Explain the difference between Botox and a facial filler

Heartland Plastic and Hand Surgery offers a variety of facial fillers and injectables to men and women living in Perryville, Poplar Bluff and nearby communities, including Marion/Carbondale, Illinois.

FDA-approved injectable treatments, called soft tissue fillers and Botox injections, are well-known cosmetic procedures that continue to increase in popularity for their natural-looking results and minimal downtime. Botulinum toxin treatment and other injectables are a great way to combat facial lines, smile lines, and frown lines.

Botox Cosmetic Injections

Botox and dermal fillers are procedures or injectables done during an office visit or consultation. These procedures are usually done without any sedation, but occasionally, a topical numbing cream may be used. Botox is a neuromodulator. It absorbs the muscles and causes the muscles to weaken. When the facial muscles weaken, Botox can smooth wrinkles. Botox Cosmetic is the most common cosmetic procedure performed across the country. It has been approved for the lines between the eyebrows, along the forehead lines, and crow’s lines. Occasionally, Botox may be used in some other areas to address aesthetic facial issues along with medical conditions like urinary incontinence (overactive bladder), chronic migraine, lower limb spasticity, and cervical dystonia.

Dermal Filler Injections

Soft tissue fillers are a completely different category. These dermal fillers are an inert compound injected in the deep layer of skin or underneath the skin to build up or plump out those tissues. The injectable dermal fillers used in the office are all temporary and slowly dissolve over time. The specific injectable fillers used vary, depending on the area to be injected. The hyaluronic acid fillers could last anywhere from six months to about two years. Clinical trials have shown Botox lasts an average of 3 – 4 months. It is very common to do Botox injections for moderate to severe wrinkles around the forehead and crow’s lines and then do soft tissue fillers along the cheeks, nasolabial folds, comes off the mouth, or to improve the overall volume of the lips. Often, hyaluronic acid dermal filler procedures and botulinum toxin are performed simultaneously.

Results and Recovery of the Injection Site

Most patients see visible improvements within days to weeks after Botox Cosmetic or dermal filler injections, with botulinum toxin treatments like Botox injections relaxing targeted facial muscles for about three to four months, while soft tissue fillers restore volume, enhance facial features, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles for six months to two years.

Mild swelling, redness, or bruising at the injection site is common and short-lived, but rare side effects like allergic reaction, muscle weakness, vision problems, or difficulty breathing require immediate care. For this reason, it is essential to choose an experienced cosmetic surgeon or aesthetic dermatology specialist who understands facial anatomy to ensure safe, natural-looking, and long-lasting results.