What’s the Difference Between BOTOX® and Fillers?

When it comes to facial wrinkles, two main treatment options may come to mind: facial fillers and BOTOX® injections. Albuquerque, NM’s The Spa @ Western Dermatology Consultants says that many patients—especially those who are new to cosmetic procedures—may be unsure about whether they would benefit more one option or the other.

Although both are facial injectables that are introduced via needle, are used to treat wrinkles, and provide temporary results, there are some major differences between these types of procedures.

Not sure which one will be right for you? Although you might already know some of the basics, chances are you may have more questions about these treatments, especially if you have been considering what to do about signs of aging. After all, we’re spending more time focusing on our appearance and staring at our own image in video calls or selfies, so we are also analyzing every small wrinkle and line more.

Keep reading for more details about injectables that can address these lines:

What Is BOTOX®?

BOTOX® is what’s known as a neuromodulator. It’s designed to address wrinkles that occur due to years of moving your face in repetitive ways. When we make our smallest facial movements or expressions, the skin that’s attached to the facial muscles is continuously being stretched or squeezed. When we’re young, the skin snaps back into shape easily, but it becomes weaker over time and wrinkles begin to deepen. These wrinkles, which are known as dynamic wrinkles or expression wrinkles, show most noticeably when you’re expressing emotions. Some examples include crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead lines. The main ingredient in BOTOX® is botulinum toxin type A, a protein that’s derived from a bacterium. Once BOTOX®, is injected, it softens wrinkles by relaxing the overly expressive muscles at fault. Small amounts of the purified, diluted medication block signals from the nerves to inhibit muscle contractions. It only works on wrinkles that are associated with muscle movement, so it won’t work on lines that are caused by loss of volume or diminished elasticity.

What Are Facial Fillers?

Facial fillers, also known as dermal fillers or injectable fillers, are designed to add plumpness and lift to make up for the loss of volume that occurs as we age. In addition to reducing wrinkles, fillers are also a great way to refine facial contours such as the cheeks to improve the shape of the face or to volumize the lips. Most fillers only treat static wrinkles, which permanently remain visible even when the face is still. These wrinkles are not necessarily related to facial expressions. They develop due to a variety of factors that cause the skin to lose volume and elasticity, such as natural aging, smoking, sun exposure, a poor diet, air pollution, and stress.

Our skin produces smaller amounts of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid as we age, causing it to be more likely to wrinkle. Some examples of static wrinkles are nasolabial folds, smoker’s lines, and marionette lines.

Fillers are injectable gels made from natural or synthetic substances of various consistencies that are added to certain areas to replace the volume that has been lost. They “fill in” areas that have lost smoothness. Each filler has unique properties and is designed to address different signs of aging or other cosmetic issues. Many facial fillers contain hyaluronic acid as their primary ingredient.

Which Should You Choose?

Both fillers and neuromodulators are simple, quick treatments that are minimally invasive with little to no downtime or side effects. There’s no clear-cut answer to which procedure is better. The best treatment option will depend on the patient based on their needs, and goals. That said, many patients start off by having BOTOX®, since expression wrinkles tend to occur at a younger age and there is less downtime. You should talk to your provider about your needs and expectations to find out which choice is best for you.

Contact The Spa @ Western Dermatology Consultants for more information. Call 505-855-9267 or submit a contact formonline to request a consultation if you would like to learn more about cosmetic treatments to reduce wrinkles.