Botox or fillers: what's the difference and which to choose
Botox and fillers correct different things. Botulinum toxin relaxes muscles and smooths expression lines on the forehead, between the brows and around the eyes, while a hyaluronic acid filler fills deep folds and adds volume to the lips, cheekbones or chin. Whether you need one of them, both or neither is something a cosmetic doctor at Viva Clinic in Slavuta decides after examining your face.
Published Updated 4 min read
How Botox and fillers work
“Botox” is the everyday name for botulinum toxin injections, although it’s the brand name of just one botulinum toxin type A product. The product is injected into a facial muscle. It blocks the signal from the nerve, the muscle relaxes, and the skin above it creases less. Botulinum toxin doesn’t add volume. At Viva Clinic, doctors use products including Dysport.
Fillers are gel-like products given by injection. The gel fills a wrinkle, fold or scar and adds volume where it’s lacking. It can be based on hyaluronic acid, collagen or calcium hydroxylapatite. These products stimulate your own collagen production and are fully absorbed over time. Hyaluronic acid fillers also hydrate the skin. At Viva Clinic, doctors use fillers including Hyalual Alexa.
What each treatment is for
Botulinum toxin injections are used for expression lines: horizontal forehead lines, the vertical frown line between the brows or crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes. They also reduce excessive sweating of the underarms, palms, feet or forehead.
Lip enhancement is the most common use of fillers, and we explain how it’s done in the article lip augmentation with filler. Fillers are also used to shape the cheekbones, chin and facial contour, reshape the nose without surgery, restore the shape of the brows and smooth fine lines around the eyes. They’re injected into deep lines on the forehead and between the brows, lines above the upper lip, creases around the mouth and atrophic scars.
If a line appears when you frown or smile and disappears at rest, it’s usually treated with botulinum toxin. If a fold is visible even when your face is relaxed, or volume is lacking, a filler is more often needed. The doctor makes the final call at the examination, and sometimes a deep line is treated with both methods.
The doctor looks at your face at rest and in motion, because the same line can have different causes: muscle activity, volume loss or dry, thin skin. The doctor also asks about illnesses and medication and checks for contraindications. Sometimes neither treatment is needed, and the doctor suggests starting with skincare.
How long the results last and when you see them
After botulinum toxin injections, the first changes usually show after 2–3 days, and the full effect after about 2 weeks. For expression lines, the effect usually lasts 3–4 months, sometimes longer. Then the nerve endings recover and the muscle gradually moves again.
You see the result of a filler right after the procedure, and you can fully judge it after a couple of days, once swelling and slight redness have gone. The effect usually lasts from 6 months to 2 years. It depends on the type of filler and your body, because the body gradually absorbs the product.
These time frames are approximate. Your doctor will tell you how long the effect may last for you at the consultation when choosing the product.
Can you combine Botox and fillers?
Yes, these treatments are often combined, because they work on different things. For example, the forehead and the area between the brows are smoothed with botulinum toxin, while volume is added to the lips or cheekbones with filler. The doctor decides what to combine after the examination.
Both treatments, botulinum toxin injections and dermal fillers, are done at Viva Clinic by cosmetic doctors at the aesthetic medicine center at 16b/3 Kuzovkova St in Slavuta, and only after a consultation.
Contraindications and when to see a doctor urgently
Neither treatment is done during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with an infection or inflammation of the skin in the injection area, or with an allergy to any component of the product. Botulinum toxin is also not used with myasthenia gravis or other neuromuscular junction disorders, and it’s planned with caution if you have a bleeding disorder or take certain antibiotics. Fillers aren’t injected with active herpes, acute infections, blood clotting disorders or anticoagulant use. The doctor checks the full list of contraindications at the consultation.
After either treatment, slight swelling, redness or bruising may appear at the injection sites and usually goes away within a few days.
Contact the doctor who did the procedure urgently:
- after fillers, if severe pain develops or the skin in the injection area turns white, blue or blotchy: this can be a sign of reduced blood flow, and help is needed as soon as possible, so if you can’t reach the doctor, call 103;
- after botulinum toxin, if an eyelid or brow droops.
Call an ambulance on 103 immediately if you have trouble swallowing, speaking or breathing, your face, tongue or throat swells, your vision suddenly gets worse, your eye hurts or you see double, or you notice muscle weakness far from the injection sites.
Questions and answers
Should you get Botox or fillers first?
There's no single rule. Sometimes both treatments are done in one visit, and sometimes with a break, so the effect of botulinum toxin can be assessed first. A cosmetic doctor sets the order and interval after an examination, depending on the areas and products.
Can Botox make your lips bigger?
No, botulinum toxin doesn't add volume, because it only relaxes muscles. Lips are enhanced with hyaluronic acid fillers. A cosmetic doctor decides which product to use and how much is needed at the consultation, after examining your lips.
Do Botox and fillers hurt?
You'll feel the injections, but they're usually bearable. Botulinum toxin is injected with a very fine needle at a few points, and before fillers the skin is treated with an anesthetic, which is local anesthesia. If you don't tolerate pain well, tell your doctor in advance.
How old do you have to be to get Botox or fillers?
At least 18. A consultation with a cosmetic doctor is required before either treatment: the doctor examines your skin and facial movement, asks about illnesses and medication and checks for contraindications. The consultation takes place at the aesthetic medicine center at 16b/3 Kuzovkova St.
