Filler vs. Botox® . . . Which Is Right for Me?
When you look in the mirror, are you happy with your appearance? Or do you see concerning signs of aging?
Do you want to get rid of those well-earned but unwanted forehead frown lines, or plump up your thinning lips?
Perhaps you’ve heard that cosmetic treatments correct and minimize these problems, but it can all be confusing. Are you asking yourself, “Filler vs. Botox . . . which is right for me?”
Two popular treatments to improve facial appearance are Botox and dermal fillers. Both treatments are administered by an injection, but that is where the similarities end.
True, both cosmetic treatments offer a more youthful and attractive appearance, but these treatments are not interchangeable. They correct very different cosmetic concerns.
What is Botox and how does it work?
Treatment with Botox involves injecting the drug into muscles of the face.
Botox contains live, purified bacteria, taken from the botulinum toxin Type A.
These bacteria are harmful in large doses, but when administered by a licensed physician experienced in Botox treatments, it is a safe and effective treatment for dynamic facial wrinkles.
During Botox treatment, doctors inject only a tiny amount of the solution into carefully selected areas.
The FDA-cleared Botox for cosmetic procedures in 2002. It is also approved for migraine treatment and other medical conditions.
Botox is an extremely popular treatment. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports in its “Plastic Surgery Statistics Report” that treatment with Botulinum Toxin Type A was the leading cosmetic minimally invasive procedure in 2020.
When Botox is injected into muscles they are temporarily paralyzed. This happens because Botox blocks the nerve signals that flow to these muscles that tell them to move.
When the muscle stops moving, the overlaying skin also stops contracting. It is this constant skin movement that causes wrinkles. When the skin movement stops, the wrinkles lessen, or even disappear. These are dynamic wrinkles.
Botox only works on dynamic wrinkles. If sagging skin causes your wrinkles, Botox will not help. But dermal fillers will.
Visit our Botox page to read more about the use of Botox at our MedSpa and to see some impressive before and after images of our patients.
What are dermal fillers and how do they work?
As we age, our skin loses the collagen that gives it a plumper and fuller appearance. Dermal fillers correct the cosmetic problems that collagen loss creates.
A trained physician must skillfully inject dermal fillers into precise areas just beneath the thinning skin. The filler plums up the skin and makes areas of the face appear fuller, smoother, and more youthful.
Unlike Botox, fillers have no effect on muscles or facial movement.
Different substances in different dermal fillers create various results. At Vibrance MedSpa, we offer select Juvéderm filler products to solve specific facial aesthetic issues.
Visit our Juvéderm page to learn more about the Juvéderm products we offer and to see some exciting before and after pictures.
What Do You Need? Botox® or Juvéderm® ?
Botox and dermal fillers both correct the appearance of cosmetic facial problems that develop as we age. But which will help you?
When do you need Botox?
Cosmetic use of Botox is usually limited to problems on the upper face. This is where you find most dynamic wrinkles – commonly referred to as expression lines.
Common types of dynamic wrinkles include:
- The “11s” between the eyebrows
- Horizontal lines on the forehead
- Crow’s feet at the corners of your eyes
Today, many younger people in their 20s are using Botox treatments as a preventive measure against developing wrinkles on their face; it has become part of their skincare regimen.
When do you need a filler like Juvéderm?
Static wrinkles are wrinkles caused by a loss of plumpness and elasticity in your skin. Fillers are effective in reducing the appearance of these kinds of wrinkles.
Dermal fillers improve the appearance of:
- Thinning lips
- Sunken areas of the face, particularly in the cheeks
- Wrinkles and hollowness under the eyes (not caused by movement)
Areas with static wrinkles, commonly around the mouth and cheeks
Don’t Forget the Most Important Part of Selecting Your Treatment
We cannot stress the importance of having your Botox or dermal filler procedure performed by a physician who is experienced in, and knowledgeable about, these cosmetic treatments.
At Vibrance MedSpa, we are proud to have two experienced highly trained doctors on staff.
Dr. Kenneth DiStefano, Sr, is our Medical Director. He is a board-certified plastic surgeon, and former Chief of Plastic Surgery at Mountainside and Clara Maass Hospitals in New Jersey.
Dr. Kenneth DiStefano, Jr. has been providing Botox treatments for our patients for over nine years. He is a board-certified family physician with additional training and expertise in aesthetic medicine.
Today, looking at your face, it may be difficult to separate your expression lines from other types of wrinkles. Our medical professionals at Vibrance MedSpa can create an effective treatment plan just for you.
If you want to make the mirror your friend again, contact us at Vibrance MedSpa.
