BOTOX® vs. Lip Fillers: Which Is Better for a Fuller Look?

Although its most well-known benefit is reducing expression wrinkles linked to facial movements, there is also a seemingly endless range of other applications for BOTOX®. For example, Newton’s Dr. Holly Happe at Happe Medical Aesthetics explains that BOTOX® can be used to help the upper lip “unfurl” or to reduce a gummy smile.

When it comes to shaping the lips, fillers have been a go-to option for years, considering how they add volume where desired. Introducing a hyaluronic acid gel into the lip can restore volume lost as collagen, fat, and moisture dwindle over time. The treatment can also boost lips that have been naturally thin for a patient’s whole life.

Not everyone, however, is ready to choose lip fillers to get the smile they want. BOTOX® is one of the most popular, non-surgical treatments in the world for its ability to smooth forehead lines and crow’s feet, but it is becoming increasingly popular for enhancing the lips themselves.

Both fillers and botulinum toxin injectables like BOTOX® are minimally invasive, low-risk treatments that are administered by injection, but there are some major differences between these two options that patients should consider.

If you’re searching for the best method to shape your smile, see below for a basic comparison between lip fillers and BOTOX® for the mouth area.

Lip Fillers

Full lips are usually considered to be one of the most attractive facial features a person can have. Dermal fillers, also known as facial fillers, are substances that are injected beneath the skin to improve volume. Lip fillers are specific facial treatments that add plumpness when they’re injected into the lips. Most fillers that are used in the lip area are temporary treatments that contain hyaluronic acid, which is a substance that occurs naturally in the human body. Lip fillers are commonly used for restoring the size and shape of lips that have become thinner, smaller, or flattened because of aging. They are also used for improving the shape of asymmetrical lips, softening wrinkles that form around the mouth, or boosting confidence and self-esteem. By adding volume to the upper and lower lip, they can make the lips seem more proportional and disguise a gummy smile. The results from lip fillers are visible right away and can last for one year or longer.

BOTOX®

Small amounts of BOTOX® can be used to improve the overall look of the mouth area, but keep in mind that treatments will have to be repeated every three to four months to preserve the results, since it is gradually metabolized within that time frame and muscle activity is restored. Botulinum toxin injections don’t actually add volume to increase the size of the upper lip, but by relaxing key muscles, they allow the upper lip to unfurl naturally, making it appear to be fuller and better defining its shape. The cupid’s bow and corners of the mouth are injected, which causes the part of the lip that remains inside of the mouth to curl outward and upward on its own. BOTOX® also reduces wrinkles that are caused by repetitive movements that stretch the skin around the mouth. The results from this treatment are usually much more subtle in comparison to lip fillers.

BOTOX® can also be used to reduce what is known as a “gummy smile,” which reveals an excessive amount of gums when the patient smiles. Adding a small amount of the injectable lateral to the nostrils can relax the upper lip so that less gum shows.

It can take up to five days for the active ingredients in a BOTOX® injection to begin working.

There is no single “right answer” when it comes to deciding which treatment is best for a patient who wants their lips to stand out. Patients should seek out a consultation with a trained, experienced, and reputable injector in order to get guidance and a safe, effective treatment plan.

Learn more about the advantages of fillers and BOTOX® from Newton’s Dr. Happe Medical Aesthetics by setting up a consultation to discuss injectable treatments. Call (617) 597-2600 or fill out a contact form to schedule a consultation.