Botox vs. Fillers

Anti-aging treatments are now becoming common nowadays as a youthful look can boost people’s confidence. However, many do not like to go under the knife to get this naturally occurring problem fixed because of the expenses that may be incurred.

Fortunately, there are cheaper alternatives than surgery for those who wish to stop the onset of aging to appear on their faces: Botox injections and dermal or wrinkle fillers.

Botox vs. Fillers: Which is Better?

Both Botox or Botulinum toxin type A and dermal fillers are capable of removing wrinkles and can last for a long period of time. However, they do have several differences that people should be familiar with before considering which one they should use.

Usage

Both Botox and fillers are capable of treating or removing wrinkles in the face, as well as improve a person’s skin health. Both are also given to patients through injection.

However, in terms of how it works, Botox is a notable bacterial muscle relaxer. Prior to its discovery as a good way to treat wrinkles, Botox was used to treat neurological disorders that led to muscle weakness. Some doctors even use Botox to stop migraines and other similar conditions.

As a wrinkle treatment, Botox is mostly used for targeting dynamic wrinkles which are located around the eyes, mouth and in between eyebrows. As a person slowly ages, dynamic wrinkles become more pronounced and getting rid of them can be quite tricky. With the help of Botox, the muscles close to these wrinkles are relaxed and prevents them from moving.

As a result, it reduces the visibility of dynamic wrinkles. When getting Botox injection for these wrinkles, your doctor would inject the muscles close to the wrinkles you want to remove and it would only take a few minutes to finish. Results would also be visible after two weeks.

Unfortunately, Botox cannot be used for fine lines caused by the breakdown of collagen in the skin.

On the other hand, dermal fillers both serve as a way to treat wrinkles and to add volume to one’s lips and cheeks. It is also used to reduce the appearance of deep scars.

Similar to Botox, fillers are injected in affected parts of the body. In the case of removing signs of aging, fillers are mostly used to reduce smile lines. The results of filler injections vary depending on the type of filler used by the patient.

Effectiveness

In terms of its effectiveness, Botox is reportedly effective for most people and results are visible after a week. Its side effects are also very minimal as compared to other treatments and if side-effects do occur, it does vanish overtime.

Botox treatments normally last for 3 to 4 months before users need to get new injections. By comparison, fillers last longer than Botox depending on the filler type used. Users would also need to keep up with treatments to maintain results or get new treatments once it is gone.

Side Effect

Like any other treatment, both Botox and fillers do have their own share of side-effects, should they be used incorrectly or if the body receiving it cannot handle the treatment.

Botox, for instance, can only be used for people who are in good health as this reduces their chances from getting side effects. The side effects that can be developed from Botox include bruising, redness, headaches and drooping eyelids. Users can prevent these side effects from occurring by using eye drops or stopping the use of blood thinners.

Patients who have poor facial muscles, experiencing skin issues or neuromuscular problems and pregnant are not allowed to get Botox.

On the other hand, fillers come with more risk and side effects than Botox depending on which type is used. The severity also varies, but the severe cases of side effects only happen rarely. Some of the usual side effects brought by fillers include allergic reactions, itching, redness, sores, numbness and itching.

Users can alleviate these side effects using ice packs and medication as directed by the doctor who conducted the procedure. Users are also advised to do allergy testing before getting a dermal filler injected into them. Patients with good health would have fewer chances developing side effects from fillers.

Cost

Botox is actually available in a lot of areas as it can be administered by dermatologists and ophthalmologists. Unfortunately, each session can cost around $500 depending on where it is being used. In some cases, patients would have to pay for more injections to cover more parts of the body.

On the other hand, fillers are often administered by dermatologists or plastic surgeons. The cost varies depending on the type of filler used and other factors. The cheapest filler available are hyaluronic acid fillers which cost around $644 and the most expensive are collagen fillers which cost around $1930.