Botox vs. Fillers: What’s the Difference?

You may wish you never turned older after your 21st birthday. The fact is that you can’t stop the clock from ticking or the days from passing, but age brings many positive attributes like wisdom, self-discovery, and experience.

You’ve noticed the physical changes age brings, too, like wrinkles and lost facial volume. Luckily, injectables such as Botox®️ and dermal fillers can shave years off of your appearance by smoothing out those wrinkles and restoring your facial volume. But if you’re new to the world of injectables, sometimes it can be hard to know where to start.

Waseem Garbia, PA-C, and the anti-aging experts at Dontage, in Falls Church, Virginia, provide injectables to give patients a natural, younger-looking appearance. Here, we explain the difference between Botox and dermal fillers so you can decide which one is right for you.

Diminish your wrinkles with Botox

Botox is botulinum toxin, and it can block the activity of certain types of nerves or paralyze certain muscles. We use Botox in small, safe amounts to relax specific muscles — the ones that cause wrinkles to form — and stop them from contracting.

No. 1 cosmetic treatment

Botox is the most popular cosmetic treatment today, with more than 7.4 million injections performed in 2018. When deciding between Botox and dermal fillers, it’s important to consider whether you’re looking to correct lines of expression or lines at rest.

Smiling and frowning make you uniquely human, but after decades of repeated facial gestures, it’s only normal for wrinkles to form. Lines of expression describe the types of wrinkles found near your eyes, mouth, and cheeks. Botox can lessen the appearance of:

• Crow’s feet
• Frown lines
• Forehead lines
• Necklines

Botox doesn’t just treat wrinkles. The neurotoxic protein is extremely versatile and can be used to treat other health conditions including chronic migraines, hyperhidrosis, and spasticity.

Results

The results of your Botox procedure are not immediate, but they’re worth the wait. You can expect to see your lines and wrinkles fade away within 7-10 days following your treatment. Most patients experience the beautiful, natural-looking results for 3-4 months.

Restore facial volume with dermal fillers

Do you have under-eye hollows or drooping cheeks? Many signs of aging like these are linked to volume loss. Collagen and healthy fat gradually disappear as you age, and you may notice that you don’t have the full facial profile you once did.

Dermal fillers are usually made of hyaluronic acid, and this gel-like substance gets injected under the surface of your skin. Just as the name suggests, it fills in facial creases to plump up your physique for a younger-looking you. Fillers can also correct facial symmetry, enhance lip size, and contour your face.

Treatment areas

Do your wrinkles and lines still appear when you’re not making a facial gesture? These signs of aging are referred to lines at rest, and fillers can correct them. Dermal fillers can address skin concerns like:

• Sunken cheeks and temples
• Marionette lines
• Vertical lip lines
• Chin creases
• Under-eye hollows

One of the best selling points of dermal fillers is their immediate and long-lasting results. You notice a full, enhanced facial physique the minute you leave your appointment. Depending on where you’ve received treatment, you can expect your filler to last for six months to a year.

Turn back the clock

Do you look in the mirror and only see the signs that you’re aging? Botox and dermal fillers are a great way to freshen up your look and shed years from your appearance. In just one treatment, you can boost your confidence with a stunning, line-free look.

Schedule your appointment today by calling 703-214-6834 or booking online.