A common misconception I come across when talking to patients is the difference between neurotoxins (Botox and Dysport) and dermal fillers (Juvederm and Restylane). With injectables being one of the most sought out non-surgical treatments, it’s important to know the difference between the two.
What is Botox?
Botox is an FDA approved brand of neurotoxin that softens the movement of the muscle being treated. There are other FDA approved neurotoxins, such as Dysport that have the same mechanism of action. They all work to treat dynamic wrinkles or wrinkles that are caused by repetitive muscle movement. For example, when the muscle of your forehead contracts or when you raise your eyebrows, it causes the overlying skin to fold, creating those horizontal forehead lines. We use products like Botox and Dysport, to relax those muscle movements and reduce the appearance of unwanted wrinkles to the face. The most common things I treat with Botox are forehead wrinkles, frown lines “11”s, crows feet, and vertical lip lines also known as smoker lines. Botox can also be used to address excessive sweating to the underarms and palms of hands by blocking the activation of sweat glands in those areas.
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What are Dermal Fillers?
Fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane also help to soften the appearance of wrinkles but in a different way. Dermal fillers minimize the appearance of wrinkles by temporarily adding volume beneath the skin. These FDA approved gels contain hyaluronic acid (HA) which is a naturally occuring substance in our skin that gives it volume. The most common facial lines I treat with fillers are nasolabial folds or smile lines and wrinkles around the mouth. Dermal fillers also help enhance or restore certain features of the face such as lips, cheeks, and under eyes. As we age, we begin to lose collagen and volume — two important factors that help us keep our youthful appearance. Dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane can be used to restore that volume loss.
Which injectable is right for me?
Not one size fits all when talking about injectables. I recommend that everyone who is interested in possible injectable treatment to schedule a one-on-one consult with an experienced injector. During your consultation, you can have a full facial analysis and a customized treatment plan will be created just for you.
