Wrinkle treatment alternatives are in current years increasing in popularity. This is because of the presence of several available products to change customers’ health for long-lasting durations.
Some products are injectable, which include Botox and dermal fillers. These products provide long-lasting treatments.Each of the products may be used to facilitate the treatment of wrinkles, but they consist of numerous differences. They are injected into the body by a skilledcosmetic doctor. They are injected without undergoing surgical operations.
What Are Botox and Fillers?
BOTOX
Botox is a muscle relaxer sourcedfrom a pure form of bacteria that leads to freezing body muscles. Botox injection minimizes the lines and wrinkles that emerge due to facial expressions. The bacteria produces a toxic substance known as Botulinum. Although the bacteria are harmful in huge amounts, small quantities of the same several decades have been effectively used.
According to Anandan et al. (2021), Botox functions by preventing signals of the nerves within the muscles in the areas it is injected into. Once the nerve signal is interfered with, the muscle affected is temporarily paralyzed. When the muscles’ movements are restricted within the face or any other region where wrinkles are found, some can undergo softening, reduction, and disappear. The type of treatment done by Botox through the botulinum toxin bacteria is called neurotoxins.
What Does Botox Perform?
Botox mainly relays its roles on wrinkles from muscle contractions. They are referred to as dynamic wrinkles that appear on the skin as lines.
Carruthers et al. (2001) explained that Botulinum injection treatshorizontal lines on the foreheadbetween the brows and the crow-like feet on the eyes. Such lines are mainly produced when an individual either smiles, frowns, squints, or any other expressions that are produced on the face.
Most sage lines are static wrinkles. An example of a static wrinkle is located along the cheeks, jowl,and neck regions. However, Botulinum injection might not work on the lines produced through sage or the disappearance of plumpness on the face.
It is importantto note that Botulinum is not a long-lasting type of treatment. Jacinto et al. (2020) showed that some patients who have undergone the botulinum type of treatment say it usually lasts 3- 4 months. Therefore, repetition in botulinum injection facilitates the reduction tendencies of wrinkles.
The Risks and Side Effects of Botox
Although botulinum injection is a convenient and safer treatment, as most patients have benefited from its procedures, it wears out over a given period.
Botulinum’sside effects are temporal. Gamain et al. (2021)highlighted the common possible side effects of Botulinum toxins as follows:
- The eyelid or the brows may peel off when the injection is done along the eye regions.
- When injected with Botox, some areas around the affected regions experience feelings of being weakened or may even come with paralyzed feelings.
- Drying of the mouth.
- Mild headache.
- Development of difficulties in swallowing, breathing, and making any speech.
- Development of gallbladder-related problems.
Naumann et al. (2013) explained that botulinum injection could fail due to the presence of antibodies that tries to curb the toxin. However, this situation may occur in a few per, especially those who have undergone repeated treatments with Botulinum toxin.
When patients have Botulinumtreatment, they should avoid massaging or rubbing the regions where Botulinum injections have been done. Avoiding such scenarios helps spread the toxin to other skin parts, which might cause muscle drop and other related issues.
Fillers
Dermal fillers, known as soft tissue fillers, are chemical compositions modified to be injected under the skin to facilitate its fullness and volume. Some of these chemicals may include the following:
- A mineral-like substance found within the bones is known as calcium hydroxyapatite.
- A transparent gel that is compatible with the body is known as polyalkylimide.
- Polylactic acid initiates the skin to manufacture a lot of collagen.
- Semi-permanent filler is known as the polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres.
Each of the above chemicals treats different symptoms of aging or other cosmetic problems.
The duration they take to function within the body is different. The period the chemicals take within the skin also varies among these sub-substances.
Saranraj et al. (2013) state that some tissues and liquids found in the body are known as hyaluronic acid. The study above also suggested that the acid facilitates the addition of plumps to the skin.
Therefore, patientsshouldtalk to theircosmetic doctors and come out with their expectations and needs to determine the right filler for them to choose from.
What Do Fillers Do?
