Do I Need Botox or Fillers?

If you are not ready or willing to undergo plastic surgery for your aging face, injections can be an excellent choice. Although temporary, facial fillers and Botox can smooth out wrinkles, restore lost volume and add definition throughout your face. This popular non-surgical treatment can essentially turn back the hands of time without the cost, anesthesia and downtime of plastic surgery. But not all facial injections are created the same. If you’ve heard anything about getting facial cosmetic injections, you probably know that there are two main options: Botox and fillers. It is important to note that these are two very different products that are used to treat different concerns on different areas of the face.

Here’s a closer look at Botox versus fillers and which one may be right for you.

Botox Relaxes Wrinkles

Botox is a brand name neuromodulator product. Instead of plumping or filling areas of lost volume, Botox injections (or other neuromodulators like Dysport) are designed to relax the facial muscles that cause wrinkles and fine lines. Botox is FDA approved and only partially paralyzes the facial muscles on a temporary basis. From a skilled and experienced injector, your Botox won’t produce a “frozen look” or prevent natural facial movements or expressions.

It is the repeated facial expressions over time that create patterns of deep lines and wrinkles throughout the face, such as forehead wrinkles, the “11’s” between your eyes and “crow’s feet” that extend from the corner of the eyes. Botox is an ideal wrinkle relaxer treatment for these types of concerns and will last about 3 to 6 months.

Fillers Smooth and Plump

Dermal fillers are an opposing type of facial injectable. There are several brands and types of fillers available, including Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse, Sculptra and more. At Timeless MedSpa, we understand which fillers are best for the specific needs for each patient.

Fillers are injected into a deeper layer of skin tissues to restore the volume and support that was lost over time. We naturally lose collagen and elastin in our skin as we age, and gravity can make fat pads cheeks droop from their youthful position. Dermal fillers rely on hyaluronic acid, a synthetic form of what your body naturally produces to plump the skin.

Dermal fillers can smooth areas such nasolabial folds, smile lines and marionette lines (from mouth to chin). They can also be used to “plump” hallowed areas of the aging face, such as underneath the eyes, along the cheekbone, across the jawline and in the lips. You may notice that fillers may cost more, but their results tend to last longer than Botox. In fact, some dermal fillers last up to 18 months.

Make it a Combo for a Liquid Facelift

The good news is that you don’t necessarily have to choose between Botox and fillers. Many patients benefit from both! When using a combination of Botox and fillers, we can create a non-surgical facelift or “liquid facelift” for you in just one brief office visit. Call our NYC clinic today to learn more.