Botox vs. Fillers: Understanding the Differences

At one time, medical beauty enhancements were only heard of in Hollywood. Today, it’s very common for everyday people to get Botox treatments and fillers, permanent makeup, targeted fat removal, and laser hair removal. Most of these treatments are non-surgical and available at clinics and spas all over the GTA.

Botox and fillers are particularly popular with people, and they’re not just for the aging population: anyone who wants a fresher, more youthful appearance free of deep lines can benefit from these cosmetic procedures. Ready to go under the needle? Read about the key differences between these procedures below!

‍Botox

Botox temporarily freezes or deactivates facial muscles so that wrinkles and lines are less prominent. Botox is administered by injection and does not require a prescription.

Botox is extremely effective at minimizing the appearance of lines and wrinkles that are caused by the movement of muscles, such as the muscles used for smiling, frowning, or puckering your lips. Common areas that are treated with Botox are the vertical lines between the eyebrows, horizontal lines across the forehead, and the small wrinkles at the outer corners of the eyes, although it is used in many other places on the body.

Since Botox is an injectable, the treatments are not entirely painless, but patients are easily able to tolerate the short-term discomfort involved. Treatments take about 15minutes, so you can get in and out of the clinic and still have time to grab lunch. Results generally last 3 to 6 months.

Although it was initially developed for cosmetic uses, Botox has since been used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including migraine headaches, vocal tics, bruxism (grinding your teeth), excessive sweating, and facial spasms. New applications are always being discovered!

‍Fillers

Now that you’ve smoothed out the lines on your face, you may be wondering what to do about creases that come from sagging skin and a loss of plumpness in the face. Botox cannot address these, and that’s where dermal fillers come in. Like Botox, they are injected into your skin, so the only discomfort you’ll feel is the needle itself. Treatments take about 30 minutes, and the effects are visible immediately, lasting up to a year.

Dermal fillers are extremely popular as anti-aging treatments. They add volume to the face, smoothing out wrinkles, filling in creases, and contouring the face to highlight particular facial features such as the eyes, cheekbones, and lips.

There are many types of dermal fillers on the market, and they are sold under a wide variety of brand names. Some of the most common fillers are calcium hydroxylapatite, polyalkylimide, polylactic acid, polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres (PMMA),and hyaluronic acid. Each type of filler has its own advantages and drawbacks. Discussing your choices with an esthetician, nurse, or doctor will ensure that you have the right product for your needs and skin conditions.

Hyaluronic acid is marketed under several brand names, including Juvederm, Perlane, and Restylane,and is the most widely recognized of all dermal fillers. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body, but over time its production diminishes, leading to sagging, dryness, and the development of deep lines in the face. Injecting hyaluronic acid into the skin improves plumpness, tightens the skin, raises its hydration levels, increases its resilience against environmental toxins, improves the appearance of scars, and promotes cell regeneration.  

Like Botox, hyaluronic acid has some helpful non-cosmetic uses, such as wound healing, hydrating the eyes, treating ulcers, and relieving arthritis symptoms. Although these are not strictly beauty-related applications, they can make you feel more youthful by giving you confidence, preventing scars from forming, and allowing you to function and move more freely.

Final Thoughts

Aging is inevitable, but if you don’t want to deal with absolutely everything that comes with it, you have options. After all, you already have multiple layers of responsibilities along with the normal aches and pains, and your life isn’t getting slower or more relaxing; you deserve to treat yourself to a facial refresher!    

We invite you to explore the services we offer at Beauty Med in Richmond Hill. Beaty Med is a is a boutique med spa offering cutting-edge cosmetic treatments for both men and women. Medically supervised by Dr. Hamid Bimesl, all of our treatment professionals have at least ten years of training and practical experience. Beauty Med offers both Botox and dermal filler in the comfort and privacy of our fully-equipped treatment rooms. While you’re browsing our suite of services for skin-plumping, stroll through our other treatments, including body sculpting, hair removal, hair restoration, skin treatments, and even permanent makeup.

Ready for a new, youthful you? Contact us today for afree consultation!

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