Dermal fillers and neurotoxins each year help millions of people treat insecurities they may have about their appearance. Botox is the most popular non-invasive cosmetic procedure with nearly 4.4 million people receiving the treatment in 2020. Meanwhile, injectable fillers are followed closely behind being another top cosmetic procedure.
However, besides both dermal fillers and neurotoxins’ intense demand, it’s important to understand that these two procedures are two completely different treatments that specialize in fixing different problems. Unfortunately, both of these terms at times can be thrown around together, yet they are not the same procedure nor should they be used interchangeably.
In this article, you’ll learn the main difference between fillers and neurotoxins. We’ll also go more in-depth about each treatment so you can choose the treatment right for your personal needs.
Main Difference Between Fillers and Neurotoxins
It’s essential to understand fillers and neurotoxins are two different treatments that specialize in treating different issues. Dermal fillers (i.e. Juvederm, Restylane) consist of a natural substance called hyaluronic acid. This substance is injected to add volume and stimulate collagen production to further provide a fuller, plumper look in the injected area.
Meanwhile, neurotoxins (i.e. Botox, Dysport) are injected to relax the muscle which results in wrinkles and fine lines forming. This “freezing” of the muscles ultimately helps the area to relax and smoothes the appearance of the face to remove the fine lines/wrinkles.
Therefore, the main difference between dermal fillers and neurotoxins is filler adds volume to provide a plump look while neurotoxins relax the muscle to smooth the face. Inevitably, because of how the two treatments work, neurotoxins are often injected into the upper part of the face while fillers are often injected into both the upper and lower face.
What You Need To Know About Fillers
Dermal fillers are injected into the face to add volume and fullness to a given area. The ingredients that make up fillers are either naturally occurring in the body or compatible with the body.
The procedure itself takes around 30 minutes. It’s important to understand filler is semi-permanent as over time the body naturally dissolves and metabolizes the filler. Therefore, expect the filler’s effects to last about 6 to 12 months before needing to schedule another appointment.
Because filler adds volume, common areas/reasons dermal filler is injected into the face include:
- Lips
- Eye bags
- Cheeks
- Reshape Nose or Chin
- Reduce Deep Fine Lines/ Wrinkles
- Temples
- Chin
- Smile lines
Want to learn more about how dermal fillers can enhance your natural beauty? Check out our article on the Top 5 Filler Trends you should consider getting at BB Aesthetic.
Common Misconceptions about Fillers
Now that you know more about dermal fillers, you may still have some lingering misconceptions about fillers that you’ve seen online.
- Fillers Are Not Painful- Fillers are not painful! No matter if it’s during the injection itself or the hours after the procedure, you won’t feel pain. Rather, expect some slight discomfort during the injection itself and the few hours after as you may experience swelling.
- Fillers Are Natural- Another common misconception is fillers give an unnatural look. Depending on your own unique preference, fillers can provide a subtle look to add just a bit of volume.
- Fillers Can Be Reversed- Not only do fillers naturally dissolve over time as the body metabolizes the filler but fillers can be dissolved using an enzyme called hyaluronidase.
- Fillers Require Little Recovery Time- You shouldn’t need much downtime, if any at all, after your filler appointment. You may experience some slight bruising and swelling that should go away completely within a week’s time.
What You Need To Know About Neurotoxins
Neurotoxins work by essentially “freezing” the injected muscle area to smooth out the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This is done by the neurotoxin blocking the brain’s signal that tells that injected muscle to move. Therefore, instead of moving as you normally would, the neurotoxin relaxes that particular muscle which helps reduce the look of wrinkles.
The process of getting neurotoxins injected into the face is fast- taking only about 15 to 30 minutes max! You should also expect the effects to fade within a few months times.
Because neurotoxins help ultimately relax the injected muscle(s), neurotoxins can be used to treat a variety of issues other than reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. This includes helping medical conditions like:
- Excessive Sweating
- Lazy eye
- Chronic Migraines
- Uncontrollable Muscle Spasms
Have a gummy smile that makes you less confident with your smile? Botox treatments can also be used to correct gummy smiles. Check out our article on How Botox Can Fix Your Gummy Smile to learn how we can help you reduce the look of your gummy smile.
Common Misconceptions about Neurotoxins
Now that you know more about neurotoxins, it’s time to clear up the main misconception associated with neurotoxins like Botox.
- You Can Still Express Emotions After Botox- After getting neurotoxins injected, like Botox, into your face, you can still express emotions. Botox specifically targets a small, localized problem area of the face. Therefore, this only relaxes that specific injected muscle(s), not your entire face.
Schedule Your Appointment Today At BB Aesthetic
Want to add volume to your lips for a more naturally plump pout? Have annoying forehead lines you want to go away?
Now that you know the difference between dermal fillers and neurotoxins, schedule an appointment today with BB Aesthetic to enhance your beauty to feel more comfortable and confident in your own skin.
Again, if you are looking to add volume and fullness to your face, you should consider getting dermal fillers. We offer several injectable filler services including Juvederm, Restylane, or Revance.
However, if you are looking to smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, consider getting a type of neurotoxins like Botox, Dysport, Jeaveau and Xeomin
Still unsure of which treatment option is right for you? Call today at 614-934-5000 so we can help you achieve the exact results you want to look and feel your best.
