Injectables like Botox® and dermal fillers are the most popular cosmetic treatments in the United States, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgery, with millions of treatments performed each year. Able to smooth out wrinkles and reduce the signs of aging, it’s no wonder so many people turn to these injectables to help them look and feel their best.
Although Botox and fillers may seem similar in lots of ways, they’re actually used in different ways to treat various types of cosmetic concerns. If you’ve been thinking about injectables to help you reach your aesthetic goals, it’s important to educate yourself about these products, so you can make the best choice.
As a top-ranked aesthetics treatment provider in Salem, Virginia, Michele Meinhart, FNP, has extensive experience using both dermal fillers and Botox treatments for patients at Starkey Medical Esthetics. Here’s how each of these injectables is used and how to decide which option is the better choice for you.
It’s easy to understand why a lot of people are confused about the choice between Botox and dermal fillers. Both agents are injected, and treatments are performed on an outpatient basis.
Treatments are performed right in the office using a topical anesthetic to keep you comfortable.
There’s no downtime after either treatment, and both can be used to treat wrinkles.
Even more confusing: Both agents are frequently used in combination for what many have termed a “nonsurgical facelift.” And finally, both Botox and fillers are associated with high levels of patient satisfaction, which also explains why they’re used so widely.
Despite those similarities, Botox and fillers are definitely not the same. Perhaps the most important difference between fillers and Botox is how they work, which, in turn, influences how they’re used.
Botox is a neuromuscular agent designed to treat dynamic wrinkles — lines that form as a result of facial expressions. That includes crow’s feet, brow lines, bunny lines (around your nose), and forehead lines, as well as wrinkles around your lips and chin.
Once injected, Botox blocks signals between specific facial muscles and your brain, preventing those lines and wrinkles from forming. Custom dosing ensures your treatment smoothes out those lines and wrinkles without making you look “stiff.”
Dermal fillers use different formulations to treat mild-to-severe static wrinkles — lines that form from sun damage, genetics, stress, and loss of volume and elasticity. Though dynamic wrinkles tend to fade away or soften when we relax our facial muscles, static wrinkles hang around.
Dermal fillers work by “plumping up” those lines, so skin looks smoother and feels firmer. Fillers can also be used to plump up other areas that have lost volume, like your cheeks, the under-eye area, or even your lips.
Now that you know how fillers and Botox compare, it’s probably a little easier to decide which one is the better option for you. Still, it isn’t always clear which wrinkles and lines are dynamic and which are static.
The good news: Because both fillers and Botox are available at our practice, you don’t need to make those decisions on your own. Before any treatment happens, you’ll have an evaluation and consultation to discuss your concerns and your goals, so your treatment can be tailored to your specific needs.
Depending on your goals, we may recommend a single agent to rejuvenate wrinkles and lines in one or more areas of your face. Or we might suggest using both to address static and dynamic wrinkles or add some volume to areas where sagging is occurring. All those options will be thoroughly reviewed during that all-important consultation visit.
At Starkey Medical Esthetics, there’s no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” cosmetic treatment. Whether you choose fillers, Botox, or both, your treatment will be tailored to suit your specific goals, so you can feel confident in your beautiful results.
To learn more about Botox and fillers (and the other cosmetic treatments we offer), call 540-389-0909, or book an appointment online at Starkey Medical Esthetics today.
