Botox™ & Fillers

There are differences between Botox and fillers such as Juvederm.

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• Botox: This freezes muscles to stop creases and wrinkles caused by facial expressions. These are typically found in the upper face, such as the forehead and around the eyes.
   

• Dermal fillers: These use hyaluronic acid and similar substances to “fill in” or plump areas that have lost volume and smoothness. This includes wrinkles around the mouth, thin lips, and cheeks that have lost fullness. They may also be used on forehead wrinkles, scars, and other areas that need extra volume for a smoother look.
   

• Botox results last 3 to 4 months. Dermal filler results vary, depending on which filler is used.

 

Because Botox and fillers are different substances designed for different uses, they can sometimes be combined in one treatment. For instance, someone may use Botox to correct lines between the eyes and a filler to correct smile lines around the mouth.

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What is Botox?

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Botox is a purified form of the botulinum toxin that is obtained from bacteria. Though it is deadly in larger amounts, the tiny, regulated amount of Botox given to correct wrinkles has been used safely for decades.

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Botox works by blocking nerve signals in the muscles where it is injected. When those nerve signals are interrupted, the affected muscle is temporarily paralyzed or frozen. Without movement of these selected muscles in the face, certain wrinkles may be softened, reduced, or even removed.

Botox and other treatments made with botulinum toxin are sometimes called neuromodulators or neurotoxins.

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• The first and only treatment FDA approved to temporarily make moderate to severe frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines look better in adults.

• Treatment requires minimal downtime. You can return to your daily routine immediately after you leave your specialist’s office.

• You may begin to notice results within 24 to 48 hours for moderate to severe frown lines.

• It delivers predictable, subtle results, so you look like you, only with less noticeable facial lines.

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What can Botox correct?

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Botox only works on wrinkles that are caused by muscle movement. These are known as dynamic wrinkles, and are often called “expression lines.”

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The most common dynamic wrinkles that Botox can treat are lines on the upper face, such as the “11” between the brows, horizontal lines on the forehead, and crow’s feet around the eyes. These lines are caused by smiling, frowning, squinting, and other facial expressions.

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Botox will not work on fine lines and wrinkles caused by sagging or loss of plumpness in the face. These are known as static wrinkles. Static wrinkles include lines in the cheeks, neck, and jowl areas.

Botox is not a permanent treatment. Repeated treatments are necessary for continued wrinkle-reducing effects. Most people find that the muscle-relaxing effect of Botox lasts for 3 to 4 months.

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A combination of factors can cause facial lines. It’s not just about the cellular changes that may occur, or reduction of collagen, or damage caused by free radicals from the sun and the environment.

Repeated muscle contractions from frowning, squinting, or raising eyebrows cause skin to furrow and fold, gradually resulting in the formation of facial lines. BOTOX® Cosmetic works beneath the surface and temporarily reduces the underlying muscle activity that causes moderate to severe frown lines, crow’s feet and forehead lines in adults – to help them look better.

 

Botox side effects and considerations

 

The ASPS considers Botox to be safe, and 6.7 million procedures were performed in 2015. As Botox wears off over time, most side effects are only temporary.

Possible side effects of Botox include:

• drooping of the eyelid or brow if injected near the eye

• weakness or paralysis of nearby muscles

• hives, rashes, or itching

• pain, bleeding, bruising, swelling, numbness, or redness

• headache

• dry mouth

• flu-like symptoms

• nausea

• trouble swallowing, speaking, or breathing

• gallbladder problems

• blurry vision or vision problems

The treatment may also fail to work due to antibodies that fight the toxin. This happens in less than 1 percent of peopleTrusted Source who have repeated Botox treatments, however.

The ASPS advise people not to rub or massage the area of the injection after having Botox treatment. This could spread the toxin to surrounding skin, causing muscle drooping and other problems.

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What are Dermal Fillers?

 

Dermal Fillers such as JUVÉDERM® are Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring substance that keeps skin moisturized and soft. JUVÉDERM® fillers are nonsurgical options that contain a modified form of HA. Treatment with provides long-lasting, natural-looking results. 

 

Different formulations are approved to either volumize cheeks, smooth smile lines, smooth lines around the mouth, plump the lips, define the chin, improve the jawline, or improve the appearance of undereye hollows. The results are long-lasting, and can be customized by your licensed specialist to help you achieve your aesthetic goals.

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The JUVÉDERM® Collection of Fillers are for adults over 21.

 

JUVÉDERM® VOLLURE® XC
softens moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds (eg, nasolabial folds) by adding volume around the nose and mouth.

 

JUVÉDERM® VOLUMA® XC
is for deep injection in the cheek area to correct age-related volume loss and for augmentation of the chin region to improve the chin profile.

 

JUVÉDERM® VOLBELLA® XC
adds volume to the lips for a subtle plump, softens the appearance of perioral lines, and improves the appearance of undereye hollows.

 

JUVÉDERM® ULTRA PLUS XC
smooths moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds around your nose and mouth.

 

JUVÉDERM® ULTRA XC
adds fullness and plumps lips as well as smooths and corrects moderate to severe wrinkles and folds in adults.

 

JUVÉDERM® VOLUX® XC
adds volume along the jawline area to improve jawline definition in patients with moderate to severe loss. The added volume augments the shape and structure of the lower face.

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What can Dermal fillers correct?
 

Different types of dermal fillers are designed to treat varying signs of aging. Depending on the filler selected, they may:

• plump up thinning lips

• enhance or fill in shallow areas on the face

• decrease or remove the shadow or wrinkle under the eyes caused by the lower eyelid

• fill in or soften the look of recessed scars

• fill in or soften static wrinkles, especially on the lower face
   

Static wrinkles include those around the mouth and along the cheeks. These wrinkles are usually a result of a loss of collagen and elasticity in the skin.

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Dermal filler risks and considerations

Dermal fillers are considered to be safe but side effects can occur. A licensed healthcare professional should perform all dermal filler procedures using only FDA-approved fillers injected with a syringe. The most common problems include:

• skin rash, itching, or pimple-like eruptions

• redness, bruising, bleeding, or swelling

• undesirable appearance, such as asymmetry, lumps, or overcorrection of wrinkles

• skin damage that causes a wound, infection, or scarring

• ability to feel the filler substance under the skin

• blindness or other vision problems

• death of skin cells due to loss of blood flow to the area

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Using a qualified medical provider, such as a board-certified dermatologist, helps ensure the procedure is done safely and properly.