Two of the most popular injectable cosmetic treatments given in Dr. Doppelt’s office are Botox and fillers. While both treatments are minimally invasive and deliver great results, this is where the similarities end.
What’s the difference between Botox and fillers? The difference lies in how the products work. Botox reduces wrinkles by freezing the muscles underneath the skin. Fillers work by plumping up areas of the skin that have lost fullness due to aging.
Both Botox and fillers can be important parts of your anti-aging routine and give you a more youthful look. These two different products can even work in tandem to help you achieve lasting results. Let’s learn more about the difference between Botox and fillers.
What is Botox?
Botox is an injectable treatment, called a neurotoxin, that can be used to soften wrinkles and lines. Botox is a form of botulinum toxin that comes from a kind of bacteria. While the toxin can make you sick when ingested in large amounts, it can be a powerful tool when injected in small amounts.
Botox works by blocking nerve signals in the muscle where it is injected. This prevents the muscle from moving and causing wrinkles and lines to appear. Wrinkles can be softened or even removed with Botox. Your doctor or practitioner might use Botox to smooth wrinkles around the eyes, on the forehead, or even around the mouth.
Botox has been used for decades and is very safe to use. It was first approved for use by the FDA in 1989 and is now not only used for wrinkles, but can also treat migraines, hyperhidrosis, and many other conditions.
You’ll find a few other brands of injectable neurotoxins that can be used to help smooth wrinkles. Dysport, Jeuveau, and Xeomin are also used to freeze muscles and smooth wrinkles. However, Botox is the best known and most used brand in many doctor’s offices. In fact, statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) indicate that 7.7 million Botox treatments were given in 2019, making it the top minimally-invasive cosmetic procedure performed over the year.
Botox and other injectable neurotoxins can last up to 6 months.
What are Fillers?
Injectable dermal fillers are products used to fill in tissue where volume has been lost. Fillers are commonly used in the cheeks, lips, and around the mouth. Plumping up these areas gives a more youthful look by smoothing lines and adding volume.
Dermal or soft tissue fillers are often used to smooth out lines on the face. Fillers are an effective treatment for:
- Adding volume and shape to lips
- Smoothing glabella lines between the brows
- Filling out nasolabial folds between the nose and mouth
Your dermatologist might also suggest using fillers to smooth scars, lessen the look of forehead wrinkles, or add volume in other areas.
Some of the most popular soft tissue fillers used in today’s doctor’s offices include Juvéderm and Restylane. These products use a naturally-occurring chemical called Hyaluronic Acid to add a youthful fullness to the skin. Hyaluronic Acid is found in fluids and tissues already in the body and is a common ingredient in skin care products. A gel form of the chemical is injected into the skin to add volume.
Juvéderm was first approved by the FDA in 2006 and has been proven a safe and effective treatment. Numbers from the ASPS suggest 2.7 million soft tissue filler treatments were given in 2019. This makes fillers the second most popular minimally-invasive procedure performed that year.
Are Botox or Fillers Better?
Botox and fillers are different products with different end results. Botox and fillers treat different areas of the skin and different problems.
The best way to determine which product would be best for you is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Doppelt and his staff. Give our office a call at (865) 474-8800 or reach out online.
