We love talking about cosmetic procedures on this blog; clearing up misconceptions, helping people make the right choices, giving you a bit of a back-end look at how all of this stuff works. We realized, though, that we’ve never done a direct comparison between two of the things we talk about the most: Botox, and dermal fillers. Today, we’ll take a brief look at the differences between the two, to help you decide which is best for you; sometimes, you’ll want a combination of both!
Botox
Botox, as longtime readers know, is derived from botulinum toxin, which freezes muscles. In high doses, this is botulism, a potentially deadly disease; at the low, well-applied and regulated clinical doses we use, Botox can solve a variety of issues, from cosmetic things like wrinkles, to more serious medical issues like eye twitching and vocal problems.
You’ve probably heard of a lot of celebrities getting Botox injections in Beverly Hills; what exactly are they getting? Quite simply, because Botox relaxes muscles, injections can be used with pinpoint accuracy to reduce the appearance of wrinkles that are caused by muscle movement. In other words, Botox is not used on wrinkles caused by sagging. The most common muscle movement wrinkles include forehead creases and crow’s feet.
Botox is incredibly safe – much safer than under-the-knife procedures. That said, those who have experienced nerve or muscle problems in the areas where the Botox is to be injected should talk to their doctor before the procedure; this goes double for anyone with an infection in the area. Learn about the conditions that could make Botox unsafe, and talk to your doctor about any health problems.
Fillers
Botox freezes muscles; fillers do something quite different. Often made up of a substance your body naturally produces, hyaluronic acid, fillers are used to do exactly what their name says: fill. They add plumpness and youthfulness to the tissues in your face, so they’re useful for wrinkles caused by sagging, as well as plumping lips, and decreasing the appearance of shadows.
There are potential side effects from fillers, but they’re quite rare; much like with Botox, you should let your doctor know if you’re experiencing any pain in the areas that are going to be injected, or if you’ve had any infections in the area. As always, you should give your doctor a heads up if you have any medical conditions.
Cosmetic procedures like these injectables are heavily weighted by aesthetic concerns; that means a holistic approach needs to be taken. When you have an injection in just one area, it can throw off the balance of your face; if a part of your face looks young, and another part looks older, it’s going to make people wonder. That’s why for most cosmetic considerations, your doctor will use some combination of injectables; it’s not unlikely that both Botox and fillers will be used.
