The Difference Between Botox® and Dermal Fillers

Botox® and dermal fillers are two of the most popular ways to smooth wrinkles and rejuvenate the skin. Both are cosmetic injections that fight visible signs of aging and are often used together. 

But even though they both help you look younger, they work in different ways.

At Stoneleigh Medical Group in Carmel, Brewster, Pawling, and Jefferson Valley, New York, our internal medicine specialists offer cosmetic services, including Botox and dermal fillers, to help our patients maintain a more youthful appearance.

Understanding the difference between Botox and dermal fillers can help you decide which one, or both, is right for you.

Botox vs. fillers: Why the confusion?

If you’re new to cosmetic injections, it’s easy to assume Botox and fillers are interchangeable. They’re both nonsurgical, minimally invasive injections that reduce wrinkles. Because of this, you may think one is simply a better version of the other.

The truth is, Botox and dermal fillers target different concerns and work in unique ways to rejuvenate your look.

Botox targets muscle-driven wrinkles

Botox is a well-known cosmetic injection that helps reduce the appearance of dynamic wrinkles, the lines and creases formed by facial expressions. We use Botox to treat crow’s feet, worry lines, and forehead wrinkles.

Botox is a neurotoxin that temporarily stops the movement of the muscles that create the lines and creases, giving your skin a chance to smooth out. 

Fillers restore lost volume and smooth skin

Dermal fillers are gel-like injections that add volume under the skin to minimize the appearance of static wrinkles, the lines and creases that form when your skin naturally loses collagen, elasticity, and fat over time. Examples of static wrinkles include nasolabial folds and marionette lines. 

We use dermal fillers to plump up the skin to smooth out these lines and creases. Fillers also fill in thin lips and hollow cheeks and lift sagging skin. 

Where and when to use each treatment

We use Botox and fillers in different areas. Botox smooths wrinkles around the eyes and forehead, while fillers are commonly used around the mouth, cheeks, and lips.

Both cosmetic injections are temporary, but fillers tend to last longer than Botox. Depending on the filler type, it may last six months or more than a year. Botox usually wears off within three to four months.

A combined approach to aging

Botox and dermal fillers are both effective but serve different purposes. Botox addresses muscle movement to smooth expression lines, while fillers address volume loss to soften deeper lines and enhance facial features. 

Given how differently they work and what they treat, Botox and fillers are complementary treatments. You can choose one or the other, but using both can lead to dramatic results.

Start your personalized treatment plan

Are you considering Botox or dermal fillers to fight visible signs of aging? Let’s talk about your options and create a personalized plan to help you look and feel your best.

Call us today or request an appointment online.