The line between Botox and dermal fillers is often blurred and it sometimes is not obvious what these two actually differ in. In case you have the idea of getting one of them in mind, it is useful to see clear and dive a little deeper before finding out which is best for you. For this reason, here are the most important things and differences you should know about Botox and dermal fillers.

What is Botox?

Botox is the short name of botulinum toxin that is a group of molecules produced by the bacteria clostridium botulinum. The name “toxin” means that in an enormous amount, it could work as a neurotoxin in the body, blocking the action of certain nerve types. However, the tiny amounts used for blocking specific muscles in the face for smooth out wrinkles, the toxin is absolutely harmless.

Cosmetic industry uses Botox injected directly into the targeted muscle area of facial expressions in order to relax muscle tensions, in this way reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Botox hence blocks nerve signals and that interruption makes muscles temporarily paralysed and frozen. Besides softening wrinkles, Botox is suitable for treating excessive sweating and migraines also.

Does Botox have side effects?

Botox basically has minimal side effects, but since the procedure is done with injections into the skin, some bruising and tenderness can occur at the puncture site. Those who are having Botox for the first time can experience headache and in extremely rare cases, flu-like symptoms and difficulty swallowing.

Who is Botox (not) recommended for?

Botox is a super safe treatment that is suitable for nearly everyone. The few exclusions are pregnancy, myasthenia gravis and some other rare neurological conditions.

What are dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers are a group of injectables that were designed to add volume to tissues by injections beneath the skin surface. The most common type of fillers are hyaluronic acid fillers that restore the lost hyaluronic acid levels of the skin, which is naturally produced in the body but gets decreased due to aging. Besides this, there are also collagen-stimulating and permanent fillers. They get injected into certain areas to replace the lost volume of the skin and also revitalise it.

Do dermal fillers have side effects?

Similar to Botox, dermal fillers also hardly have any side effects, but some bruising, swelling, lumpiness and in very rare cases, vascular occlusion can occur when filler is accidentally injected into the blood vessel, causing blockage. Nerve damage, infection and allergic reaction are extremely rare.

Who are dermal fillers (not) recommended for?

Dermal fillers are not recommended only with a few conditions, like pregnancy, local infections in the skin, previous reactions to fillers or allergy to any ingredients. On the other hand, since dermal fillers can be bought without any prescription, they thus can be injected by beauticians or hairdressers which include many more risks. For this reason, looking for a qualified, highly skilled and experienced specialist is crucial.

The key differences between Botox and dermal fillers

Botox blocks muscle nerves, in this way reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles caused by facial expressions.

Dermal fillers pump up the treated areas that has lost their volume and smoothness due to aging with hyaluronic acid or other substances.

In case you still cannot decide about which treatment to choose, write us to info@cocoonmedicalspa.com and book a consultation with our expert.