Want to Get Rid Of Wrinkles? Dermal Fillers Vs. Botox

Posted on: 9 November 2020

If you want to get rid of wrinkles but don't want to undergo plastic surgery, you may want to look into dermal fillers or Botox. You might think that these are the same procedure, but there are some differences. Read on to learn about both to see which type of procedure would best suit your needs.

What Is Botox?

Botox is made out of botulinum toxin and obtained from bacteria. While it can be toxic in large amounts, Botox is made out of small samples and has been safely used in dermatology for many years. Botox softens wrinkles by temporarily interrupting nerve signals in the skin.

What Are Dermal Fillers?

Like Botox, dermal fillers are injected into the skin, but they are made of different substances. Dermal fillers can be made of polylactic acid, which helps the body make more collagen — a main structural protein of skin. Dermal fillers can be made of calcium hydroxyapatite, which is a mineral that strengthens bones. Ultimately there are a lot of substances in dermal fillers, so you'll have to talk with your doctor to see which one is best for your situation.

Which Type of Wrinkles Do You Want to Treat?

What type of treatment you get will mainly depend on which type of wrinkles you want to reduce the appearance of. For example, if you want to mainly treat wrinkles that are involved in dynamic expressions, like smiling, then Botox may be a better option. If you want to treat lines on your face when your facial muscles are at rest, you may want to look into a dermal filler.

Botox works well for crow's feet, marionette lines, forehead wrinkles, and creases between the eyes. Dermal fillers are great for wrinkles on your neck, cheeks, and under your eyes. To treat many areas, some people opt to get both Botox and dermal fillers.

What Are the Advantages of Dermal Fillers?

The costs of Botox and dermal fillers are roughly the same and will really depend on how many injections you get and how high of a dose. The main advantage of dermal fillers is that they tend to last longer than the results of Botox. These treatments don't last forever, but you may not need as many touch-ups over time with fillers.

The other main advantage of dermal fillers is that there are minimal associated risks. You may experience bruising and trauma-related edema as you heal, but one study says that adverse events are rare and mostly avoidable with proper dermatological planning.

Reach out to a dermatologist today to learn more.

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