People often confuse the two, sometimes using them interchangeably. In fact there are a certain difference between both and knowing it, will surely help you choosing what’s the best for you.
1. What is Botox?
Botox is a purified botulinum toxin, a substance obtained from certain bacteria. It is used in medicine – to treat some muscle conditions, and in aesthetic medicine, to treat and prevent wrinkles. The toxin freezes the muscles to prevent wrinkles and creases to occur, which is caused by facial expressions.
Most common areas of injection
Botox is often injected to areas especially exposed to wrinkling, due to facial expressions. So, the most common areas would be lines between the brows (so-called glabella), lines on the forehead, eye rims or (so-called crow’s feet) around eyes. It can be also used to decrease volume on specific areas, e.g. in the jaw area – to create a V-line.
Botox can be also injected to the skin, to achieve the effect of the glass skin. In this case, botulinum toxin is injected to the skin’s outer layer, instead of the muscles. This procedure is called Skin Botox and gives an instant effect of bright and moisty skin, without need of complicated skin-care routine. It has become popular amongst Korean celebrities. However, the effect doesn’t last long. Its usually permeability is up to 3 months.
Botox injection are completely reversible and the effect of usual procedure may last up to 4 months. The period of the best result is around 1 month after the procedure.
Things to know: Precautions after the Botox treatment
- Bruising: When a needle meets vessels, bruising can occur, because there are a lot of blood vessels running under the skin. However, this will appear small in size and will fade away within several days (3-7 days), so you don’t need to worry about it.
- Procedure on the forehead or glabella: There is a possibility of blepharoptosis, which is a term for difficulty in opening the eyes, because of weak opening muscles. Thus, please wash your face gently and carefully, do not rub your eyes.
- You may feel heavy when you open your eyes after injection into the forehead, if you tend to use forehead muscles a lot.
- When it comes to injecting Botox around the eyes, you may feel awkward, when you smile for the first few weeks. This will go back to normal, as time goes by.
- When it comes to injecting Botox around mandible, you will feel discomfort when you chew solid food, but you will become accustomed to it within few weeks.
What is a filler?
There are many different fillers, but the most common substance is hyaluronic acid – a substance made by skin itself, in order to maintain its proper hydration.
It’s used as an anti-ageing procedure to restore skin volume, but also to give volume to areas, we want bigger. The most common areas of injection are nasolabial folds, under eyes, front cheeks, marionette lines – for the purpose of anti-ageing, and lips, nose bridge, chin, under eyes for the purpose of increased volume.
The effect duration is longer than Botox and may last up to 9 months, depending on the brand.
Things to know: Precautions after the filler treatment
- There may be swelling, bruising and pain at the site of injection, right after the procedure. It is very normal phenomenon, that will fade away within a few hours. Sometimes it may last up to a few days.
- If pain becomes severe within a few hours, please visit the clinic right away. If there is discolouration in the glabella and nasolabial folds, please visit the clinic for a check-up.
- If you continue to feel pain and have swelling after a few days, talk to the doctor immediately.
- Please avoid applying makeup to the injection site.
- Don’t drink alcohol as it may cause more swelling and inflammatory response.
Benefits and risks of using Botox and fillers
Both Botox and Hyaluronic acid fillers have their benefits and risks. First of all, you must remember that going to a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeons will greatly decrease any possibility of unwanted effect.
Choosing trustworthy clinic is a crucial factor to achieve wanted and satisfying effect. JW Plastic Surgery Provides with both Botox and hyaluronic acid injections.
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References
Skin Botox: Korean injectable technique for a glass skin, in: Allure.com; https://www.allure.com/story/skin-botox-korean-injectable-technique-glass-skin
Oxford Academic, Aesthetic Surgery Journal: A Review of OnabotulinumtoxinA, https://academic.oup.com/asj/article/33/1_Supplement/9S/211819
Oxford Academic, Aesthetic Surgery Journal: OnabotulinumtoxinA and Hyaluronic Acid in Facial Wrinkles and Folds: A Prospective, Open-Label Comparison, https://academic.oup.com/asj/article/39/2/187/4995056