What’s The Difference Between Dermal Fillers And BOTOX?
If you’ve started to look into anti-aging treatments, chances are you are at least somewhat familiar with injectables. In fact, nonsurgical injectables – such as JUVÉDERM® and BOTOX®– are among the most popular cosmetic treatments for men and women of nearly every age. From softening fine lines and wrinkles to restoring a dramatic loss of facial volume, the possibilities of injectables are virtually endless. The exceptional team at JEM Medspa in Orland Park and Elmhurst, IL is proud to offer the most advanced injectable products, tools, and techniques available today to help patients achieve their ultimate goals and feel more confident than ever. Learn more about injectables here, including if they may be right for you, and discover the differences between two of the most popular injectable products: dermal fillers and wrinkle relaxers.
What are injectables?
Cosmetic injectables encompass a wide variety of products, each designed for a specific purpose. Most often, injectable products are used to reverse, diminish, or delay visible signs of aging on the face and neck. However, in some cases, injectable agents have wildly different applications. For example, BOTOX – a neurotoxin commonly used to soften dynamic facial lines – is also a highly effective treatment for patients with excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis). When it comes to cosmetic injectables, however, dermal fillers and wrinkle relaxers are the two most common classifications.
What are dermal fillers?
Injectable dermal fillers are synthetic products used primarily in the face and neck to combat typical signs of aging. In some cases, injectable fillers help men and women restore lost volume, while other patients utilize fillers to soften their complexion by filling in lines, wrinkles, and deep facial folds.
Where can dermal fillers be used?
One of the most attractive aspects of injectable dermal fillers is that there are seemingly countless products available, each of which can be used to treat a multitude of areas and concerns. Common cosmetic concerns that can be improved or corrected using injectable fillers include:
- Lip volume
- Lip shape
- Loss of facial volume
- Hollow cheeks
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Drooping brow
- Weak chin/jawline
- Overall tired, old, or angry appearance
Some of the most common injectable dermal fillers offered in Elmhurst and Orland Park, IL include JUVÉDERM and Restylane. During your initial consultation at JEM Medspa, your expert provider will thoroughly evaluate your concerns and help you understand which dermal filler may best meet your needs. Oftentimes, a combination of multiple dermal fillers and injectable wrinkle relaxers can offer the most stunning results.
How long do fillers last?
The longevity of dermal fillers can vary from patient to patient depending on the product used, the amount injected, the area(s) treated, the patient’s overall health and skin laxity, and countless other factors. Generally speaking, dermal fillers are considered a long-lasting solution, with many patients enjoying their results for up to 1 – 2 years or longer before a repeat injection is needed. Furthermore, the results of dermal filler injection are immediately visible – unlike BOTOX, which may take up to a week to appear.
What is BOTOX?
One of the most common misconceptions regarding BOTOX is that it is a type of dermal filler. While BOTOX is an injectable product, it is actually a purified neurotoxin-based wrinkle relaxer designed to soften the appearance of dynamic lines. Unlike wrinkles related to loss of volume or gravity, dynamic lines develop from repetitive muscle use with common expressions, such as smiling, frowning, and laughing. Rather than filling in lines and wrinkles, BOTOX works by binding to the nerve receptors to temporarily paralyze or “freeze” the underlying muscles used during certain expressions.
Where can BOTOX be used?
Without a doubt, the most common treatment area for BOTOX is the upper third of the face. Men and women alike routinely use BOTOX to soften lines on and around the brow, forehead, and eyes, including:
- Forehead lines
- Drooping eyebrows
- Crow’s feet
- 11" lines
- Glabellar lines
- Frown lines
Additionally, BOTOX can improve the appearance of marionette lines, neck banding, and other concerns on the mid to lower face.
How long does BOTOX last?
As with any cosmetic treatment, including dermal fillers, the results of BOTOX may vary from person to person. Depending on the treatment area, the effects of BOTOX begin to appear within 5 – 7 days and typically last for about 3 – 4 months before a repeat injection is needed. After several rounds of BOTOX injection, many patients are able to space their treatments out even further apart.
Should I get BOTOX or fillers?
The decision between BOTOX and dermal fillers should ultimately be made by the patient and his or her provider. In the vast majority of cases, a combination of fillers and wrinkle relaxers can offer the most exciting, dramatic, and long-lasting benefits. Some important things to consider when selecting the most appropriate treatment course for your needs include:
- Overall health
- Age
- Skin elasticity
- Personal goals
- Severity of concerns
- Available downtime
- Finances
- Convenience
For many men and women, a consistent routine of dermal fillers, BOTOX, or both can offer exceptional benefits without the expense and downtime associated with plastic surgery.
Turn back the clock and get the gorgeous look you’ve always dreamed of with cosmetic injectables in Elmhurst and Orland Park, IL
If you are ready to start the fight against aging but aren’t quite ready to go under the knife just yet, injectable dermal fillers and wrinkle relaxers may be the answer you’ve been searching for. Call the friendly team at JEM Medspa to schedule your private consultation at one of our convenient facilities in Elmhurst or Orland Park, IL today, and discover the incredible, rejuvenating, life-changing benefits of cosmetic injectables!