Botox & Fillers: Is There A Difference?

Cosmetic procedures have become increasingly popular as the quest for youth has become more and more sought after. The important thing to remember is that there isn't anything wrong with the desire to remain youthful! If you find yourself wishing for a younger looking appearance, you may have found yourself asking, "which procedure will work for me?" Understanding the difference between Botox and dermal fillers, can help you determine which procedure is right for you

Botox

Botox is a prescription medical injection that paralyzes the muscles it is injected too.  Along with filling lines and wrinkles, Botox can also be used to treat:

• Migraine headaches
• Excessive sweating
• Cervical dystonia

Botox is minimally invasive and nearly pain free. If you are especially sensitive to injections of any kind, you can ask your doctor or numb the site prior to injection. Once injected, the full effect of Botox takes a few days to kick in and can last several months. Botox is best used on fine lines and dynamic wrinkles like crows feet around the eyes or "worry lines" on the forehead. It can also be used to treat neck bands (excess skin around the neck).

Once Botox has ran its prescribed course, you will be due for another treatment. Should you opt out of additional treatments, your fine lines and wrinkles will return as they were pre-treatment. Side effects of Botox include inflammation and redness at the injection site, tenderness, swelling and bruising.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are an injectable gel made up of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a hydrating substance found in your body that can decrease over time due to sun expose and age. Dermal fillers are usually infused with a numbing agent like lidocaine to make application much easier. Instead of paralyzing the muscle to soften deep wrinkles, dermal fillers work by adding volume to plump up skin in all the right places. Dermal fillers can be used to:

• Plump lips
• Fill lines or wrinkles
• Replenish hydration to the skin
• Soften under-eye bags

Dermal fillers are slightly more invasive than Botox injections, but about the same on the pain scale. Side effects are also similar; swelling, inflammation, bruising and redness can follow. Unlike Botox, dermal fillers can cause a temporary asymmetrical effect on your face as the filler takes effect and inflammation from the injection decreases. Dermal fillers last much longer than Botox. Fillers have been known to last nearly a year.

When it comes down to it, your surgeon can best determine the right procedure for you. He or she will take into account the severity of your wrinkles, location of said wrinkles and your desired look to assess which is ideal. Now that you know the essentials of Botox and dermal fillers, you can decide if you are ready to enhance your youthful appearance. Talk to experts like The Vein Treatment Centre for more information.