Many of the most visible signs of aging can be traced back to two main causes operating in tandem: volume loss and repetitive facial movements. As your face loses volume, lines deepen around the nose, mouth, and forehead. Coupled with repetitive facial movements like smiling and frowning, lines and wrinkles become more pronounced over time. A more youthful appearance can be achieved by targeting these two causes through the use of dermal fillers, Botox, or both. Let’s cover the differences and similarities between the two.
What are Dermal Fillers?
As you age, skin tissues thin out, making wrinkles easier to see and causing skin to sag. Dermal fillers are intended to reverse this process by restoring volume and target areas like cheeks, jawline, chin, nasolabial folds and lips. There are a wide selection of fillers designed for specific areas to help recapture your youthful appearance.
Dermal fillers are made of hyaluronic acid, a substance that is naturally produced in our bodies. The fillers are combined with numbing medication and injected beneath the skin. These treatments can be a cost-effective way to look younger without surgery or downtime. To put it simply, fillers “correct and perfect” by enhancing all angles of your face with natural-looking, long lasting results.
What is Botox?
Botox is a time-tested, FDA-approved neurotoxin product for the treatment of moderate to severe facial lines and wrinkles. These injectable treatments will temporarily relax the muscle of the treated area, effectively blocking nerves from activating certain facial muscles. The targeted muscles cannot contract as they normally would, preventing the muscles from pulling on overlying skin, which helps to smooth out creases, wrinkles, and fine lines.
The result? A softer, smoother appearance of the skin, which typically lasts 3-4 months. Commonly treated areas include the forehead, frown lines, and crow’s feet. Some individuals have success with neurotoxin injections like Botox early in life to help prevent wrinkles and creases from ever forming.
Which one is right for me?
Both Dermal Fillers and Botox offer the following benefits:
- Minimally invasive with no downtime
- Non permanent (treatments have to be repeated to maintain effect)
- Offer natural-looking results
Your choice of injectable will depend on the area to be treated and your personal needs and goals. Our expert nurse practitioners and physicians can help advise you on the proper treatment. Give us a call today and we will work with you to form a custom treatment plan for your needs.
