Botox vs. Dermal Fillers – What’s the Difference?

Both botox and dermal fillers are cosmetic injectable treatments that are used to fight the signs of ageing and enhance one’s appearance, but their similarities end there.

The main difference between the two lies in how they work once injected into the skin, however, both remain highly popular tools around the world for their anti-ageing purposes and non-invasive procedures.

Below, let’s find out more about the difference between botox and dermal fillers.

What is Botox?

Believe it or not, but botox is actually the purified form of the botulinum toxin that’s found in bacteria. Although deadly in large amounts, the small amount that can be injected to correct wrinkles has been proven to be more than safe to use for decades now.

How botox works is that when it’s injected, it blocks the nerve signals in those muscles and therefore temporarily freezes them. This then softens and reduces the wrinkles in your face, stopping the muscles from moving and allowing for wrinkles and lines to appear. Anti-wrinkle injections can be used around the eyes, forehead and mouth and last for up to 6 months.

Botox was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) in 1999 and is not only used for wrinkles, but also to treat medical conditions such as migraines, hyperhidrosis and much more.

What are Dermal Fillers?

As we age, our face can begin to lose its fullness. While botox is used to paralyse and freeze the muscles of the face to stop the formation of wrinkles, dermal fillers are used to restore fullness to achieve a more youthful appearance. By adding volume and smoothing out lines, fillers are a powerful tool in the fight against ageing.

Some of the substances used in dermal fillers include calcium hydroxylapatite, hyaluronic acid and polyalkylimide, and results can last anywhere between 6 months to 2 years. As well as helping to maintain a more youthful appearance, fillers can also be used to enhance your facial features and add definition to different areas of your face, such as the cheeks, jawline and lips.

Which is better?

Both botox and dermal fillers are different products that yield different results, so what’s best for you will ultimately depend on what you’re hoping to achieve. While botox can help with forehead lines, crow’s feet, glabella lines and bunny lines, dermal fillers can help with cheek volume, laugh lines, lip lines and lip volume and tear troughs.

It’s also not uncommon for botox and fillers to be used in combination, for example using botox to get rid of lines on the forehead and filler to get rid of lines around the mouth. We recommend booking a consultation with a trusted and reputable doctor to discuss your options and decide on the best treatment for you and your needs.

Takeaway

Overall, fillers and botox are incredibly safe procedures that are performed millions of times a year with very few side effects or causes for concern. On the other hand, surgical procedures such as facelifts are much more expensive, complicated and permanent. One of the benefits of fillers and botox is that the results are only temporary, so if you’re unhappy with the results or decide it’s not for you, the results will wear off soon enough. Fillers can even be dissolved using injections of hyaluronidase, making it easier than ever to get rid of if that’s what you so desire.

One thing to always remember when considering cosmetic injectables is to always use a licensed, registered and insured doctor you can trust. Many people offer discounted, ‘home-based’ injectables that may seem tempting, but the chances are these are inferior products that come with an increased risk of side effects and ineffective results.