Botox and Fillers:What Are the Differences and Which Do I Go With?

Before and After Botox treatment | Know more about Botox & Fillers at Rawnsley Plastic Surgery in Los Angeles, CA

30 NOV BOTOX AND FILLERS: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES AND WHICH DO I GO WITH?

When two of the best procedures are offered, choosing is crucial. However, choosing is an essential part because this dictates your suitability and safety for the procedure. Botox and dermal fillers are one of the most in-demand facial regimens in the market. Since its popularity, it has always succeeded in patients with their cosmetic and aesthetic desires. However, as good as it is, botox and fillers are only for some. Both differ from each other and specialize in different skin issues, which also makes them more exciting to explore. So if you are in, we will introduce what botox and dermal fillers can do! 

What are Dermal Fillers? 

Dermal filler injections are a non-surgical procedure that is excellent in plumping wrinkles, restoring face volume, and smoothing lines. These are gel-like substances injected beneath the skin to restore lost volume, soften creases, and enhance facial contours. 

Patients get dermal fillers to improve facial features and gain a youthful appearance. These substances are also helpful in fighting early signs of aging and can be an added benefit for facial rejuvenation surgeries. 

There are several types of dermal fillers to choose from. With all these overwhelming choices, you and your chosen provider must decide what is most suitable for your aesthetic concerns. 

Types

The most common types of dermal fillers are artificial ones. These are also called off-the-shelf fillers, and these are the following: 

  • Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA): This substance is excellent in aiding your body in creating collagen. Professionals commonly use PLLA to penetrate deep skin wrinkles. One of the most popular types of PLLA fillers is Sculptra which has an effect that can last up to two years. 
  • Hyaluronic acid (HA): Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring acid in your skin that keeps it hydrated and gives it volume. Restylane is a common type of HA filler. Results from HA fillers typically last six months to a year. 
  • Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA): The CaHA is a type of filler consisting of a substance located in your bones. CaHA fillers are typically used in treating deeper wrinkles and give results that last around one year. Radiesse is a type of CaHA filler. 
  • Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA): This filler consists of tiny balls and collagen that stay under your skin after it is injected. These balls provide skin volume, which keeps it firm. Bellafill is a type of PMMA filler. 

Purpose

Collagen is one of the essential substances that you lose in your body once you age. It is vital because it exists all over your body, including your muscles, skin, bones, and other connective tissues. The decreasing amount of collagen in your body can cause skin laxity and volume loss. As skin becomes thinner, it loses its elasticity and starts to sag. 

In line with this, several opt for dermal fillers to:

  • Plump cheeks and lips. 
  • Alter facial features, making them more symmetrical. 
  • Smooth creases and wrinkles in your face. 
  • Add volume to sagging skin.  

Benefits 

One of the most remarkable advantages of dermal fillers is their immediate visible results. The injection process is quick and would not take more than an hour. Moreover, the recovery time is minimal since it is a non-surgical treatment. 

As specified earlier, the longevity of dermal fillers’ results varies. However, their common denominator is that they typically last for a year or more. Another good news is that it is less expensive than other surgical procedures. 

Risks 

There is not much to worry about regarding the side effects of dermal fillers, as these are minimal and temporary. But like other cosmetic procedures, there are risks, and these include: 

  • Numbness.
  • Redness.
  • Bumps and lumps under the skin.
  • Itching and rash.
  • Pain and swelling.
  • Pimples that are acne-looking. 
  • Asymmetrical appearance. 
  • Infection can lead to necrosis in severe cases. 
  • Bleeding. 
  • Skin damage causes scars.  

There are rare cases where people acquire vision problems as a side effect. If you have eyesight issues, discomfort, weakness, and pain on one side of your body, seek immediate medical help. Additionally, if these side effects worsen, notify your provider quickly. 

What is Botox? 

Botox is a toxin that is beneficial when used correctly and in small doses. It is utilized in the cosmetic and medical fields. Botox blocks specific chemical signals (signals that cause muscle contraction) from nerves. It causes a temporary relaxation of muscles that causes facial wrinkles around the eyes and forehead. 

The Food and Drug Administration approved Botox as a treatment for various health issues such as excessive sweating, migraine, bladder disorders, and eyelid spasms. 

As a cosmetic use, the FDA approved it for treatment around the eyes and on the forehead. However, because of its popularity, patients request procedures on the following sites: 

  • Wrinkles around the eyes or crow’s feet.
  • Cobblestone skin on the chin.
  • Wrinkles between the eyebrows or glabellar lines, frown lines, and elevens.
  • Horizontal creases in the forehead.
  • Lines at the mouth’s corners.

Side effects 

Patients, especially those not first-timers, tolerate botox side effects well. But like any injection, botox also has side effects, which include the following: 

  • An upset stomach
  • Temporary eyelid drooping
  • Headache 
  • Worsening neuromuscular disorders
  • Dry eyes
  • Unwanted and temporary weakness in nearby muscles
  • Double vision or spatial disorientation
  • Swelling, bruising, and mild pain

Additionally, you should not use botox if you have an infection on injection sites or an allergy and sensitivity to it. It is also vital to know that Botox’s side effects may extend beyond the treated areas for people with certain genetic disorders. 

Cost 

The price for a botox injection is different for every medical spa as it varies depending on the provider’s fee, the number of Botox injections, the type of usage (medical or cosmetic), and the treatment areas. 

However, in 2016, there were recorded specific prices. It was priced at $376 for frown lines and crow’s feet.  

Botox vs. Dermal Fillers 

The critical difference between botox and dermal fillers is that they are entirely different substances, which is why they also have other uses. However, they can go together in one treatment. Botox can correct lines between the eyes, while a filler is used to correct smile lines around the mouth. 

Botox is used to freeze facial muscles to stop wrinkles and creases, while dermal fillers fill in plump areas that have lost smoothness and volume.  

If you like both, there is a medical spa that owns the best of both worlds! In Jeffrey Rawnsley MD INC, DBA Rawnsley Plastic surgery, you are catered to with the most quality of service as Dr. Rawnsley is trained in microsurgery and aesthetics, making him more than your average plastic and reconstructive surgeon! 

So if you stroll in Los Angeles, California, do not forget to visit and get in touch with the best plastic surgeon!