Various types of fillers are modified to treat variations of symptoms of aging.Li et al. (2022) suggested that fillers may perform the following functions:
- Plumping up thin lips
- Facilitate or enhance the filling of shallow areas on the face
- Reduce or remove shallow or wrinkled regions under the eyes resulting from the effects of the bottom eyelid.
- Filling or softening of scars that are recessed.
- Filling or softening of static wrinkles on the face’s bottom side.Wrinkles are found in regions of the mouth and along the cheeks. They result from loss of flexibility and collagens within the skin.
Risks and Side Effects of Dermal Fillers
Though dermal fillers are believed to be the safest mode of treatment, they may incur some side effects. A skilled and licensed cosmetic doctor is supposed to conduct dermal filler operations using approved fillers from the FDA for injections. However, the common problems associated with dermal fillers include the following:
- Christen (2022) showed that fillers remove the development of lumps or wrinkles that appear to be overcorrected
- Destruction of the skin that causes wounds, infections, and scarring
- Rashes on the skin, itches, and the eruption of spots that look like pimples
FAQs about Botox and Fillers
What Are the Differences Between Botox and the Dermal Fillers
Kandhari et al. (2022) showed that Botulinum injections freeze muscles and inhibit creases and wrinkles resulting from facial expressions. They are located in the top region of the face, like the forehead and along the eyes.
Dermal fillers use hyaluronic acid and chemicals to fill plump regions with lost volumes and a smooth texture. They comprise wrinkles along the mouth’s regions, thinningof lips, and the lost fullness in the cheeks.
How Long Do Botulinum Injections Last?
Satriyasa (2019) revealed that botulinum injection results take about 3-4 months as dermal fillers have variations that rely on the type of filler used.
Conclusion
Since Botox and dermal fillers are unique substances modified for different purposes, they may be combined within a single treatment at certain points. For example, patients can use Botulinum to heal the lines between the eyes as the fillers correct lines along the mouth.Dermal fillers may produce many results that are somehow permanent. However, such injections have many side effects compared to Botulinum injections.Therefore, an individual must measure the various options alongside the cosmetic doctor.
The greatest difference between Botox and dermal fillers is that Botox injections are applied to reduce the lines and wrinkles through paralyzation of the muscles; the dermal fillers are used to fill the wrinkles.
References
Anandan, C., & Jankovic, J. (2021). Botulinum Toxin In Movement Disorders: An Update. Toxins 2021, 13, 42.
Carruthers, A., & Carruthers, J. (2001, June). Botulinum Toxin Type A: History And Current Cosmetic Use In The Upper Face. In Seminars In Cutaneous Medicine And Surgery (Vol. 20, No. 2, Pp. 71-84). WB Saunders.
Christen, M. O. (2022). Collagen Stimulators In Body Applications: A Review Focused On Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA). Clinical, Cosmetic And Investigational Dermatology, 15, 997.
Gamain, J., Herr, T., Fleischmann, R., Stenner, A., Vollmer, M., Willert, C., … &Kronenbuerger, M. (2021). Smell And Taste In Idiopathic Blepharospasm. Journal Of Neural Transmission, 128(8), 1215-1224.
Kandhari, R., Kaur, I., Gupta, J., & Al-Naimi, F. (2022). Microdroplet Botulinum Toxin: A Review. Journal Of Cutaneous And Aesthetic Surgery, 15(2), 101.
Li, K., Meng, F., Li, Y. R., Tian, Y., Chen, H., Jia, Q., … & Jiang, H. B. (2022). Application Of Nonsurgical Modalities In Improving Facial Aging. International Journal Of Dentistry, 2022.
Naumann, M., Boo, L. M., Ackerman, A. H., & Gallagher, C. J. (2013). Immunogenicity Of Botulinum Toxins. Journal Of Neural Transmission, 120(2), 275-290
Saranraj, P., & Naidu, M. A. (2013). Hyaluronic Acid Production And Its Applications—A Review. Int J Pharm Biol Arch, 4(5), 853-59.
Satriyasa, B. K. (2019). Botulinum Toxin (Botox) A For Reducing The Appearance Of Facial Wrinkles: A Literature Review Of Clinical Use And Pharmacological Aspect. Clinical, Cosmetic And Investigational Dermatology, 12, 223.
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