Botox vs. Fillers: Which Is Right for Me?

Cosmetic procedures have been around in one form or another since the 1600s, and since then, various cosmetic procedures have been developed to provide aesthetic improvements for different needs. In the past few decades, cosmetic procedures to improve and eliminate signs of aging have grown in popularity.
 

Some of the most popular ones available today are minimally invasive procedures like Botox and fillers. The two injectable cosmetic procedures are among the most popular today. In 2015 alone, they accounted for nine million cosmetic procedures. The numbers have since grown, given their fantastic results. 

What Is Botox?

Botox is the name of a brand of injectable created from botulinum A toxin. It is one of the most dangerous toxins known. Ironically, it has substantial medical uses, which gives it the moniker ‘miracle poison’. 
 

It is produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. It is among seven other exotoxins from the bacteria. The toxin blocks the production of acetylcholine, a critical neurotransmitter in muscular junctions. The result is temporary paralysis lasting about three months. 

What Does Botox Correct?

Botox works exceptionally well on fine lines and wrinkles because it paralyzes the muscles responsible for them. These wrinkles that form as you age are more commonly known as expression lines. The most common of these are the ones that form on the forehead and between the brows. They form when you smile, frown, squint, or make other facial expressions. 
 

However, the only lines Botox can work on are dynamic lines, such as those mentioned above. When lines form due to sagging skin, Botox cannot fix them because they are not muscle induced. These lines from sagging skin are called static wrinkles and usually form on the jowl, neck, and cheeks. 

What Are Fillers?

Fillers, known as dermal or soft tissue fillers, are injectables like Botox. Unlike Botox, fillers do not impact the tissue's neurology but add volume to the tissues. The main aim of fillers is to restore fullness to places that have lost it or to increase volume for aesthetic purposes. Fillers can be made from compounds like:
 

• Hyaluronic acid, which is naturally found in fluids in the body

• Calcium hydroxylapatite, a mineral found in bones

• Polyalkylimide, a transparent gel compatible with human physiology

• Polylactic acid, a compound that stimulates tissues to create more collagen

• Polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres - a temporary filler

What Do Fillers Correct?

The different types of filler do not work in the same way or on the same body parts. Depending on the results you want, fillers can help:
 

• Add volume to shallow facial areas

• Enhance thinning lips to make them plumper

• Soften or fill in the appearance of recessed scars

• Minimize or eliminate wrinkles under the eyes from the lower eyelid

• Add volume to static wrinkles in the lower face

Key Differences Between Botox and Fillers

Botox freezes muscles by impeding neuro-function in the muscle joints, usually in the forehead and around the eyes. Conversely, fillers plump up and fill areas that have lost smoothness and volume. Also, Botox works for dynamic wrinkles and fillers for static wrinkles. 

For more information on Botox and fillers, contact SD Bombshell Aesthetics at our office in La Jolla, California. Call (858) 330-3400 to book an appointment today.