Botox vs. Fillers: Which Injectable Is Right for Me?

Your skin is the largest organ in your body — literally covering it from top to bottom and serving a variety of functions, including regulating temperature, allowing you to feel, and offering protection from viruses and bacteria. 

As we get older our skin undergoes changes that affect its elasticity and firmness due to the body producing less of proteins like collagen and elastin. That leads to several changes in your skin’s appearance, including sagging and wrinkles.

Treating these skin conditions is managed by numerous cosmetic treatments, but among the most popular are injectables like dermal fillers and Botox®. Since they both treat similar issues, it’s easy to get them confused or think of them interchangeably, but they actually treat wrinkles and sagging in different ways. Let’s learn more by examining the differences between these popular injectables.

If you live in the Mamaroneck, New York, or Stamford, Connecticut, area and you want to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, Dr. Gennadiy Kravets and his skilled medical team at All Bright Dental offer injectables to treat wrinkles and sagging.

What is the difference between Botox and dermal fillers?

Injectables is the broad term for a range of products used to help treat wrinkles and other age-related skin conditions. They can be used to add volume to areas that are sagging, fill in wrinkles, or relax the muscles to make them less pronounced. The popular choices for injectables are:

Botox

This method is derived from the botulinum toxin type A (OnabotulinumtoxinA), which temporarily paralyzes specific muscles to relax the skin and lessen the appearance of wrinkles, mainly on your face. It didn’t start out that way. In fact, the injectable began as a medical treatment and is still used to treat conditions like overactive bladder, chronic migraines, and lower limb spasticity.

Dermal fillers

This is the general term for a number of different injectables used to add volume to the skin. They plump lips, fill deep wrinkles, and offer support for sagging skin. Dermal fillers include hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, poly-L-lactic acid, and polymethyl methacrylate. 

When would you use one or the other?

The type of injectable depends on the type of wrinkle you are treating:

• Dynamic wrinkles: specific muscles used for smiling, puckering, and other actions lead to this type
• Static wrinkles: when your body stops producing the proteins that keep skin firm, it leads to loss of elasticity and sagging

Dynamic wrinkles are caused by facial muscle overuse, so Botox is the best choice to relax the muscles and wrinkles. Therefore, crow’s feet, forehead lines, laugh lines, and worry lines are best managed with this method.

For static and deep wrinkles, adding volume can help to reduce the appearance of aging and bring fullness back to your face. Dermal fillers are also used to make your facial features look more symmetrical.

So, while both choices are great for helping you look younger, the type of wrinkle makes a significant difference in choosing the right injectable for you. Regardless of the type of wrinkle, when you’re ready to make them disappear, make an appointment with Dr. Kravets at All Bright Dental today.