Botox or Fillers? Which Treatment Is Right for Me?

There’s no doubt BOTOX and dermal fillers are really popular among both women and men. In fact, according to the most recent data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, nearly 8 million BOTOX treatments were performed in 2018, along with nearly 2.7 million filler treatments. That’s more than 10 million treatments overall. Since BOTOX and dermal fillers are used more often as we get older, it’s a good bet these numbers will continue to climb as more baby boomers and Gen Xers reach their senior years.

If you’ve got wrinkles and fine lines you’d like to get rid of, there’s a really good chance one of these options — BOTOX or dermal fillers — can help you smooth those imperfections and feel more confident, more attractive, and more youthful. The first step toward achieving your goals: Figure out which option is the better choice for you.

Dynamic vs. static wrinkles

Deciding between BOTOX and dermal fillers is pretty simple once you understand the type of wrinkles each of these injectables is designed to treat — and how each type works to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

BOTOX 

BOTOX is a very diluted form of botulinum toxin, a neuromuscular agent that works by blocking the nerve signals that control muscle movements. While it’s now best known as a treatment for facial aging, BOTOX first came into use decades ago as a treatment for uncontrollable blinking and other eye-related problems. Today, it’s also used to treat muscle spasms, excessive sweating, and migraine headaches.

In wrinkle treatments, BOTOX works by preventing facial muscles from contracting, which also prevents the skin from forming folds and wrinkles. As a result, BOTOX is most successful in treating dynamic wrinkles, which are wrinkles that form as a result of repetitive facial movements and expressions (like smiling, frowning, and squinting) over time. That includes lines around your eyes (crow’s feet), your brows (frown lines or 11s), and your forehead. BOTOX may also be used in some other areas, like the tiny “lipstick” lines around your lips. The effects of BOTOX typically last about six months or, but regular touch-up treatments can allow you to maintain your results indefinitely. With regular injections, you may even be able to wait a little longer between sessions as your lines naturally relax and diminish.

Dermal fillers

Fillers like Juvéderm^®, Restylane^®, and Sculptra^® Aesthetic are used to treat static wrinkles, lines that develop as a result of age-related changes in your skin, such as a decrease in collagen and elastin, hormone-related changes, chronic stress, excess sun exposure, genetic factors, and even gravity. In short, anything that’s not related to repetitive facial movements. Instead of blocking nerve signals, dermal fillers work by plumping up lines and wrinkles, helping to fill them in so they’re less noticeable.

Fillers can also be used to plump up your lips or to restore lost volume in your cheeks and other areas to enhance your facial contours (and sometimes give a gentle lift to the lower part of your face). While BOTOX is used more often in the upper third of your face (around your eyes, forehead, and brows), fillers are used more commonly in the lower two-thirds. Fillers can last anywhere from one to two years before a touch-up is needed.

Better together?

Depending on the wrinkles you want to treat, you might decide to have both BOTOX and dermal fillers to treat dynamic and static wrinkles. This combined treatment option is very effective in rejuvenating the entire facial area, and it’s sometimes referred to as a liquid face-lift. Fillers and BOTOX are compatible, so you don’t have to worry about having both types of products injected into different parts of your face. Plus, both injection treatments are performed right in our office on an outpatient basis, and there's no downtime, so you can fit your sessions into your schedule and get right back to your regular activities afterward. 

Learn more about BOTOX and fillers

At Open Canvas Laser, we offer both BOTOX and dermal filler injections using the most advanced techniques for optimal results. To learn more about these products and which options can help you get the outcome you’re looking for, book an appointment online today.