Botox and fillers are both cosmetic treatments performed via injections, usually in a cosmetic surgeon's office. They don’t require surgery. Both cosmetic procedures are temporary and require repeated treatments. And that’s pretty much the only similarities between these two procedures.

However, dermal filler and Botox are equally popular treatments, accounting for over 9 million procedures performed in the year 2015, as reported by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

The injections given during Botox contain purified bacteria that help in freezing the muscles. In doing so, it minimizes the appearance of wrinkles and lines caused due to aging or facial expressions.

Dermal fillers injections contain ingredients that are helpful in adding fullness to areas which have become thinned because of aging. The area around the mouth, cheeks and lips are most prone to experience thinning.

This blog educates readers about the differences between dermal fillers and Botox while discussing the advantages and risks of treatment to help patients build realistic expectations about the procedure.

What is Botox?

Botox is used for correcting dynamic wrinkles, including the horizontal lines that form on the forehead and crow's feet that surround the eyes.

Botox is a type of purified form of botulinum toxin which is obtained from bacteria. Though Botox can be very deadly if used in large amounts, it’s regulated amount have been used safely for correcting wrinkles for decades now.

Botox blocks the muscle nerve signals wherever it is injected. The interrupted nerve signals then freeze or paralyze the affected muscle. Without movement in these selected muscles, certain wrinkles tend to become reduced, softened, or even removed.

Treatments including Botox that involve the use of botulinum toxin are called neurotoxins or neuromodulators. Some of which performed under the name Botox Cosmetic Treatment, Xeomin, and Dysport.

What can Botox correct?

Botox is only effective in treating wrinkles which are a result of muscle movement. These are called dynamic wrinkles, or "expression lines."

Some common dynamic wrinkles include lines present on the upper face, like "11" between the brows, forehead’s horizontal lines, and crow's feet shaped around the eyes. These visible lines are often caused due to frowning, smiling, squinting, or other facial expressions.

Botox cannot treat fine lines and wrinkles formed due to loss of plumpness or sagging on the face. These lines are known as static wrinkles, which include lines around cheeks, jowl and neck areas.

Botox side effects and considerations

Botox is considered a safe procedure by ASPS, which is performed by 6 million-plus people around the world and these number are increasing significantly every year.

However, some possible side effects of injectable Botox might include:

drooping of the brow or eyelid if it injected close to the eye

headache

pain, bruising, bleeding, numbness, redness or swelling

weakness or paralysis in the nearby muscles

rashes, hives, or itching

dry mouth

nausea

flu-like symptoms

trouble speaking, breathing or swallowing,

blurry vision or vision problems

gallbladder problems

There is also a risk of failure during the treatment because of the body’s antibodies natural instinct to fight the toxin. Less than 1 percent of recipients have a risk of experiencing this who undergo repeated Botox treatments.

How long does the results of Botox Last?

Botox is a temporary treatment. For wrinkle-reducing effects, patients need to have repeated treatments. At most, Botox’s muscle-relaxing effects usually lasts for 3 to 4 months.

Note:

Patients are recommended to avoid massaging or rubbing the area where the injection was injected after undergoing Botox treatment, as it can spread the toxins in the surrounding skin, and can cause muscle drooping or other problems.

What are fillers?

Dermal fillers, also called soft tissue fillers, are substances that are injected beneath the skin’s surface skin for adding fullness and volume.

Dermal fillers have also become a common cosmetic technique for plumping up thin lips.

Fillers might include the following substances based on which they are categorized:

Hyaluronic acid is found in certain tissues and fluids inside the body that can add plumpness or volume in the skin.

Calcium hydroxyapatite is a type of mineral-like compound present in the bones.

Polylactic acid helps in stimulating the skin to produce more collagen.

Polyalkylimide is a type of transparent gel which is compatible with the body that does not cause any side-effects.

Polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres (PMMA), is a type of semi-permanent filler

Note: Each of these substances are designed for treating different cosmetic issues and signs of aging. The time required by each filler to work, and how long they last, also varies. Some fillers can last for six months, while others can last up to 1 or 2 years.

The filler is selected by the cosmetic surgeon after determiningthe expectations and needs of the patients.

Dermal Fillers are used for:

Different dermal fillers are designed for treating various signs of aging or achieving a particular type of appearance. Depending on the type of filler selected, it may:

plump up thin or thinning lips

fill up or enhance the shallow areas present on the face

remove or decrease the wrinkle or shadow under the eyes that are caused due to the lower eyelid

soften or fill in the appearance of recessed scars

soften or fill in static wrinkles

Static wrinkles are present along the cheeks and around the mouth. They are caused because of loss of elasticity or collagen in the skin.

Risks and Considerations of Fillers

Dermal filler is a safe treatment but in some cases might cause side effects like:

itching, skin rash, or pimple-like eruptions

bruising, redness, swelling, or bleeding

undesirable appearance, including asymmetry in face structure, overcorrection of wrinkles or lumps

skin damage that results in an infection, wound, or scarring

mild to severe vision problems or blindness

ability or discomfort caused because of the feeling of filler substances under the skin

death of skin cells caused because of loss flow of blood

Key Differences: Botox Injection vs Fillers

In summary, Botox and fillers have the following differences:

Botox: freezes the muscles preventing facial expressions from causing creases and wrinkles on the face which form around the eyes or on the forehead.

Dermal fillers: use hyaluronic acid and other similar substances for "filling in" or plumping areas with lost smoothness and volume. This may include thin lips, wrinkles around the mouth, and cheeks which have lost fullness. Fillers are also used for scars, forehead wrinkles and other areas that require extra volume.

A Botox treatment usually lasts for 3 to 4 months, while Dermal filler results can vary, depending on the type of filler is used.

Because Fillers and Botox use different substances and are designed for different purposes, they can at times be combined into one treatment. For instance, sometimes Botox can be used for correcting lines between the eyes and also a filler for correcting lines around the mouth caused due to smiling.

Who is not a Candidate for Botox/ Fillers?

Botox and fillers are not suitable for breastfeeding or pregnant women.

People with certain health conditions (they should discuss all the medicines they are taking with the doctor who will decide whether they will be safe with Botox or fillers or not).

People who have unrealistic expectations with the treatment

Takeaway

Millions of recipients undergo both these treatments each year. Botox and fillers are safe cosmetic procedures with side effects affecting less than 1 percent recipients. To eliminate the risk of side effects patients should receive treatment at accredited hospitals with experienced government certified cosmetic surgeons.

A study published by JAMA Dermatology claims that injectable Botox and filler treatment performed by board-certified surgeons have a higher likelihood of lasting longer and providing the desired results.

Though the procedure does not include surgery, they still have a few risks which patients should educate themselves about before the treatment to take preventive measures.

For more information on the subject or finding the best cosmetic hospital in India contact Medmonks.