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Many patients have heard of both botox and fillers but often wonder which one is right for them. There are pros and cons to botox just as there are for fillers, and depending on what kind of goal you are trying to achieve, one might be a better option over the other. It can be challenging to understand the differences between Botox and fillers, but here we’ll explore everything you need to know about both substances.

What is Botox?

Botox and fillers are both types of injectables available to patients. Botox is a drug made from a bacterium and is used in tiny doses to help with many different health problems. The various health challenges include severe underarm sweating, cervical dystonia, misaligned eyes (strabismus), chronic migraine, and overactive bladder.

While botox can help with these different health challenges, it is most widely known for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. Botox can be used to help patients achieve a more youthful look with smooth and supple skin. Botox can help smooth the look of fine lines and wrinkles by weakening and paralyzing muscles and several nerves.

What are Fillers?

On the other hand, dermal fillers are injectables containing gel-like substances that can also help with smoothing skin and give it a youthful look. Dermal fillers have the power to replace volume lost in a patient’s face as the result of natural aging. Specific uses for dermal fillers include brow shaping and lifting, reducing the look of “bags” under your eyes, cheek enhancement, non-surgical facelift, non-surgical nose reshaping, lip plumping, and chin enhancement.

There are several different kinds of dermal fillers, including hyaluronic acid and polylactic acid. Hyaluronic acid fillers are among the most popular substances on the market because it is a natural substance found in your body and can give very natural-looking and beautiful results. Hyaluronic acid fillers are often used to help with acne scars, crow’s feet, frown lines, scars, smoker’s lines, and worry lines.

On the other hand, polylactic acid is a synthetic dermal filler that, when injected, stimulates your body’s collagen production. The substance is non-toxic and can be used to help fill laugh lines and to plump lips. This type of filler may take more treatments to get the results you are looking for, and most times, you can see the effects of the treatments after 4-6 weeks.

Dr. Keusch only uses the JUVÉDERM® filler line by Allergan because she believes it is the most superior product on the market. Currently, Dr. Keusch offers:

  • JUVÉDERM® VOLUMA™ XC, an injectable gel for use in the cheek area to correct age-related volume loss and for enhancement of the chin region to improve a patient’s chin profile
  • JUVÉDERM® VOLLURE™ XC, an injectable gel used in facial tissue to correct facial wrinkles and folds
  • JUVÉDERM® VOLBELLA™ XC, an injectable gel used for lip augmentation and for correction of wrinkles and lines around the mouth
  • JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC, another injectable gel used for lip augmentation and for correction of wrinkles and lines around the mouth

Who Is a Good Candidate for Botox?

Botox’s ideal candidate is generally more mature patients who have overall healthy skin but would like to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. These fine lines are usually around the corners of the mouth, in the center of the forehead, or on the side of a patient’s eyes.

Many patients also choose to get Botox in their 20s and 30s to prevent fine lines and wrinkles from developing in the future and to help preserve their youthful appearance. By choosing to get Botox when a patient is younger, they have a greater chance of not needing as many procedures, treatment and surgeries in the future as they age.

Those who should NOT get Botox include any person who is allergic to any ingredient in Botox, have a skin infection in the area where they would like to receive their Botox treatment, or are pregnant or breastfeeding. Patients with muscle and nerve conditions, or patients with severe illnesses, should also consider other treatment methods for fine lines and wrinkles.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dermal Fillers?

A patient who is a good fit for fillers is someone who is overall physically healthy and doesn’t smoke cigarettes. It’s also crucial for patients who want to get dermal fillers to have realistic goals for changing their appearance. If you are unsure whether dermal fillers can help you achieve the look you want, have an open and honest conversation with your provider to see if other treatment options may be better suited for you.

What Can I Expect During Botox Injections?

Choosing to get Botox for the first time can be nerve-wracking for many patients. However, there is nothing to be afraid of when working with a high-quality, licensed professional like the staff at Dr. Cristina Keusch’s office.

Before your Botox treatment, you should talk openly and honestly with your doctor during your consultation to learn more about the procedure and what you can expect. By communicating what you are trying to achieve, your doctor can decide whether Botox is the right choice for you or another treatment option that may get you closer to your desired look. During your consultation, your doctor will ask you questions to learn more about medications, medical conditions, any surgeries you have had, and if you are currently pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

During the procedure, your provider will go over what you discussed during your consultation for confirmation, and then they will carefully mark the areas where your Botox will be injected. Those areas will then be cleansed, and a topical numbing agent will be applied to the areas to help reduce any pain or discomfort felt during the procedure. A series of Botox injections generally takes about 10 minutes.

Then, your provider will inject the Botox into the areas, and ice and pressure will be used on the areas to help to reduce swelling.

What can I expect during Dermal Filler Injections?

Similarly to when you are preparing for Botox injections, you will undergo a consultation appointment to speak to your provider about what you are looking to achieve with fillers. Discussing your goals with your doctor can decide whether dermal fillers are the best treatment option for you.

Other questions your doctor will ask you during your consultation include any skincare questions or concerns you might have, your medical history, and a list of any medications you are currently taking. Your doctor will be sure to discuss the expected results of your dermal filler treatments.

During your appointment for your dermal filler injections, your doctor will confirm with you the target areas. They will then clean the area and apply a numbing agent to the areas to help reduce the discomfort you may feel during the procedure.

Next, the fillers are injected into the areas, and it is rapid. Your doctor will inject and then massage the area to see if more filler needs to be applied. Generally, this treatment takes about 15 minutes to one hour.

After, your doctor may give you ice to help reduce swelling. While the area may be sore for one or two days, there is very minimal recovery time.

What are the Recovery Times for Botox and Dermal Fillers?

Botox recovery takes significantly longer than dermal filler recovery. While you can see the effects of the injections immediately, most patients see the full impact of their Botox treatments a few weeks after the treatment. This allows time for the areas to stop swelling and give more of a natural appearance.

On the other hand, dermal fillers take about 1-2 days to show the full results for most patients.

Take the Next Step

Dr. Christina Keusch’s award-winning office offers the highest quality of care for all her patients. We look forward to helping you find a treatment option that works for you!

Boca Raton Plastic Surgery Center serves the greater Boca Raton, FL area.