What is the difference?
Both men and women complaining of looking tired and old are often interested in non-surgical ways to improve and freshen up their appearance. Along with a good skin care program, injectables such as Botox and fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse, Sculptra, etx are the mainstay of recommended treatments.
Botox
Botox is a toxin made from a certain type of bacteria. As an injectable medication, it smoothes wrinkles by blocking nerves to muscles at the site where it is injected. It is FDA approved and safe to treat frown lines and crows feet lines. Effects begin about one week after injection and last on average 3-4 months. In general, it is not used to treat most wrinkles affecting the lower two thirds of the face.
Fillers
There are many injectable facial volumizing products and wrinkle fillers available. The most commonly used products are made of hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally occurring gel that provides lubrication and substance within skin, joints, and the eye. Examples of injectable hyaluronic acid fillers include Juvederm, Restylane, Belotero, Perlane, Hylaform, Captique, Prevelle, and others.
Other non hyaluronic acid fillers are available as well including Radiesse and Scultpra. Fat derived from liposuction is also used as a filler. Injectable fillers work by plumping up volume deficient areas of the face, restoring a more youthful contour. They can also be used to inject deep wrinkles directly in order to soften the severity of certain lines.
Injectable fillers can last 6 months or longer. They are most commonly used to treat wrinkles and depressions around the mouth and smile lines. Certain products work well to contour the face, and can be used to enhance the cheeks, jaw line, temples, and improve upon lower eyelid hollows.
Usually a combination of different fillers in conjunction with Botox, skin care, and sometimes surgery provide the best results when it comes to facial rejuvenation. Even though results with injectables are not permanent, repeated treatments over time may prevent the occurrence of deep lines that would otherwise be more difficult to treat. In addition, a long lasting but non-permanent treatment is ideal when it comes to the face to account for changes that affect the face from aging, weight fluctuation, and stress. Reversibility and the ability to touch things up from time to time optimizes the predictability of the result and increases patient safety.
