WALNUT CREEKBotox® is widely known throughout the world as an injectable treatment that can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. It has been used for decades, as have dermal fillers. Unless you do the research, it’s easy to get the two mixed up. After all, both offer injectable treatments to tackle cosmetic issues in your face. Nevertheless, Botox® and dermal fillers are significantly different.
What is Botox®?
Botox® itself is literally a brand name for a particular injectable treatment. Botox® is the most known, but you can find the exact same treatment under the names Dysport® and Xeomin®. In fact, at Dr. Aycock’s practice, we prefer to use the Dysport® brand, believing that it can produce better results for a better price.
Regardless of which brand you choose, all of these treatments are classed as neurotoxins. The injection is made of a substance called botulinum toxin, which targets nerve receptors in the muscles of your face. In essence, this toxin prevents the muscles from contracting by blocking the signals sent to the brain. As such, wrinkles and fine lines are reduced as you prevent frequent muscle contractions that pull on your skin.
What are Dermal Fillers?
By contrast, dermal fillers come in a range of varieties and can be used for different purposes. Dr. Aycock’s team currently offers fillers from the Juvederm®, Restylane®, and Radiesse® brands. All of the brands carry soft tissue injectable fillers that are made up of an FDA-cleared solution. This solution is typically made up of hyaluronic acid, helping to add volume and hydration to your skin. Dermal fillers are best used to address facial volume loss or increase the volume of your lips.
Differences Between Neurotoxins and Dermal Fillers
The key difference lies in how each treatment works. Neurotoxins like Dysport® will specifically target tiny muscles in your face. Effectively, they freeze these muscles, which helps to prevent wrinkles from forming in your face. With dermal fillers, you’re simply injecting a solution under your skin, which will add more volume to certain areas of your face. Dermal fillers are also known to help induce collagen production, potentially leading to longer-lasting results.
As such, the placement of these injections also differs. Neurotoxins are typically reserved for your forehead and eye area, as this is where most wrinkles are seen. Dermal fillers can be used to plump up many areas of your face, including the cheeks, lips, and mouth area.
Benefits of Injectables
Injectable treatments are highly popular as they deliver excellent results. Both neurotoxins and dermal fillers will help you solve your specific cosmetic problems. Not only that, but they also deliver results that can last for months at the very least.
However, the main benefit is that injectables are minimally-invasive. They can be performed quickly and without much pain, reducing the need for substantial recovery time. Also, because neurotoxins and dermal fillers work in completely different ways, you can often combine injectable treatments to see even better results!
Am I a Candidate for Botox® and/or Dermal Fillers?
If you suffer from facial wrinkles or want to add volume to your cheeks/lips, you could be a candidate for either of these injectable treatments. Dermal fillers are perhaps more suitable for a wider range of candidates, purely because Botox® should be avoided by anyone with nerve or muscular issues.
I finally had coolsculpting on my tummy and what a surprisingly easy treatment it was. Ashley the nurse was fantastic and she used the new hand piece that is smaller and faster. It was painless except for the 2-minute massage after the treatment but not bad at all. I’m a little sore today but this was easy-breezy and I can’t wait to see my results. I highly recommend it.
Take the Next Step
Ready to take the leap? Schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Aycock in Walnut Creek, CA or Greenbrae, CA. You can reach us by filling out the form on this page or by calling (925) 937-8377.
Dr. Aycock serves the greater San Francisco Bay area.
