While Botox and dermal fillers are both popular cosmetic treatments, understanding their differences is essential for selecting the best option based on your skin goals.
This week, I’m going to talk about something a lot of my patients, botyoung and old, are asking about — Botox and fillers.
These two procedures serve distinct purposes, so if you are considering Botox or dermal fillers, it is crucial for you to understand the difference between the two.
Keep reading to know what goes where on your face.
The wrinkle relaxer
Botox, short for Botulinum toxin, is a refined bacteria extract derived from the bacterium found in stomach excreta called Clostridium botulinum.Despite its origin, Botox is safely used in controlled quantities for cosmetic purposes. Botox injections paralyse your muscles in a way that helps them relax, so that the wrinkles that occur when you emote – smile, frown, raise your brows – are taken care of. By inhibiting muscle contractions, Botox effectively smoothens the skin, diminishing the appearance of wrinkles, and preventing the formation of new ones.
Botox is the trade name under which multiple pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies sell different types of the treatment – Type A, which is most commonly used, and Type B, which is used for core medical reasons.
What can it do?
Wrinkle reduction: Botox injections are highly effective in minimising the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, caused by crow’s feet, forehead lines, and frown lines.Facial contouring: Botox can be used for facial sculpting and contouring by targeting specific muscles. Botox injections in the masseter muscles can slim the jawline. For instance, if you look at pictures of former United States President Barack Obama and Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai over time, you will notice that their jawlines have taken a slimmer look.
As a dermatologist, I always recommend using Botox infrequently. If you prefer a natural method of keeping your skin youthful, go for anti-ageing facial yoga exercises. Apart from this, you can check with your dermatologist about non-invasive anti-ageing procedures such as HIFU, lasers, cryotherapy, etc.
The volume enhancers
Unlike Botox, which targets muscle activity, dermal fillers work by adding volume to specific areas of the face, thereby reducing wrinkles, restoring lost volume, and enhancing facial contours.These injectable gels consist of various substances, including hyaluronic acid, collagen, and calcium hydroxylapatite, each catering to different aesthetic goals. Hyaluronic acid is an ingredient that is ever-present in us, but with age, it starts to disintegrate. That’s where fillers come in — to literally fill up the gaps in your skin.
What areas does it target?
Cheeks: Fillers add volume to the cheeks, creating a more lifted and youthful contour.
Nasolabial folds and marionette lines: I prescribe this procedure most, as fillers in these regions can soften the appearance of laugh lines and folds around the mouth and nose.
Lips: Lip fillers enhance lip volume, shape, and definition, creating fuller and more symmetrical lips.
Under eyes: Fillers can diminish dark circles and sunken areas under the eyes, giving you a more refreshed and youthful look.
Jawline and chin: A lot of men opt for this to define and sculpt their jawline and chin, improving their overall facial symmetry.
Scars and deep static wrinkles: These lines or creases are visible on the face even when it is at rest; fillers are extremely useful in treating this by providing the elasticity and collagen that’s lost with age.
What should you get and when?
As a practising dermatologist with over 13 years of experience, I usually recommend Botox injections for the upper parts of your face and fillers for the lower parts. This is simply because Botox injections are typically meant for paralysing muscles that tend to appear predominantly in the upper face, like the forehead and around the eyes. Meanwhile, fillers utilise substances like hyaluronic acid to replenish volume and enhance smoothness in targeted areas. These areas may include wrinkles around the mouth, thin lips, and cheeks that have lost their fullness.
When it comes to age considerations, there is no strict age limit for these procedures, as suitability is determined on a case-by-case basis. For instance, I have female patients in the 20-25 age bracket coming to me for lip fillers as well as older patients who are 60+ coming for nasolabial and cheek fillers.
My two cents – always opt for fillers that are trusted by your dermatologist, as picking the right one for your skin is something that only professionals can help you with. I have always only injected and recommended FDA-approved fillers for my patients.
Another key aspect in which Botox injections and fillers differ is cost. Botox injections cost roughly around Rs 250-350 per unit, whereas fillers can be more expensive. For instance, lip fillers are cheaper compared to forehead fillers simply because of the weight of the liquid per ml; they are composed of softer molecules that, once injected, can hardly be seen. Forehead fillers, on the other hand, are heavier. Either way, fillers can cost you anywhere between Rs 18,000-25,000 per ml.
While Botox and dermal fillers are both popular cosmetic treatments, understanding their differences is essential for selecting the best option based on your skin goals. So, always consult your trusted dermatologist to ensure safe and satisfactory outcomes.
"Disclaimer: This article is authored by Dr. Deepali Bhardwaj and was originally published on ThePrint.in as Dr Bhardwaj is a Columnist with them. It has been reproduced here for Pateint information only."
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