What is the Difference Between Dermal Fillers and Botox®?

You may be thinking all skin rejuvenation treatments are the same – while, yes, they may have different ways of getting done, in the end, they all work the same way to produce the same results. Dermal fillers and injectables are often confused with one another. With patients coming up to us asking what the difference is between the two, we wanted to clear up the muddy waters today. Here’s everything you need to know about your favorite injectable treatments.

What are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers are an injectable skin rejuvenation treatment that reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by adding volume into sunken or thinned areas of the face. Dermal fillers are often made of a hyaluronic acid-based gel which binds to water under the skin to add volume in areas that have sunken or thinned over time. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring sugar in the body that gives the skin its hydration and elasticity. As we age, our bodies produce less and less hyaluronic acid, so dermal fillers simply resupply what we’ve lost over time.

What Can Dermal Fillers Treat?

Dermal fillers are most often used to treat:

• Laugh lines or parenthesis around the mouth
• Marionette lines or vertical lines on either side of the chin
• Smoker’s lines or vertical lines around the lips
• Thin lips (adding volume to the lips via lip injections)
• Sunken cheeks
• Asymmetrical facial features, like a crooked nose

What is Botox®?

Botox® and other neurotoxin injectables are injectable treatments that treat fine lines and wrinkles in the face by relaxing the muscles in the treated areas. Injectables like Botox® are often made with a neurotoxin called botulinum that, when injected into the treated area, freezes the muscles under the skin that cause what we like to call “action wrinkles.” While dermal fillers treat wrinkles in the face by adding volume, Botox® treats wrinkles by stopping the active muscles from causing those wrinkles.

What Can Botox® and Other Injectables Treat?

Botox® and other injectables are most often used to treat:

• Frown lines or lines that appear between the brows
• Crow’s feet or lines that appear next to the eyes when smiling or squinting
• Fine lines and deep wrinkles across the forehead

Which Treatment is Better for Me?

Whether you should be getting dermal fillers or injectables like Botox® is mostly dependent on the type of wrinkle you want to treat. If you’re looking to treat wrinkles by simply adding volume back into the skin, dermal fillers may be right for you. If you’re more interested in treating “action wrinkles” caused by muscle movement, go for Botox®. If you’re looking to treat a little of both, consider getting both treatments done at the same time!

Are you ready to rejuvenate? Call our office today to schedule your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Widenhouse. He’ll assess your skin, discuss your concerns, and develop a customized treatment plan to help you achieve your desired look.