Fillers vs Botox in Newport Beach: What’s best for you?
The popularity of facial injectables is on the rise. Botox is still number one, but dermal fillers like Juvéderm are quickly catching up. So, what’s the difference between the two? And what’s best for you?
About Botox
Botox is the brand name for a specific neuromodulator that temporarily puts the muscles of your face to sleep. There are other FDA-approved neuromodulators available in the U.S., including Dysport, Xeomin, Jeauveau, and Daxxify, but Botox has been #1 around the world for years. Our own Dr. Malecki is the Medical Director for Allergan Aesthetics, the makers of Botox.
Botox works by temporarily relaxing specific muscles of the face, essentially putting the muscles of your face on timeout for a few months. As you age, you may notice more fine lines and wrinkles forming, generally in areas associated with facial expressions. For example, after years of smiling and squinting, you may have lines around your eyes, called crow’s feet lines.
Or, after years of frowning or raising your eyebrows, you may have vertical lines between your eyebrows or horizonal lines on your forehead. When we inject these lines and wrinkles with Botox, what we are doing is relaxing the muscles used with those expressions, which reduces the visibility and formation of the lines and wrinkles.
Some people start getting Botox injections when they already see lines and wrinkles. Others use Botox more preventatively to reduce muscle movement during expressions and, therefore, reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Either way, Botox is shown to give great results.
At Lotus Medical Aesthetics, we assess your unique facial muscle movements to determine how many units of Botox you need for optimal results. Generally, results last up to 4 months. Cost varies depending on your facial anatomy and the amount of units you need for optimal results.
About dermal fillers
Dermal fillers such as Juvéderm work differently than Botox. They are gel-like products designed to add volume to facial wrinkles and folds, essentially “filling out” those areas.
Over time, we all lose volume in our face. This happens most noticeably in our cheeks. As our cheeks flatten and sag, wrinkles and folds form in the lower face—for example, lines around your nose and mouth (called laugh lines). What we’ve realized is that it’s important to first restore lost volume in the cheeks, as that can lead to significant improvements in wrinkles and folds in the lower face. Once the cheeks are appropriately volumized, we can address any remaining wrinkles and folds.
Lips are one of the top areas for filler treatment. Lip filler can be used to create a plumper look. They can also be used to add more subtle volume to the lips, or to smooth out lines in and above the lips. Fillers can also be used to help optimize the shape of the chin, and to address the sunken areas below the eyes (called tear troughs).
Fillers made with hyaluronic acid are the most popular fillers on the market. Results with these fillers can last a year or more, depending on the filler and the area injected. Again, cost varies depending on your facial anatomy and the area(s) treated
What’s best for you?
Botox and dermal fillers are great options for a wide variety of patients. They are often used together since they offer different benefits and accomplish different goals. It’s best to meet with your aesthetic specialist and discuss your priorities. What are your top concerns? At Lotus Medical Aesthetics, we help you map out an aesthetic journey with both short- and long-term goals.
This shows areas commonly treated with Botox.
This shows areas commonly treated with fillers like Juvéderm.
The FDA has approved Botox and several dermal fillers such as Juvéderm in the U.S., meaning these products have been tested extensively and have been proven safe in clinical studies. But they can have side effects. We will discuss these with you, and also give you instructions on what to do before and after treatment to help ensure optimal results.