Is Botox® different from Dermal Fillers?
Yes. Botox® (Botulinum Toxin in full) is a muscle relaxer made from bacteria while Dermal Fillers are injectable implants that help to smooth skin and wrinkles.
Is the anti-ageing effect of Botox® & Dermal Fillers permanent?
No. While a minimal number of treatments is needed to see results, the results of Botox® typically last about three to four months while the effect of Dermal Fillers typically lasts anywhere from 6 to 12 months at which point the procedure needs to be repeated.
How does Botox® induce the anti-ageing effect?
Botox® is injected into the facial muscles but really doesn’t affect the muscle at all. Botulinum toxin affects and blocks the transmitters between the motor nerves that innervate the muscle. There is no loss of sensory feeling in the muscles. Once the motor nerve endings are interrupted, the muscle cannot contract. When that muscle does not contract, the dynamic motion that causes wrinkles in the skin will stop. The skin then starts to smooth out, and in approximately three to ten days after treatment, the skin above those muscles becomes nice and smooth.
While there may be some brief discomfort due to the injection process, Botox® isn’t typically painful and the same applies to Dermal Fillers. Expect no major pain but prepare for some discomfort.
How do Dermal Fillers fight ageing?
Dermal fillers volumize creases and folds in the face in areas that have lost fat and collagen as we age. After age 30, we all lose approximately 1% of hyaluronic acid from our bodies. Hyaluronic acid is the natural filler substance in your body. The face starts to lack volume and appears aged with deeper nasolabial folds, unaesthetic marionette lines, a deeper mentalis fold, the lips start to thin, and turning down the corners of the lips. Hyaluronic acid fillers are injected right underneath these folds to replace the volume lost which creates a younger look in the face.
Botox® is a quick outpatient procedure performed with a fine needle. It won’t take you more than 15 minutes and you can resume normal duties immediately afterwards. While for Dermal Fillers, the treatment takes slightly longer: 20-30 minutes but it is generally advised that one avoids intense physical activity for the first 24-48 hours.
What are the side-effects?
Dermal Fillers may cause some mild and short-lived bruising, swelling and discomfort. Similarly, Botox® can also lead to some bruising, swelling, flu-like symptoms, headache, neck-pain, stomach upset but these are also short-lived.
When is it advisable to start treatment?
For both treatments, effectiveness is optimal when treatment is started early. For the best, long-lasting results, don’t wait too long.
Note that both these treatments should be received only after consultation with a professionally certified Specialist.
Please feel free to share this with anyone that it could benefit.
Be Flawless!
