Dermal Fillers or Botox?
- Dec 19 2019
How are dermal fillers different from Botox injections?
It does not take all that many years for time to start marking its progress on the human body. Unfortunately, one of the first and most noticeable of these indicators is the loss of subcutaneous fat under the skin of the face. This results in there being less distance between the surface of the skin and the facial muscles, which is what creates those smile lines and other lines that we associate with aging.
Entire industries are built on attempting to turn back time. When it comes to not merely covering up lines and wrinkles with one form of cosmetic or another, those who want a more lasting solution often turn to either Botox or dermal fillers. In general, neither are permanent and both have become more and more popular.
Most people are familiar with Botox treatments, whether from personal experience, that of a friend or acquaintance or from the media. While the general purpose of reducing the signs of aging on the face are similar with Botox and dermal fillers, they are actually quite different in almost every other way.
Botox reduces the appearance of facial wrinkles and lines with injections that freeze the muscles contributing to them. The active ingredient is Clostridium botulinum, which sounds familiar and scary because it’s what causes botulism. This safe version of Botox is purified and an extremely tiny amount of it is injected during treatment and has been successfully used for decades.
How Are Dermal Fillers Different from Botox?
Unlike Botox, dermal fillers do not affect the muscles but, instead, are injected into those areas under the skin where volume has been lost, in order to add and restore the appearance of natural fullness. Dermal fillers are typically thought of as wrinkle fillers or erasers but they are used for much more. Some of the most common areas targeted and uses of dermal fillers include:
- lessen the appearance of vertical lip lines and add plumpness to lips
- restore volume to sunken cheeks or temples
- reduce the appearance of tear troughs, which are grooves between lower eyelids and cheeks.
- smooth crease in chin
- reduce lines around the nose and mouth, especially nasolabial folds (smile or laugh lines)
- smooth brows
- fill other static wrinkles and improve the appearance of scars
- make changes in the shape of the face
For those looking for a non-invasive, non-surgical means of reducing the appearance of aging in the face, dermal fillers offer a safe and effective option. The procedure is quick, usually lasting around 30 minutes, and requires very little recovery. The effects typically last somewhere between four months and a year, but because the cost is only a fraction of that of a facelift and the recovery time only hours to perhaps a day, dermal fillers can be repeated. There are types of fillers that are permanent, but, because these come with a higher risk of complications, including those of a more serious nature, they are not recommended.
One of the most important things to keep in mind when it comes to dermal fillers, as well as most other types of treatment, is that all are not equal nor appropriate for everyone. Your chances for success will depend on working only with an experienced, highly skilled and board-certified healthcare professional to make sure that you receive the treatment that is the best one for you.
We at Forest Hills Dentistry are certified and licensed in Botox and dermal fillers for over a decade. If you are interested in dermal fillers or have questions about any of our services, whether dentistry or aesthetics, Forest Hills Dentistry is dedicated to delivering the highest quality services possible. We offer the latest and most current information and services to our patients with a new state-of-the-art facility in Forest Hills, Queens. Patient comfort, individualized care and complete satisfaction are our priority.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, you are invited to use our online form by clicking here.
Categories: Botox, Dermal Fillers