Have you ever been confused about any aesthetic treatments? Have you ever thought “What are they and what are they used for?” If so, you are not alone. This stuff can be very confusing. It is important to have a basic understanding of each treatment so that you can make informed decisions about what is possible for you and what is right for you. Keep in mind you are not making these decisions alone. As an aesthetic injector, my biggest job is not the actual injecting, it is getting to know my patients, understanding their concerns and their desires, and together working to create a plan as to what is the best course of action.
I get a lot of questions about Botox, about fillers and about what they do and what they are used for. Many people often confuse the two, so let’s look at the difference between them.
First, let's talk about Botox. Botox is a chemical substance that works by blocking the signals that are sent from your nerves to your muscles. It originally comes from a bacterium but it is then highly purified in medical facilities. When Botox is injected into a specific muscle, it temporarily weakens that muscle, which can help reduce and even eliminate wrinkles and fine lines on your face. You see it is the action of the muscle and the repetitive movements it causes to the skin that makes the wrinkles appear. When we are younger the movements don’t wrinkle the skin because it is so elastic. As we age we lose that elasticity and the wrinkles form, and with time they get deeper and deeper.
On the other hand, fillers are used to add volume to your face. They're made from hyaluronic acid, which is a substance that's naturally found in your body. As we age we begin to lose fat in areas of our face. Some of it is actual fat loss and some is the fat drooping down lower in your face than it was in your youth. Fillers are injected into areas where you've lost volume, such as your cheeks, lips, or under your eyes. This can help plump things and make for an overall smoother look, and give your face a more youthful appearance.
The main idea is that the difference between Botox and fillers is that Botox works by temporarily paralyzing muscles, while fillers work by adding volume to your face. Botox is usually used to treat wrinkles that are caused by muscle movements, such as the up and down lines between your eyebrows (“frown lines”) or the lines on the sides of your eyes when you smile (“crow's feet”.) Fillers are used to treat folds or sunken areas that are caused by volume loss, such as a sagging cheek or lips that are not as plump as they once were (or as plump as you want them to be.)
In general, Botox lasts about three to four months and then the treatment must be repeated to once again get the desired results. The length of time that fillers work is variable but generally longer than Botox. The filler effect can range from a short side of six months in very depleted lips to years in areas such as temples and chins.
It's important to note that Botox and fillers are not interchangeable. They have different uses and work in different ways, so it's important to talk to your aesthetic injector about which treatment is right for you. Most commonly people are candidates for both!
I love using both Botox and fillers in my practice to reduce wrinkles and give faces a more youthful appearance. As stated, Botox works by temporarily paralyzing muscles, while fillers work by adding volume to your face. If you have any questions at all please feel free to contact me for more information! @ninjainjector
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