botox and filler: what's the diff?

neurotoxins (botox & dysport) and dermal fillers (juvederm & restylane) are both wildly popular for the prevention and treatment of facial aging. however, they're very different when it comes to how they work and what areas they treat...

botox

botox involves the injection of medication into the muscles of a targeted area to minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles caused by facial expressions. it works by blocking nerve signals in the muscles, causing them to relax & soften. once the injected muscle is relaxed, the wrinkles associated with the movement of these muscles fade away. it's most often used on forehead lines, lines around the eye and frown lines (between the brows)

botox can also be used as a preventative anti-aging treatment. consider it like pushing the pause button. when you get botox early on, you're preventing the fine lines and wrinkles you already have from deepening. this will keep you from needing more units of botox as you get older. normal facial expressions will form permanent wrinkles over time, so by relaxing these muscles, you prevent future wrinkles from forming

the procedure only takes a few minutes and no numbing is required. keep in mind, it can take anywhere from 4 to 7 days for botox to take full effect, so be patient for your results

dermal fillers

a dermal filler is an injectable solution that fills the soft tissue under the skin. instead of affecting your facial muscles, fillers are designed to plump and add volume. there are many different types of fillers, which are used to treat a variety of areas such as laugh lines (around the mouth), tear troughs (under-eyes) and lips. they can also be used as an alternative to surgery to help lift the face as well as enhance certain areas that need more contour/definition such as the jawline, cheeks and chin

numbing is done prior to treatment and the results are immediate

how long do they last?

botox typically lasts 3-4 months, while filler can last anywhere from 6 months to a year depending on the area being treated and the type of filler used. we suggest "stacking" your filler -- meaning going in for a touch-up treatment before the filler has completely dissolved to add longevity

while both treatments are temporary, there's no expedited reverse when it comes to botox, so if you're unhappy with the result you have to wait it out. however, filler can be dissolved by injecting an enzyme known as hyaluronidase if needed *always do your research and seek out an experienced injector before undergoing either procedure*