Dermal FIllers vs Botox:

Each year, thousands of people all across the UK turn to either Botox or Fillers in order to reduce their signs of ageing and help them feel younger and better than ever before. But there is still a lot of insecurity around what botox and dermal fillers are exactly, as well as how they differ. So, if you are considering the benefits of dermal fillers or botox, here’s a detailed look at their similarities and differences.

What are Dermal Fillers?

Often known as “soft tissue fillers”, the basic idea behind dermal fillers is to reverse common signs of ageing. More specifically, they are used in the lips, cheeks, and other areas around the mouth.

Once you have received dermal fillers, you can expect them to last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. Sometimes they last longer, but this can depend on a number of factors; not limited to the sorts of substances used in the fillers. The exact uses of dermal fillers include:

● Filling in or enhancing shallower areas of your face
● Softening or filling in recessed scars
● Making thin lips plumper
● Softening or filling in static wrinkles on your lower face
● Removing the wrinkles or shadows under your eyes caused by lower eyelids

What substances are dermal fillers made of?

As you can see, there are a number of different uses for dermal fillers. So, to help find the right sort of filler for you, you would need to first speak to your doctor in order to examine your exact needs. However, here’s a quick look at the sorts of substances used in dermal fillers:

● Polyalkylimide – This is a transparent-gel-like substance
● Calcium hydroxylapatite – This mineral-like compound is already found naturally in human bones
● Polylactic acid – This helps stimulate the skin into producing higher levels of collagen
● Hyaluronic acid – This is also found naturally in certain tissues and fluids of the human body
● PMMA (Polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres) – This is known as a “semi-permanent” filler

How much do dermal fillers cost?

The cost of dermal fillers can vary quite a lot depending on the substances used and how many injections you need. It will also depend on the quality of the doctor you work with. At Dr Matla Aesthetics, we provide a high-quality service for all of our treatments, whilst still striving to keep prices down. You can take a look at our current price range for different dermal fillers here.

What are the possible side effects of dermal fillers?

It is worth pointing out that, though dermal fillers are considered to be safe for use in a wide number of cases, it is possible that you will suffer from side effects. If you are worried about any of these and would like a deeper evaluation of the risks, you should consult your doctor. Such side effects include the following:

● Vision problems such as blindness
● Feeling the substances used under your skin
● Loss of blood flow to certain parts of the skin, leading to the death of skin cells
● Itching, skin rash, or pimple-like eruptions
● Overcorrection of wrinkles
● Swelling, bleeding, bruising, or redness
● Lumps or undesirable asymmetry in your skin’s appearance
● Skin damage leading to scarring, wounds, or infection

What is Botox?

Botox has become an increasingly popular treatment in recent years, and there is a lot of misinformation that exists around it. So, here are some facts to set the record straight. First up, the longer name for Botox is botulinum toxin. The Botox used in your skin is a small purified form of this chemical, taken from bacteria.

If taken in much larger amounts, this can be dangerous. However, the small amounts used to correct wrinkles are safe and has been used now for a number of years. It works by temporarily freezing or paralysing certain muscles in your face. To achieve this, the Botox blocks the nerve signals in the muscles being targeted.

Which wrinkles does Botox help fix?

When the muscles stop moving due to their nerve endings being frozen, wrinkles are removed or reduced enough that they are barely visible. As such, Botox can only work on wrinkles that are being caused by muscle movement; known by doctors as “dynamic wrinkles”.

Some of the most popular wrinkles Botox is used to correct are those on your upper face. In particular, those caused as a result of squinting, smiling or frowning. Typical wrinkles patients look to have reduced or removed are the horizontal lines on the forehead or the 11-style wrinkles between eyebrows.

On the flip side, Botox is not able to correct what is known as “static wrinkles”. Static wrinkles are caused by a loss of plumpness or sagging in the skin. You typically find static wrinkles on your neck, cheeks, or jowl areas.

Is Botox permanent?

No, Botox is not a permanent solution to wrinkles. Instead, you will need to have repeated treatments if you wish to maintain your new look. You can expect each treatment to last anywhere from 3 to 4 months before you need new injections.

How much does Botox cost?

The cost of botox will vary depending on how many injections you need and what quality of treatment you opt for. You can check out an up-to-date list of our prices here.

What are the side effects to Botox?

As they are temporary, any side effects caused will usually also be only temporary. Such side effects that may occur include:

● Itching, rashes, or hives
● Dry mouth
● Problems with your gallbladder
● Vision problems, such as blindness
● Paralysis or weakness of muscles near injection sites
● Difficulty breathing, swallowing, or speaking
● Headaches
● Nausea
● Drooping of your brow or eyelid if you have received injections near your eye
● Flu-like symptoms
● Swelling, numbness, pain, redness, or bleeding

In order to help avoid muscle drooping or other problems, you should not massage the area of the skin in which you have received your injections. You may also find that the treatment fails if antibodies in your body start fighting the toxin. This is extremely rare but does happen.

The key differences between Dermal Fillers and Botox

Okay, now you know a lot more about what dermal fillers and botox are, here’s a nice summary of the differences between the two. You can then decide which one suits your needs best.

How they are administered:

The most obvious similarity between dermal fillers and Botox is that both are applied via injection.

Their purpose:

Botox is designed to freeze muscles and reduce the effects of wrinkles caused by facial expressions. On the flip-side, dermal fillers are used to plump up areas that have lost smoothness or volume.

The areas that they suit best:

Botox is typically used on the upper-area of the face to treat wrinkles between the brow or forehead. Dermal fillers are commonly used around the mouth or on the cheeks or lips.

How long they last:

Dermal fillers can last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, whereas Botox tends to last 3 to 4 months. However, these time periods can vary based on a number of factors.

The cost:

This really depends on which areas need treating and how many injections you require. For a better comparison of price differences, you can view the price of dermal fillers and Botox here.

Dermal fillers vs Botox: Which one do you need?

As you can see there are some pretty clear differences between dermal fillers and Botox, meaning each one is better used in certain cases. With that being said, you don’t necessarily have to choose between one or the other. When our patients come for treatment, we often find that it’s best to use a combination of both.

Botox can be used to effectively reduce wrinkles in the upper area of the face, whilst dermal fillers increase plumpness of the lips and surrounding skin and cheeks. As they are so low-risk and relatively affordable, Botox and dermal fillers are becoming an increasingly popular way to reduce the signs of ageing and to help people look and feel better about their appearance.

If you are still unsure of which treatment would be best for you, we recommend getting in touch. With years spent treating patients all across the UK, we are always happy to speak to patients on a one-to-one basis and find a solution that best suits them.