows
- Jawline definition
- Pebbly chin
- Downturned mouth
- Fine lines near the nose
- Neck cords
Some people also experience side effects from Botox treatment, including the following:
- Paralysis or weakness near injected muscles
- Drooping brows or eyelids due to close-range injection in the eye area
- Itching, hives, or rashes
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dryness in the mouth
- Swelling, pain, bruising, redness, and bleeding in the treatment area
- Trouble breathing, making speech, or swallowing
- Blurry vision
To control these side effects, healthcare providers advise patients to avoid massaging or rubbing the treatment areas, as this can stop the spread of toxins to other areas of the skin.
What Dermal Fillers Correct
Depending on the choice of fillers, dermal fillers correct signs of aging. The treatment can add volume to thin lips, elevate shallow regions on the face, soften static facial lines, and reduce lines under the lower eyelid. Dermal fillers for smile lines correct wrinkles resulting from skin elasticity or collagen deficiency.
It treats common areas, including:
- Hollow cheeks
- Neck
- Earlobes
- Hollow temples
- Eye wrinkles
- Nose-to-mouth
- Hands
- Short chins
- Arms
- Downturned mouth
- Short chins
Dermal fillers are safe treatments, but people can encounter side effects. Licensed healthcare practitioners perform a dermal filler procedure using the appropriate fillers, like Hyaluronic acid fillers. But some common problems still occur in a few individuals, including:
- Blurry vision
- Skin itching or rashes
- Bleeding, redness, swelling, bruising
- Lumps
- Skin damage or scarring
Key Differences Between Dermal Fillers and Botox
So far, both dermal fillers and Botox are safe options. But their differences are still striking.
- Botox freezes the injected muscles during treatment to prevent wrinkles and creases caused by facial expressions, including frowning, smiling, and squinting. It treats the areas around the eye and the forehead.
- Dermal treatments use substances like hyaluronic acid fillers to fill up and smoothen areas that require more volume, including thin lips, sagging cheeks, wrinkles near the mouth, scars, the forehead, and any other area that has lost its fullness.
- Botox treatment results are durable for 3 to 4 months.
- The benefits of dermal fillers depend on the filler used and may also vary depending on the patient involved.
Conclusion
Botox and dermal filler procedures have recorded millions of safety results, mainly when performed. Both treatments have minor side effects. Fillers and Botox are non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments, but to enjoy their advantages, you must consider their possible risks before getting the desired treatments. Botox and dermal fillers are perfect procedures for those without underlying health conditions. But women who are breastfeeding or pregnant should avoid these treatments, as they might not be safe options. To ensure complete safety, discussing your wrinkle concerns with a qualified cosmetic surgeon or a board-certified health provider is best.
