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Botox vs Fillers: What Is The Difference?

In recent years, botox and fillers have taken the world by storm. From your favorite celebrities to your mom’s best friend, it seems as if everyone is hopping on the Botox and filler bandwagon.

After some contemplation and overcoming your fear of needles, you decide it is your turn to get some work done! However, not all injectables are alike.

Botox and fillers are commonly believed to be interchangeable.

However, they are used to correct or enhance different parts of the face and body and are made of different substances altogether.

Before you go under the needle, here are some important differences between Botox and fillers you will want to know!

  • What is Botox?
  • What are Fillers?
  • Botox and Fillers are used in different areas.
  • Botox and Fillers are used for different purposes.
  • Botox and Fillers last different amounts of time.
  • Other Information on Botox and Filler

What is Botox?

Botox, itself, is the brand name of a specific type of “ neurotoxin,” which blocks the action of certain nerves. The goal of cosmetic botox is to relax these nerves to prevent or retroactively remove the lines created by these muscles contracting, such as those between your eyebrows and around your eyes.

You might be thinking, “Neurotoxin, has the word ‘toxin’ in it. Is Botox safe?” The answer is: yes! Since it is being injected in small quantities, Botox is not toxic to your body. These injections are placed in controlled areas, and therefore, only block the nerve function in that targeted part of your face or body.

What are Fillers?

There is a wide variety of fillers on the market, from hyaluronic acid fillers and calcium fillers, which are the most common, to collagen-stimulating fillers, and even permanent fillers, made of silicone.

Fillers add lost volume back into the skin or create volume in desired areas. Hyaluronic acid fillers, specifically, vary in thickness and therefore can be interchanged depending on the patient, their needs, and their skin type.

Botox and Fillers are used in different areas.

Botox is injected in places where fine lines form because of muscle contraction. These are areas in the face where one expresses emotions, such as the smile lines around your eyes, or the frown lines on the forehead and between the eyebrows.

Often, these are areas where people opt to get cosmetic botox because these lines are tell-tale signs of aging. Of course, there is nothing wrong with getting older! But, if you want to age more gracefully, Botox is a great option!

Similarly, fillers are used to hide wrinkles, especially those that are more deeply set, such as those around the mouth. They can also be injected into the chin, nose, and cheeks to improve facial symmetry.

However, fillers are best known for creating greater volume where desired, most famously the lips. We are currently living in the age of lip fillers (thank you, Kylie Jenner), as it has become a highly popular cosmetic procedure.

Botox and Fillers are used for different purposes.

Often thought of as purely cosmetic, Botox has many different uses that range from cosmetic to medical. Since botox fundamentally relaxes nerves in different parts of the body, it can also be used to decrease sweating in the palms or underarms, by blocking sweat glands.

Fillers, on the other hand, are cosmetic and used for plumping and filling deep lines.

Fillers even can replace more invasive plastic surgery procedures like nose jobs and facelifts. It can be injected into the nose to correct its shape and also into the cheek to give a lifted look to the face.

Botox and Fillers last different amounts of time.

The effects of Botox are visible between 2-10 days of treatment and last about 3-6 months, depending on the person and how many treatments they have had. It is more common for effects to last longer after multiple treatments.

Fillers, on the other hand, can last for different amounts of time based on the type. For example, calcium fillers which are used for deeper lines last 12-14 months, while hyaluronic acid fillers, like Juvederm, last 5-24 months. And unlike Botox, fillers can be easily dissolved at any time.

Additional Information on Botox and Fillers

As with any cosmetic procedure, Botox and filler have side effects, the most common being bruising, similar to that of getting a shot at the doctor’s office.

If you notice any side effects more serious than bruising and soreness, contact a medical professional.

In both cases, the major side effects only arise from getting injections from someone who lacks experience. It is not necessary to go to a doctor or plastic surgeon to get fillers or Botox, but it is essential to research where you are getting treatment.