Botox® or Dermal Fillers: Which Option is Right for You?

Do you need Botox or dermal fillers? Many adults ask this question, so if you’re asking it now, you’re not alone. Both Botox and dermal fillers can address issues from aging, like wrinkles, but they each have specific uses. So, how can you determine which treatment is right for you?

Javier Zelaya, MD, applies his unique experience and skill set to create a personalized treatment plan for his patients. At Skinworks Dermatology, Dr. Zelaya and his expert team can explain the differences between Botox and dermal fillers and recommend which method will help you more.

What are dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers are injectable substances that can restore volume to your face, giving you a more youthful appearance. Most adults choose dermal fillers as the go-to method for treating facial lines and static wrinkles, since they can temporarily treat them without needing surgery.

Static wrinkles form around your mouth and on your cheeks, and they can appear as you age; your skin tissue loses elasticity as collagen production decreases, and wrinkles result. Dermal fillers can also:

Reduce lower eyelid shadow
Plump up thin lips or cheeks
Soften wrinkles
Reduce smile lines and creases
Restore shallow areas on your face

Each filler contains different materials that can treat specific problems. Hyaluronic acid, for example, is a substance that can add plumpness to your skin. Some dermal fillers can last for years, while others can diminish in four to six months; hyaluronic acid is more of a short-term fix.

Your needs are unique, and Dr. Zelaya knows it. He can help you determine which filler is right for you depending on your specific problem and your body goals.

What is Botox?

Botox is actually made from botulinum toxin, which is extracted from the bacterium that causes food poisoning; however, it is safe and FDA-approved for dermatological purposes, where it is used as a muscle relaxant. Botox injections block nerve signals that cause muscles to contract. When the muscles are paralyzed, they can relax, and this softens wrinkles.

Dr. Zelaya can give you Botox injections if you’re dealing with dynamic wrinkles, which are wrinkles that form from muscle movement, like smiling and squinting. Some of the more common dynamic wrinkles he treats are horizontal lines across your forehead and crow’s feet.

You’ll likely have to see Dr. Zelaya for follow-up Botox treatments, as injections only last about three months.

Which treatment can benefit you more?

The key difference between Botox and dermal fillers is what they can treat. Botox injections can address lines that form from muscle movements, but they can’t treat skin tissue problems such as sagging from a loss of collagen.

Dermal fillers can be used to fill in areas with less volume and can treat early signs of aging. Fillers can last longer than Botox as well. How long depends on which type of filler Dr. Zelaya uses.

If you want to learn more about our Botox and dermal filler procedures and how you can benefit from them, call our office or schedule an appointment online with Dr. Zelaya.