Aging is the continuous process that typically begins in your mid-20s. As time goes on, collagen production slows, and elastin, the substance that enables the skin to snap back into place, has a bit less spring. The signs of aging include:
If you’re struggling with these cosmetic issues, you’re not alone. In fact, over 9 million people used Botox or Dermal fillers to fix various facial cosmetic issues in 2015 alone.
Correcting unsightly conditions (such as wrinkles and sagging skin) is the specialty of Botox injections and Dermal Fillers. These injections, given in a doctor’s office, can correct a variety of aging complications. From droopy skin to undersized lips, Botox and Dermal fillers can give a rejuvenated look without patients having to undergo invasive surgical procedures.
However, there are significant differences between Botox and Dermal Fillers. So which product is right for you and your desired appearance?
Many people hear about Botox fillers in the media, and some even think that it’s the only available option. You can think of Botox fillers as wrinkle relaxers – they work by softening wrinkles and fine lines around active areas of your face.
Each injection of Botox is essentially obtained from purified botulinum toxin and is administered under the skin in a weakened form. But how does it work? The injection blocks nerve signals to a particular target muscle, which in turn softens the muscle and causes it to relax. Relaxed muscles temporarily eliminate wrinkles for a period of 3-4 months.
You may recognize Botox administered under the brand names Xeomin, Dysport, or Botox Cosmetic.
As a wrinkle relaxer, Botox injections work best on wrinkles directly caused by muscle movement. These are wrinkles that occur when you smile, squint your cheeks, frown, etc.
Botox works best when correcting the following facial issues:
Forehead wrinkles can make you look older while interfering with your facial expressions. The muscle-relaxing ability of Botox fillers can dramatically reduce facial wrinkles for several months at a time, thus creating a smooth forehead that complements your other facial structures.
Are you tired of that unsightly “11” that your skin forms between the eyes when you frown? Botox injections can limit excessive muscle movement in this area to smooth out and prevent frown lines.
Brands such as Dysport, Xeomin, and Botox are all great options for preventing your skin from contracting and folding when you make certain facial expressions.
As opposed to injectable neurotoxins that induce muscle relaxation, Dermal fillers are injected into strategic areas of your face to promote volume and fullness. They essentially puff up, hydrate, and lift areas that have little volume or deep creases.
Each injection of Dermal filler may consist of different active ingredients. Some use calcium hydroxyapatite, polylactic acid, or hyaluronic acid. Some brands include Restylane, Juvederm, Belotero Balance, Radiesse, and more. Each active ingredient will target a specific cosmetic issue with varying effects. While some injections last for a few months, others may provide results for up to 2 years.
Dermal Fillers works best when correcting the following facial issues:
Drooping or saggy cheeks can make you self-conscious anytime you smile. You can tighten and lift this sagging skin to create a fuller and more youthful complexion with dermal fillers such as Voluma, Vollure, Restylane, Restylane Lyft, and Restylane Defyne. They also can help you attain more defined features, such as higher cheekbones.
Hollow under-eyes are often the benchmark for determining a person’s age. Unfortunately, fine lines around the eyes can add years to your face due to genetics, squinting, sun exposure, and more. Luckily these can be treated with dermal fillers such as Belotero Balance injections, which work to plump up eye troughs and tighten sagging skin.
Facial scars may become embedded and recessed into various parts of your face. Dermal fillers can soften up and lift affected areas to create a cleaner facial appearance.
Another popular use of dermal fillers is to inflate undersized and flat-looking lips. These injections give your lips a full, hydrated appearance that can last for 6 months or longer.
Both Botox and Dermal fillers play an important role in fixing cosmetic issues related to aging. The key differences between them are that Botox relaxes tight muscles while Dermal fillers pump up and hydrate affected areas of the face. Therefore, the choice you ultimately make should depend on the look that you wish to achieve. Contact our team today to chat with one of our expert Aesthetic Consultants about your aging concerns.
