A Beginner's Guide to Injectables: Botox vs. Fillers

If your skin has started to show signs of age and you’re beginning to realize that you can’t escape the natural skin maturing process, don’t fret — it causes more wrinkles!

As a highly experienced double board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Joseph Ku expertly helps women and men in Riverside, California fight back against the signs of aging with cosmetic injectables, a nonsurgical approach to smoother, younger-looking skin.

Understanding the differences between injectables and dermal fillers, especially if you’re considering your first anti-aging treatment, can make it easier to decide what treatment can best help you achieve your aesthetic goals. Dr. Ku offers the following insights as a beginner’s guide to injectables: Botox® vs. fillers.

Different fillers address different problems

One filler may work best on forehead wrinkles, while another reduces lines around your nose and mouth. Some dermal fillers specialize in smoothing out lip lines, while others add definition and volume to your cheeks.

Dermal fillers are also made from different ingredients. Many include hyaluronic acid, a substance that occurs naturally in the deepest layers of your skin and keeps it hydrated. You actually produce less hyaluronic acid as you age, and cosmetic fillers like the Juvéderm® family use hyaluronic acid for its ability to plump and firm skin.

Radiesse® is another type of filler that’s commonly used to improve the appearance of moderate-to-severe facial wrinkles around the mouth and nose. Many women and men also use Radiesse to correct natural volume loss on the back of the hands, a common sign of aging.

As the ingredients in fillers vary, so do their particular uses and specialties, so it’s important to keep that in mind when choosing a treatment. In other words, you don’t necessarily have to focus on which brand of dermal filler you’d like, but rather which one works best for your particular lines and wrinkles.

Botox isn’t a dermal filler

It’s easy to confuse the two different types of cosmetic injectables, as many people use the terms interchangeably, but there is a big difference between Botox and dermal fillers. Fillers like Juvéderm, Radiesse, and Belotero Balance®, smooth and fill facial wrinkles and folds using an injectable gel.

However, Botox isn’t a dermal filler at all. It’s an injectable form of a naturally occurring toxin that temporarily paralyzes the muscles under your skin responsible for wrinkles and frown lines. Instead of filling in wrinkles or adding volume, Botox reduces muscle movement so crow’s feet around your eyes appear firmer and smoother, and frown lines between your eyebrows soften.

Botox and fillers are safe and FDA-approved

Like all of the dermal fillers Dr. Ku and the team at Precision Plastic Surgery offer, Botox is FDA-approved for its specific treatment areas around your eyes and forehead. In fact, Botox is one of the most extensively tested medical aesthetic treatments and is approved for cosmetic use in 78 countries.

Since Botox only temporarily reduces muscle activity around your eyes and between your eyebrows, it doesn’t permanently affect the muscles. Results last up to four months, and you’ll still be able to move your face and make natural expressions.

The dermal fillers offered at Precision Plastic Surgery are also safe and reliable. Plus, many offer results that can last up to a year or more.

Your provider is as important as your product

Dr. Ku wants every man and woman considering Botox or dermal fillers to enjoy the best possible results from their treatment. Always choose a reputable, board-certified physician like Dr. Ku, so you can be assured that you’re receiving only the highest quality products delivered in a medical setting.

As a skilled plastic surgeon, Dr. Ku has a deep understanding of facial muscles and the underlying tissue. He injects Botox and fillers in a way that makes you look natural, but with fewer lines and wrinkles. It takes a medical professional to be able to administer Botox and fillers with such precision.

Dr. Ku and the Precision Plastic Surgery medical team invite you to schedule a consultation, especially if it’s your first experience with Botox or fillers. After a careful examination, Dr. Ku recommends the best options for your facial lines and wrinkles. The highest standard of medical care and the best products ensure you get the results you desire.

Call the office to schedule your consultation or use the online booking system.

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