When Is It Best to Use Fillers Instead of Botox?
In the constant fight against signs of aging, two of the most popular solutions in Parker, CO, are dermal fillers and Botox. Each of these injectable cosmetic treatment options has a wide variety of uses, but despite their versatility, they are not interchangeable.
There are many cases where fillers are vastly preferable, along with many cases where Botox is the better choice. If you’re wondering whether a dermal filler or Botox is the best way to restore your youthful aesthetic, read on to learn more.
Causes of Wrinkles
Wrinkles can have a number of causes. When the main cause of wrinkles is a loss of skin volume and elasticity over time, dermal fillers are the ideal solution. Factors like pollution and sun damage result in this decline in volume and elasticity, as does the natural aging process. Fillers restore lost volume, causing these wrinkles to disappear.
However, when the main cause of wrinkles is overcontracted facial muscles, Botox is a better option. After years of repeating muscle movements to form facial expressions and perform actions like chewing, the muscles become stiff. This makes it harder for them to relax back to an at-rest position, causing bunching of the overlying skin. This bunching creates wrinkles, and Botox treats these wrinkles by allowing the overcontracted muscles to relax.
Thicker vs. Thinner Skin
Skin thickness plays a major role when it comes to injectable wrinkle treatments. In areas of the face where the skin is thicker, like the cheeks and midface region, use of fillers in Aurora, CO, is preferable. Addition of volume does not create an abnormal look in these areas, instead evening out the contours.
In areas of the face where the skin is thin and taut, like the forehead, use of Botox is ideal. This is because filler can cause unwanted excess volume and lumps in these areas. The chance of filler migration would also be higher.
Types of Facial Wrinkles
When aesthetic professionals are deciding on whether a dermal filler or Botox is the optimal solution, they always consider the types of age lines being targeted. Moderate and harsh wrinkles are best treated with a soft tissue dermal filler, whereas fine wrinkles are best treated with Botox.
Fillers are typically used to address these age lines:
- The nasolabial folds – Lines that stretch from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth
- Marionette lines – Lines that stretch down from the corners of the mouth
- Parentheses lines – Curved wrinkles that border the lips
Botox injections are typically used to address these age lines:
- Crow’s feet – Tiny lines that radiate from the eyes’ outer edges
- Horizontal forehead lines – Long lines across the forehead
- The Elevens – Vertical lines between the brows
- Smoker’s lines – Lines radiating from the lips
- Peau d’orange chin – Chin wrinkles or bumps
- Bunny lines – Small wrinkles on the bridge of the nose
Volume Loss
Natural tissue loss occurs in a person’s underlying facial fat layer as they age. The facial muscles also decline in strength, losing their ability to support other tissues. All of this, coupled with the skin’s natural decrease in elasticity, results in hollow areas on the face.
Hollowness occurs in regions like the temples, cheeks, and jawline. Facial depressions create an aged and gaunt appearance. The best way to address these depressions is the injection of dermal fillers in Parker, CO. Fillers restore volume to hollow areas, making them level with the surrounding skin and restoring a youthful appearance. Because Botox does not restore volume, it is unable to address facial depressions.
Augmentation and Enhancement
When patients are nervous about going under the knife and are searching for temporary facial augmentation or enhancement, fillers are almost always the preferable treatment. Fillers are often used in lip augmentation, liquid rhinoplasty, and chin enhancement.
Botox specifically focuses on muscle relaxation. This means that it cannot improve the proportions of the nose or the chin. However, since Botox can be used to enhance the lips with a Botox lip flip, patients sometimes prefer it over filler injections.
Which Injectable Treatment Is Best for Your Wrinkles?
Ready to address your facial age signs quickly and easily? If you’re curious about whether you’re in need of filler injections or Botox, take the first step: Contact Beyond Human in Parker and Aurora. Our skilled aesthetic experts are available to help you correct signs of aging. Your personalized consultation is just a call or email away, so get in touch today!