WHAT IS BOTOX?
BOTOX is short for botulinumtoxinA. BOTOX is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments, with over 6 million treatments administered each year. BOTOX works best on:
- Forehead lines
- Crow’s feet (lines around the eyes)
- Glabella lines, also known as “frown lines” (lines between the eyebrows)
- Lip lines
BOTOX may also work in some instances on the chin, corners of the mouth and neck. Because BOTOX works by interrupting muscle function, it is only effective on wrinkles caused by muscle overuse. BOTOX cannot add volume or correct signs of aging caused by sun damage. BOTOX treatments can take 3 days to two weeks to reach their full effectiveness. It is possible that, over time, wrinkles that do return will be less severe since the muscles are being re-trained to relax. While BOTOX is generally considered safe, there are risks. For that reason, BOTOX injections should only be performed under a doctor’s care.
WHAT IS DERMA FILLERS?
Dermal fillers are different from BOTOX. Most of these gel-based injectables are composed of hyaluronic acid, a molecule found naturally in the skin and joints that acts as a lubricant, shock absorber, and hydrator. Some dermal fillers used slightly different molecules that works in a similar way, for example calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA), poly-L-lactic acid, or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Unlike BOTOX, dermal fillers can help “fill in” wrinkles and areas of the face that have lost volume over time. By giving your skin a boost with dermal fillers, we can also give you a softer, more natural look. Truth be told, dermal fillers have been the best-kept anti-aging secret of the rich and famous for decades. Dermal fillers are very effective for treating: Nasolabial folds (the “parentheses” around the mouth), Glabella lines (lines between the eyebrows), Vertical lip lines, Sunken cheeks or loss of volume in other areas of the face, Loss of volume in other areas of the body (including hands), Chin lines, Thinning lips, Scars.
The results of dermal fillers can be seen right away and most last between six and twelve months. Dermal fillers are considered safe, especially the most common hyaluronic acid formations. Because they are based on substances that occur naturally in the body there is a very low risk of allergic reaction. Over 10 million hyaluronic treatments have been performed worldwide. Even some of the newer dermal fillers are based on tried-and-true substances, such as poly-L-lactic acid, which is used in dissolvable stitches. Dermal fillers are considered safe, but there are risks, which is why they should only be administered by dermatologist.
