The first time you noticed lines at the corners of your eyes was in a vacation photo. Now, they’re all you can see when you look in the mirror. Add thin lips and frown lines to the picture and you’ve suddenly realized you look much older than you feel. If you’re concerned about how the signs of aging have changed your appearance but you aren’t ready for a major procedure, you might be considering BOTOX® or Dermal Fillers as a subtle way to refresh your look. Here’s a breakdown of what each treatment has to offer and how they differ.

What is BOTOX®?

BOTOX® is a purified form of the botulinum toxin produced by bacteria. This may sound like a strange or even scary substance to incorporate into your wellness routine, but BOTOX® is FDA-approved and safe when used in tiny amounts as a way to promote a youthful complexion. In fact, BOTOX® been used safely for decades to smooth wrinkles between the eyebrows, on the forehead, and around the eyes; 7+ million BOTOX® treatments were performed just last year! The treatment works by blocking nerve signals in the muscles where it is injected. These interruptions cause the small muscles of the face to temporarily relax, which allows the overlying skin to soften and leaves your entire complexion looking refreshed and youthful. A BOTOX® treatment takes just 10 minutes and the results last up to three to four months.

What are dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers are treatments that involve injecting a gel-like substance beneath the skin to fill in wrinkles and restore age-related volume loss. Many fillers include hyaluronic acid to draw moisture to treated wrinkles and add plumpness to the skin, as well as polylactic acid, which stimulates the skin to produce more collagen. In this way, dermal fillers work immediately to fill in wrinkles, folds, and depressions and work long-term to rebuild lost volume for results that are noticeable, yet natural. Dermal fillers can be used to add plumpness to thin lips, restore volume to sunken cheeks, improve the look of recessed scarring, and fill in static wrinkles on the lower face. Some dermal fillers last six months, while others continue to promote a youthful complexion for up to two years.

How are Botox and dermal fillers different?

While BOTOX® and dermal fillers are both injectable treatments that minimize the signs of aging, that’s where their similarities end. BOTOX® is only effective on wrinkles that are caused by facial expressions like smiling, frowning, laughing, and squinting. The treatment is primarily used for wrinkles found in the upper face, including the forehead, between the eyebrows, and around the eyes. Because its primary function is to relax muscle movements, BOTOX® does not correct the signs of aging caused by sagging skin or loss of plumpness in the face. Dermal fillers, on the other hand, make up for the areas where BOTOX® falls short.

Unlike BOTOX®, dermal fillers use a gel-like substance to fill in areas that have lost volume to create a more youthful appearance. Treatments like Juvederm, Restylane, and Radiesse immediately fill in wrinkles around the mouth and restore volume to the lips and cheeks while stimulating natural collagen production for results that improve over time. Dermal fillers can also be used on forehead wrinkles, scars, and other areas of the face that need a subtle boost of volume to create a smooth complexion.

Can you have BOTOX® and dermal fillers at the same time?

Absolutely! Because BOTOX® and dermal fillers are used to correct different types of age-related changes in the skin, they can be used together in a single treatment to help you achieve your goals. They can be used in the same area for better results than what one treatment can provide on its own, or in different areas to address separate concerns. For example, you may decide to use BOTOX® to relax the overactive muscles in your forehead along with dermal fillers to immediately improve the appearance of frown lines. Or, you may use BOTOX® to correct wrinkles around your eyes and dermal fillers to restore volume to your lips. Both treatments are extremely effective at tackling different age-related skin issues to help you look and feel your best.

Expert BOTOX® and Dermal Fillers in San Diego

While there’s no way to avoid the aging process, you can manage the effects it has on your appearance. At Siti Med Spa in San Diego, our expert injectors have helped countless patients smooth wrinkles and rejuvenate their complexions without painful and expensive surgery. To find out how BOTOX® or dermal fillers (or both!) can help you achieve your goals, give us a call to schedule a consultation at (619) 717-8484.